Intelligent Electronic Device Broad-Range High Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital power and energy meters face challenges in achieving accuracy across various industry-standard voltage, current, and frequency ranges due to part-to-part variations and differing signal levels, requiring multiple configurations and recalibration for each range, which can lead to inoperability or inaccuracy in different applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of an intelligent electronic device, such as a digital electrical power and energy meter, featuring individually-adjustable gain-controlled channels and a processing module that performs calibration measurements using known voltage and current sources to determine calibration factors, allowing optimal accuracy across multiple voltage, current, and frequency ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple configurations and recalibration are performed for each voltage, current, and frequency range, then measurement accuracy is improved for specific ranges, but device complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal meter design that can accurately measure multiple voltage, current, and frequency ranges without requiring different configurations or recalibration. The system uses a single set of measurement circuits that automatically adapt to different input ranges through digital signal processing and calibration algorithms, eliminating the need for multiple specialized configurations while maintaining high measurement accuracy across all ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic parameter adjustment through digital calibration factors that are automatically applied based on the detected input range. The system changes measurement parameters such as gain, sampling rate, and calibration coefficients in real-time according to the voltage, current, and frequency levels being measured, allowing a single device to maintain optimal accuracy across diverse operating conditions without physical reconfiguration.
2Measurement precision
If multiple configurations and recalibration are performed for each voltage, current, and frequency range, then measurement accuracy is improved for specific ranges, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-stores multiple calibration factors corresponding to different voltage, current, and frequency ranges in memory. When the meter is deployed, it automatically detects the input range and retrieves the appropriate calibration factors instantaneously without requiring on-site recalibration. This preliminary preparation of calibration data eliminates time-consuming recalibration procedures while maintaining measurement accuracy across all ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the input signal characteristics (voltage level, current magnitude, frequency) and automatically adjusts the calibration factors being applied based on real-time feedback from the measurement circuits. This closed-loop approach ensures the correct calibration is applied without manual intervention or time-consuming recalibration, maintaining accuracy while minimizing time loss.
3Measurement precision
If different IEDs are purchased for different input ranges, then measurement accuracy is ensured for each specific application, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a single universal IED platform that can accurately measure all standard voltage, current, and frequency ranges used in electrical power systems. The system uses a unified measurement architecture with digital signal processing and stored calibration factors that eliminate the need for multiple specialized device variants, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining measurement accuracy across all applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements software-based parameter adjustment that allows a single hardware design to adapt to different measurement ranges through digital calibration factors and signal processing parameters. This approach eliminates the need to manufacture different hardware configurations for different ranges, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and complexity while preserving measurement accuracy through programmable parameter changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus provides high-accuracy measurements of an electrical parameter across a broad range of parameter input values. In one embodiment, an intelligent electronic device (IED), e.g., a digital electrical power and energy meter, with a plurality of independently-adjustable gain factors measures a parameter, and calculates and stores calibration factors associated with known values of the measured parameter. The IED or meter applies the stored calibration factors when measuring unknown values of the measured parameter, to improve the accuracy of the measurement.