Electric Service Component Detection via Voltage Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric service detection methods in electrical energy meters require complex calculations, such as Discrete Fourier Transform, which consume significant software, hardware, and time resources, making them inefficient for determining service components like service type, nominal voltage, and phase rotation.
Innovation Solution
An electrical energy meter determines service components by measuring voltage signals, comparing them to tabulated reference information within allowable tolerance ranges, and detecting zero crossings to determine phase rotation, thereby eliminating the need for direct phase angle calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Discrete Fourier Transform calculations are used to determine phase angles for service detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and computational resource usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (voltage magnitudes and zero-crossing timing) from the complex voltage signals, avoiding the need to perform full Discrete Fourier Transform calculations. By taking out only the essential features needed for service detection, the system achieves adequate measurement precision without the computational burden of complete spectral analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of calculating phase angles through complex forward transformation (DFT), the patent inverts the approach by directly measuring voltage magnitudes and zero-crossing times, then using these measurements to infer service characteristics. This inverse methodology eliminates the need for computationally intensive phase angle calculations while still providing accurate service detection.
2Measurement precision
If complex DFT calculations are performed for service detection, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential features (voltage magnitudes and zero-crossing times) needed for service detection, avoiding unnecessary computational steps. This extraction approach maintains sufficient measurement precision for identifying service type, nominal voltage, and phase rotation while dramatically reducing the processing time required compared to full DFT calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the minimum necessary measurements and calculations (voltage magnitude and zero-crossing detection) rather than complete spectral analysis. This partial approach provides adequate service detection accuracy for practical purposes while minimizing processing time and computational resource usage.
3Measurement precision
If direct phase angle calculation is used, then service detection accuracy is improved, but software and hardware resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (voltage magnitudes and zero-crossing timing) from the voltage signals, avoiding the need to perform resource-intensive phase angle calculations. This extraction methodology maintains adequate service detection accuracy while significantly reducing software processing requirements and hardware resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, computationally inexpensive measurements (voltage magnitude and zero-crossing detection) instead of expensive, resource-intensive DFT calculations. These simple measurements consume minimal software and hardware resources while providing sufficient accuracy for service detection, effectively replacing complex computational objects with simpler alternatives.
Data Source
AI summary
Components of an electric service may be identified by measuring voltage signals relating to the connection of an electrical energy meter connected to the electric service. The voltage signals that may be measured include line to neutral voltages and line to line voltages. The values of the measured voltage signals may be compared to reference information comprising tabulated values that may be tabulated as ratios of nominal service voltages associated with different service types.