Current Sensing Circuit for Fast Fault Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current supervisory devices for detecting and predicting faults in electrical systems, such as overcurrents or malfunctioning subsystems, rely on simple threshold comparisons, which are inefficient and delay intervention.

Innovation Solution

A current supervisory device that utilizes advanced signal processing techniques, including functions like differences, derivatives, integrals, frequency domain representations, and correlation with stored patterns, to quickly detect or predict faults by analyzing time series data of sensed currents, allowing for timely event signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If simple threshold comparison is used for overcurrent detection, then device complexity is reduced, but detection speed and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection mechanism complexityVSAvoidfault detection speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing multiple historical current values and pre-defining multiple detection functions (difference, derivative, integral, frequency domain, correlation) before a fault occurs. When a fault event happens, the processing circuit can immediately apply these pre-prepared functions to the stored data, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations and achieving fast detection without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects different detection functions based on the type of fault being detected. Instead of using a single static threshold comparison, the processing circuit can switch between multiple detection functions (such as derivative for rapid changes, integral for sustained overcurrent, frequency domain for periodic patterns) to optimize detection speed and accuracy for different fault scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If single current value comparison is used, then processing simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision and fault detection accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing circuit complexityVSAvoidfault detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores multiple historical current values in advance, creating a data foundation that enables precise fault detection. By having this historical data readily available, the processing circuit can perform sophisticated analyses (such as correlation with predefined patterns or frequency domain transformations) to accurately distinguish between normal variations and actual faults, significantly improving measurement precision without requiring complex real-time processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies multiple detection functions simultaneously or selectively to the stored current values, using more processing power than a simple threshold comparison would require. This excessive action in terms of computational effort enables the system to achieve higher measurement precision by examining the current signal from multiple perspectives (time domain, frequency domain, derivative, integral) and selecting the most appropriate detection result.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If advanced signal processing functions are applied, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system resolves the complexity issue by performing all sophisticated signal processing准备工作 in advance - storing multiple current values and having multiple detection functions pre-defined. When a fault is detected, the processing circuit simply needs to retrieve the appropriate pre-stored data and apply the relevant pre-defined function, rather than performing complex calculations in real-time. This preliminary preparation maintains low device complexity while enabling high detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The detection system is segmented into distinct functional modules: current sensing means for acquiring the signal, storage means for holding historical values, and a processing circuit that selectively applies different detection functions. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple while the overall system achieves high detection accuracy through the coordinated use of multiple specialized functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4206692B1Current supervisory device
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
  • EP4206692B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4206692B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4206692B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present invention relates to a current sensor device (1) comprising : - current sensing means (3) for sensing a current, - a circuit (5) arranged to convert a signal (4) received from the current sensing means into a signal (6) indicative of the sensed current, - storage means (7) for storing a plurality of values of the signal indicative of the sensed current, - a processing circuit (9) arranged for receiving a subset of the plurality of values stored in the storage means, for detecting or predicting an event based on a function of the subset, said function being stored in the storage means, and for generating a corresponding event signal, said current supervisory device further comprising an interface circuit (10) arranged to output the corresponding event signal.