Digital Line Protection Device Using Current Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric line protection methods, such as fuses, face complexity in designing analog circuitry and software models for achieving specific fuse characteristics, leading to inefficiencies in protecting electric lines from excessive current flow.
Innovation Solution
A line protection device comprising terminals, a current sensor, a digital filter circuit, and a switch control circuit that digitally filters the electric current and controls a switch to interrupt the current flow based on filtered values, allowing for efficient protection by mimicking the time-current characteristic of the electric line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If analog circuitry is designed to achieve a certain fuse characteristic, then the protection function is provided, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog circuitry with a digital system consisting of a microcontroller and digital filter. The microcontroller samples current values through an ADC, processes them using digital filtering algorithms, and controls the switch accordingly. This substitution of mechanical/analog systems with digital ones reduces design complexity while maintaining the protection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters from continuous analog signals to discrete digital samples. By sampling the current at specific intervals and processing these discrete values through digital filters, the system achieves the same protective function with reduced complexity. The digital approach allows for flexible parameter adjustment without redesigning the entire circuit.
2Reliability
If a software model of a fuse is implemented, then the protection function is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a software-based protection model using a microcontroller that samples current, processes it through digital filtering algorithms, and controls switching accordingly. This software model replaces complex hardware implementations while reducing overall device complexity through integration and programmability.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller serves multiple functions: current sampling via ADC, digital filtering processing, switch control, and potential additional monitoring capabilities. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate dedicated circuits, reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive protection functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A line protection device includes terminals to connect the line protection device in series with an electric line. A current sensor of the line protection device senses a value of electric current through the electric line. A digital filter circuit of the line protection device performs digital filtering of the value of electric current. Depending on the digitally filtered value of the electric current, a switch control circuit of the line protection device controls a switch to interrupt flow of the electric current through the line.