Active Filter Device for Electromagnetic Noise Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional passive filters for mitigating electromagnetic noise on power lines are large and expensive, especially at low frequencies, and often fail to effectively address issues like earth leakage current, spurious tripping of residual current devices, and disturbance to power line communications in the 1kHz to 150kHz range.

Innovation Solution

An active filter device with a unity gain amplifier and high-pass filter, coupled with a bootstrap connection, is used to generate a correction signal that compensates noise signals, allowing for a compact and cost-effective solution by using active components and a power supply to achieve efficient noise cancellation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If passive filters are used to mitigate electromagnetic noise on power lines, then filtering capability is achieved, but the filter size and cost increase significantly, especially at low frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic noiseVSAvoidfilter size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional passive mechanical filter structure (inductors and capacitors) with an active electronic system consisting of sensors, signal processors, and correction signal generators. This substitution enables effective noise filtering without requiring large physical components, particularly at low frequencies where passive filters would be excessively large.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operating parameters by using active components that can dynamically adjust their characteristics. The system processes sensor signals through high-pass filters and generates correction signals with specific frequency characteristics to counteract electromagnetic noise, achieving filtering without the size constraints of passive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If passive filters are used to mitigate electromagnetic noise on power lines, then filtering capability is achieved, but the filter cost increases significantly, especially at low frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic noiseVSAvoidfilter cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive passive filter components (large inductors and capacitors) with more cost-effective active electronic components. The active filter device uses sensors, signal processing circuits, and correction signal generators that can be manufactured at lower cost while providing equivalent or superior filtering performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the cost structure by using active components with favorable cost characteristics. The system achieves filtering through electronic signal processing rather than large passive components, significantly reducing material and manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If passive filters are used, then filtering is provided, but they fail to effectively address earth leakage current and spurious tripping in the 1kHz to 150kHz range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic noiseVSAvoideffectiveness against earth leakage current
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where sensors continuously monitor the power line for electromagnetic noise and earth leakage current. The sensor signals are processed through high-pass filters to identify problematic frequencies in the 1kHz to 150kHz range, and correction signals are generated and applied to counteract these disturbances, providing reliable protection against earth leakage current and spurious tripping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the filtering approach by using active components that can dynamically respond to different frequency ranges. The high-pass filter and correction signal generator are specifically configured to address the 1kHz to 150kHz range where earth leakage current and spurious tripping occur, providing targeted and effective mitigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Volume of stationary object

If active components are used to create compact filters, then filter size is reduced, but a power supply is required for the active components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter sizeVSAvoidpower supply requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into the active filter device. The same active components that provide filtering also handle signal sensing, processing, and correction signal generation. The power supply is efficiently utilized to drive these multiple functions within a compact form factor, making the added complexity worthwhile for the significant size reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The active filter device provides effective noise cancellation with a flat stop band and rapid transition to the pass band, reducing undesirable ringing and achieving significant attenuation of electromagnetic noise, thus addressing the limitations of passive filters.

Implementation Method 1

a high-pass filter being coupled between the sensor terminals and the signal source, wherein the correction signal is generated with dependence on the high-pass filtered sensor signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh-pass filter: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 2

a signal source being adapted for generating the correction signal and comprising an unity gain amplifier means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUnity gain amplification:

Implementation Method 3

the bootstrap connection comprises a dc blocking capacitor being coupled in series with a resistor and a capacitor that are coupled in parallel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDC blocking: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2945268B1Active filter device and circuit arrangement comprising an active filter device
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 TDK ELECTRONICS AG
  • EP2945268B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2945268B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2945268B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An active filter device (4) comprising: - sensor terminals (CTN, CTP) for applying a sensor signal depending on a sensed noise signal (Is, Vs), -an output terminal (OUT) for providing a correction signal (Io, Vo) that is suitable for reducing the noise signal (Is, Vs), - a signal source (1, 2, 12) being adapted for generating the correction signal (Io, Vo), -a high-pass filter (HPF) being coupled between the sensor terminals (CTN, CTP) and the signal source, wherein the correction signal (Io, Vo) is generated with dependence on the high-pass filtered sensor signal.