Atomic Clock Smart Meter for GPS-Free Time Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smart electric meters rely on GPS for time synchronization, making them susceptible to random GPS loss and cyber-attacks, and they record data with large intervals and low quality, limiting their utility in monitoring and control applications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a chip-scale atomic clock to provide a precise timing signal for time-stamping meter readings, eliminating the need for a GPS antenna and improving installation, maintainability, and measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based time synchronization is used, then time synchronization capability is provided, but susceptibility to GPS loss and cyber-attacks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time synchronization function from the external GPS system and implements it using an integrated atomic clock within the phasor measurement device. This eliminates the need for GPS antenna and signal reception, removing the vulnerability to GPS-related harmful factors while maintaining reliable time synchronization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The atomic clock serves as an intermediary time source that provides time synchronization signals independently of GPS. It mediates the time synchronization requirement without relying on external satellite signals, thereby eliminating exposure to GPS loss and cyber-attacks while ensuring continuous reliable operation
2Reliability
If GPS antenna and wiring are installed, then time synchronization is achieved, but installation complexity and maintainability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the GPS antenna and external wiring requirements by integrating the time synchronization function into the atomic clock module. This simplifies installation by eliminating physical antenna mounting and wiring tasks, while also improving maintainability through a self-contained integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The time synchronization function is merged with the atomic clock into a single integrated module. This combination eliminates the need for separate GPS antenna and wiring components, simplifying both installation and maintenance while ensuring reliable time synchronization
3Quantity of substance
If hourly data recording is used, then data storage requirements are reduced, but measurement precision and utility for monitoring control decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the time interval parameter from hourly recording to continuous or sub-second recording enabled by atomic clock precision. This parameter change allows capturing transient events and maintaining high measurement precision while the atomic clock's stability ensures efficient data management
Data Source
AI summary
Smart electric meters configured to perform fast, time-synchronized electrical energy measurements at the consumer-level are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a smart electric meter includes circuitry configured to measure an electrical value at a location of an end user in a power system. The smart electric meter can further include an atomic clock configured to output a timing signal, and a controller configured to receive (a) the measured electrical value from the circuitry and (b) the timing signal from the atomic clock. The controller can further (a) process the electrical value to generate meter data and (b) generate a time tag based on the timing signal. Then, the controller can associate the time tag with the meter data to generate time-tagged meter data.