Dual-ADC Electrical Meter for Certified Metrology and Load Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical meters face challenges in providing additional functionalities beyond measuring electric energy consumption without compromising the accuracy of the metrology component, which requires costly certification and may not have sufficient processing capabilities to support these features.
Innovation Solution
The use of dual analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) within an electrical meter, where a first set is used by the metrology component for accurate energy consumption calculations and a second set by an application processing component to provide additional functionalities, such as grid operation monitoring and device identification, without affecting the metrology component's certification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the metrology component is used to provide additional functionalities beyond energy consumption measurement, then the versatility of the electrical meter is improved, but the measurement precision and certification accuracy of the metrology component deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrical meter into two independent processing paths: a metrology component dedicated to accurate energy consumption measurement and an application processing component for additional functionalities. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently without interfering with the other's performance or certification status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the additional functionality processing from the metrology component and places it in a separate application processing component. This extraction prevents the metrology component from being burdened with non-metrology tasks that could compromise its accuracy or require recertification.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the metrology component is enhanced to support additional features, then the adaptability of the electrical meter is improved, but the device complexity and certification costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical meter system into distinct functional modules: a metrology component for measurement and an application processing component for additional features. This modular segmentation reduces overall system complexity by clearly defining boundaries and responsibilities of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The application processing component serves as a universal platform that can implement multiple different functionalities (power outage detection, device identification, etc.) without requiring changes to the certified metrology component, thus managing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Device complexity
If a single ADC is used for both metrology and application processing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of the metrology component deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses two separate ADCs: one dedicated to the metrology component for accurate energy measurement and another for the application processing component. This segmentation ensures that each ADC can be optimized for its specific purpose without compromising the other's performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a second ADC that essentially copies the functionality of the first ADC but is dedicated solely to application processing. This copying approach allows the system to have specialized processing paths without requiring complex shared resources that could compromise measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical meter may have more than one analog-to-digital converter to allow the electrical meter to provide additional functionality. A first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may be used by a metrology component of an electrical meter to determine an amount of energy consumption corresponding to power provided via the electrical meter. The electrical mater may have a second ADC that is separate from the first ADC used by the metrology component. The second ADC may have a different configuration from the first ADC, such as a different sampling rate or bit depth. The second ADC may be used to provide additional functionality, such as determining information about individual devices receiving power via the electrical meter.