Circuit Breaker Calibration Shift Register
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing calibration methods for electronic tripping units in circuit breakers are unreliable and slow, particularly in electromagnetic disturbed environments, and require extensive memory access times, which can be hazardous during short-circuit conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of shift registers for rapid and reliable transmission of predetermined identifiers to the tripping unit, allowing for quick calibration and contact opening in circuit breakers, with read commands generated only when the current exceeds a threshold, enabling fast and accurate calibration data retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If memory is used to store calibration values, then calibration data can be stored, but access time becomes long (5-10 ms)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts calibration values from analog circuits and stores them directly in digital memory as binary data. This eliminates the need for analog-to-digital conversion during operation, allowing rapid retrieval of calibration values from memory without conversion delays, thus resolving the contradiction between storage capability and access speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces analog circuits with digital electronic systems. Calibration values are stored as digital binary data in memory rather than as analog electrical quantities, enabling much faster access times (microseconds vs. milliseconds) while maintaining storage capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If analog circuits are used for calibration, then calibration values can be set, but the system becomes sensitive to electromagnetic disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog circuits with digital electronic systems. Calibration values are stored and processed as digital binary data rather than analog electrical signals, making the system immune to electromagnetic disturbances while maintaining ease of calibration setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of calibration values from analog electrical quantities to digital binary data. This parameter change fundamentally alters the system's susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, as digital data representation is inherently more robust against such disturbances.
3Quantity of substance
If EEPROM memory is used to store calibration values, then data can be memorized, but memorization time is considerable (5-10 ms)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts calibration values from analog circuits and loads them directly into digital memory during manufacturing. This one-time loading process eliminates the need for repeated memorization operations, and the memory can then retrieve calibration values instantly during operation, resolving the contradiction between storage and memorization time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the calibration value loading operation in advance during manufacturing, before the circuit breaker enters service. This preliminary action ensures that calibration values are already in the memory and ready for immediate retrieval during operation, eliminating any memorization time delays during critical operations.
4Ease of manufacture
If calibration values are written to memory before use, then calibration can be performed, but the process is slow and hazardous during short-circuit conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog calibration circuits with digital memory systems that store calibration values as binary data. This substitution enables instantaneous retrieval of calibration values during operation, eliminating the slow analog conversion process and making the system safe for use during short-circuit conditions where rapid response is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of calibration values in memory that can be retrieved instantly without modifying the original calibration data. This copying mechanism allows rapid access to calibration information during critical operations without the delays associated with analog circuit operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This calibration element (16A) of an electronic tripping unit (14A) for a circuit breaker, which includes a tripping element for opening the circuit breaker contacts and means for controlling the tripping element, includes at least one reading element (32A, 34A) adapted to read the contents of at least one first storage element (28A, 30A). Each first storage element (28A, 30A) is adapted to store a predetermined identifier. The electronic tripping unit also includes control means adapted to generate and transmit to each calibration element a command to read each predetermined identifier, and the tripping unit (14A) is adapted to control the opening of the circuit breaker contacts according to each predetermined identifier.Each reading unit (32A, 34A) has a shift register adapted to, in response to the transmission of the read command, read each predetermined identifier and send each read predetermined identifier to the trigger unit (14A).