Electric Meter Fire Detection via Supply Current Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Faulty installation of electricity meters can lead to overheating and fires, necessitating a fire detection system that does not require hardware modifications and is cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
An accessory device mounted on the electricity meter uses a secondary processing unit to modulate the supply current and transmit fire detection messages through a pre-existing interface, incorporating smoke detection and temperature sensors to determine the fire's origin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If accessory equipment is added to enable fire detection, then fire detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory equipment is nested within the meter housing structure, utilizing the meter's existing physical enclosure. The accessory equipment includes a smoke detection device and processing unit that are integrated into the meter's housing, allowing fire detection functionality to be added without requiring a separate external device or major structural modifications to the meter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the meter's existing TIC interface as an intermediary to power the accessory equipment and transmit detection messages. The TIC interface serves as a mediator between the accessory equipment and the meter's main processing unit, enabling communication without requiring direct hardware modifications to the meter's core circuitry.
2Reliability
If hardware modifications are made to the meter, then fire detection function is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory equipment is designed to utilize pre-existing interfaces and power supplies on the meter (TIC interface) before any installation or modification takes place. The equipment is configured to work with the meter's existing electrical and communication infrastructure, eliminating the need for hardware modifications during installation or manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory equipment is powered by and communicates through the meter's existing TIC interface, allowing the system to serve itself without external power sources or additional communication infrastructure. The equipment uses the meter's own power supply and data transmission capabilities, eliminating the need for separate power wiring or communication hardware modifications.
3Loss of information
If complex communication protocol is implemented for two-way communication, then information exchange is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing complex two-way communication protocols, the patent inverts the approach by using the existing one-way TIC interface for bidirectional communication. The accessory equipment modulates the power supply current to encode messages, allowing information to be transmitted from the accessory equipment to the meter through the existing unidirectional power interface, effectively achieving two-way communication without complex protocols.
4Ease of manufacture
If pre-existing interface is used for power and communication, then cost is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory equipment changes the electrical parameters of the power supply current to encode communication messages. By modulating the current drawn from the TIC interface, the system transmits information through variations in power consumption patterns, enabling flexible message transmission through a fixed interface without requiring additional communication hardware or reducing manufacturing costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fire detection and formal proof that the meter is not the fire's cause, without modifying the meter's hardware, using simple components and existing interfaces for cost-effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter arranged to emit light signals and a light receiver, which are positioned in the housing of the accessory equipment such that: when the housing does not contain smoke particles, the light receiver does not detect the light signals emitted by the light emitter; when the housing contains smoke particles, the light signals emitted by the light emitter are at least partially reflected by said smoke particles and detected by the light receiver
Implementation Method 2
a secondary processing unit arranged to transmit at least one message to the electricity meter by modulating a supply current of the accessory equipment produced by the meter and flowing via the at least one primary port and the at least one secondary port
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Accessory equipment (2) arranged to be mounted on an electric meter (1) which may comprise a primary port (I1, A) to which the electric meter applies a supply voltage, comprising: - a secondary port (21) arranged to be connected to the primary port when the equipment is mounted on the meter, the equipment thus being electrically powered by the supply voltage; - a secondary processing unit arranged to transmit a message to the meter by modulating a supply current of the equipment produced by the meter and flowing via the primary port and the secondary port.