Auto-Commissioning Network for Adjacent Electrical Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

The commissioning of multiple electrical devices is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, particularly in environments where standard practices like US 2010 083 356 A1 and mesh network commissioning methods are not fully efficient for real-time monitoring and control across diverse electrical setups.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an auto-commissioning system for electrical devices, which includes a transceiver and an auto-commissioning engine that communicates with adjacent devices to identify and commission them using broadcast communications and reply messages, enabling a network of devices to self-configure and meet industry standards such as NEC, NEMA, and IEC.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual commissioning of multiple electrical devices is performed using standard practices, then each device can be individually tested and accounted for, but the process becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice commissioning completenessVSAvoidcommissioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The commissioning system enables devices to automatically commission themselves by broadcasting their presence and receiving commissioning parameters from adjacent devices. Each device acts as its own commissioner, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing commissioning time while ensuring all devices are properly configured and accounted for.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary commissioning actions automatically when devices are first powered on or added to the network. Devices broadcast their identification information immediately upon activation, and the commissioning engine pre-configures them with necessary parameters before they become fully operational, ensuring no device is missed and commissioning is completed efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional commissioning methods are used for diverse electrical setups, then each device type can be handled according to its specific requirements, but the process lacks efficiency for real-time monitoring and control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice type compatibilityVSAvoidcommissioning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The commissioning system is designed with universal functionality that can handle diverse electrical devices through a common communication protocol. The transceiver and commissioning engine can broadcast and receive identification information from any adjacent device regardless of type, and automatically adapt configuration parameters to suit different device requirements, achieving both versatility and efficiency.

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

3Productivity

If automatic commissioning is implemented using transceiver communication, then commissioning time and resources are reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommissioning speedVSAvoidauto-commissioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the commissioning functionality directly into the existing transceiver hardware of each electrical device. By combining identification broadcasting, reception of commissioning parameters, and self-configuration capabilities within the device's existing communication infrastructure, the system achieves automatic commissioning without adding separate complex commissioning hardware or manual intervention processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3488304B1Auto-commissioning of electrical devices
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD
  • EP3488304B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3488304B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3488304B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An electrical device of a network of electrical devices can include an auto- commissioning device having a transceiver and an auto-commissioning engine, where the transceiver communicates with an adjacent transceiver of an adjacent electrical device, where the auto-commissioning engine, based on communication between the transceiver and the adjacent transceiver, identifies and commissions the adjacent electrical device.