A transceiver device for providing wireless connectivity to a protection and control device

Abstract

A transceiver device (1) operatively coupleable with said protection and control device to provide wireless connectivity to said protection and control device. Said transceiver device comprises: - a transceiver unit (2) including an RF antenna (23);

Claims

1.   A transceiver device (1) adapted to be operatively coupled with a protection and control device (100) for electric power distribution systems to provide wireless connectivity to said protection and control device, said transceiver device comprising: - a transceiver unit (2) including a RF antenna (23); - a serial communication port (3) adapted to be operatively coupled with a further corresponding serial communication port (102) of said protection and control device; - a serial communication bus (4) electrically connected between said serial communication port (3) and said transceiver unit, said serial communication bus having a transmission line (TX) and a reception line (RX), the transceiver device being configured such that in operation said transmission line takes a high-level voltage value (VH ), when said transmission line is in a stand-by condition, and a low-level voltage value (VL ), when said transmission line is in an active condition; - a battery unit (10); - a feeding unit (5) adapted to feed said transceiver unit with a feeding voltage (VDD ), said feeding unit comprising a first power supply stage (51) electrically coupled with said battery unit to harvest electric power from said battery unit and a second power supply stage (52) electrically coupled with the transmission line (TX) of said serial communication bus (4) to harvest electric power from said transmission line, when said transmission line is in said stand-by condition and takes said high-level voltage value (VH ); - wherein said feeding unit (5) further comprises a voltage switching stage (53) electrically connected with said first and second power supply stages (51, 52) to receive a first voltage (V1 ) from said first power supply stage and a second voltage (V2 ) from said second power supply stage, said voltage switching stage being adapted to select said first voltage (V1 ) or said second voltage (V2 ) as said feeding voltage (VDD ) to feed said transceiver unit; characterised in that said transceiver unit (2) is adapted to: - check an average value calculated over a predetermined time period, of said feeding voltage (VDD ) received by said transceiver unit (2) from said voltage switching stage (53); - make said voltage switching stage to select said second voltage (V2 ) as said feeding voltage (VDD ), if the average value of said feeding voltage is not lower than a threshold voltage value and - make said voltage switching stage to select said first voltage (V1 ) as said feeding voltage, if the average value of said feeding voltage is lower than said threshold voltage value. 2.  The transceiver device, according to claim 1,  characterised in that  said transceiver unit (2) is adapted to make said voltage switching stage (53) to select said first voltage (V1 ) or said second voltage (V2 ) depending on operating conditions of said protection and control device (100). 3.  The  transceiver device, according to claim 2,  characterised in that  said transceiver unit (2) is adapted to: - acquire information on the operating conditions of said protection and control device (100); - check whether said protection and control device is fed by one or more current transformers (111) operatively associated to an electric line (150) or by an auxiliary power supply (112); - make said voltage switching stage to select said second voltage (V2 ) as said feeding voltage (VDD ), if said protection and control device is fed by said auxiliary power supply; - check the value of a line current (IL ) flowing along said electric line, if said protection and control device is fed by said current transformers; - make said voltage switching stage to select said second voltage (V2 ) as said feeding voltage (VDD ), if the value of said line current is not lower than a threshold current value and - make said voltage switching stage to select said first voltage (V1 ) as said feeding voltage, if the value of said line current is lower than a threshold current value. 4.  The  transceiver device, according to claim 1,  characterised in that  said voltage switching stage (53) is adapted to select the highest of the first and second voltages (V1 , V2 ) as said feeding voltage (VDD ) to be used for feeding said transceiver unit.

5. The transceiver device, according to claim from 1,  characterised in that  said voltage switching stage (53) is adapted to select said first voltage (V1 ) or said second voltage (V2 ) in response to selection signals (S) received from said transceiver unit (2). 6.  The  transceiver device, according to claim 1,  characterised in that  said first power supply stage (51) comprises a battery switch circuit (511) electrically coupled with said battery unit (10) and a voltage regulation circuit (512) electrically coupled between said battery switch circuit and said voltage switching stage, said battery switch circuit (511) being adapted to electrically connect or disconnect said battery unit with or from said first power supply stage. 7.  The  transceiver device, according to claim 6,  characterised in that  said battery switch circuit (511) is adapted to electrically connect or disconnect said battery unit with or from said voltage regulation circuit in response to enabling signals (E) received from said transceiver unit. 8.  The transceiver device, according to claim 1,  characterised in that  it comprises a power switch (6) that can be operated by a user between a switch-on position, at which said transceiver device is activated, and a switch-off position, at which said transceiver device is deactivated. 9.  The  transceiver device, according to any one of claims 6 or  8,  characterised in that  said power switch (6) is adapted such that it enables said battery switch circuit (511) to electrically connect said battery unit with said first power supply stage (51), when said power switch is operated from said switch-off position to said switch-on position. 10.  The  transceiver device, according to claim 1,  characterised in that  it comprises a signalling unit (8) to provide light signals (L) indicative of an operating status of said transceiver device or of said protection and control device (100). 11.  The transceiver device, according to claim 1,  characterised in that  said transceiver unit (2) is adapted to carry out a first control procedure (P1) including the following steps: - receiving a query message (Q) to be transmitted to said protection and control device (100) from an external computerised device (200); - checking whether the length of a response message (R) to be transmitted to said external computerised device in response to said query message; - if the length of said response message is longer than a given threshold length, dividing said query message in a plurality of sub-query messages (Q1, Q2, Q3) and - transmitting said plurality of sub-query messages (Q1, Q2, Q3) to said protection and control device in substitution of the query message (Q) received from said external computerised device. 12.  The transceiver device, according to claim 1,  characterised in that  said transceiver unit (2) is adapted to carry out a second control procedure (P2) including the following steps: - receiving one or more data packets to be transmitted to said computerised electronic device from said protection and control device; - storing the received data packets in a memory; - checking the operating status of the transmission line (TX) of said serial communication bus (4); - transmitting the stored data packets to said computerised device, if the transmission line (TX) of said serial communication bus (4) stably remains in said stand-by condition and - repeating the previous steps, if the transmission line (TX) of said serial communication bus (4) does not stably remain in said stand-by condition. 13.  A system comprising a transceiver device (1) according to claim 1, and further comprising a protection and control device (100) for electric power systems, the protection and control device (100) being operatively coupled with said transceiver device (1).

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