Electricity Metering Device Dual-Sided Architecture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electricity metering devices are limited in their ability to provide versatile measurement data beyond electricity consumption, failing to integrate fast detection and reactivity to local network irregularities or failures while maintaining accurate metering compliance with regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent electricity metering device with a dual-sided architecture, where the mains side handles regulated metering and the isolated side performs additional processing and communication using a high-speed raw data interface for rapid data transfer, enabling detection of network irregularities and diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single processing unit is used for both metering and additional processing, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of regulated metering deteriorate due to potential interference and regulatory compliance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electricity metering device into two distinct sides: a mains side with a first processing unit dedicated to regulated metering, and an isolated side with a second processing unit for additional processing. This segmentation ensures that the metering functions remain isolated and compliant with regulations while enabling extended functionality through the separate processing unit on the isolated side.
2Productivity
If data is transferred through a single bidirectional interface, then communication flexibility is maintained, but data transfer speed and processing efficiency deteriorate due to protocol overhead and bidirectional negotiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary unidirectional high-speed raw data interface that directly connects the mains side to the isolated side, bypassing the need for complex bidirectional protocol negotiations. This intermediary interface enables rapid data transfer for tasks such as arc detection and network irregularity monitoring while the bidirectional interface handles standardized communication protocols.
3Reliability
If additional processing capabilities are added to detect network irregularities, then functionality and reliability improve, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into regulated metering functions on the mains side and additional monitoring functions on the isolated side. This allows network irregularity detection, arc detection, and other enhanced monitoring capabilities to be added through the isolated side processing unit without complicating the core regulated metering system.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolated side processing unit serves multiple functions including network irregularity detection, arc detection, data analysis, and communication. This multi-functional approach allows enhanced reliability and monitoring capabilities to be achieved without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single processing unit handles multiple advanced features.
4Reliability
If digital isolation is implemented between sides, then reliability and regulatory compliance improve, but communication efficiency and data transfer speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements digital isolation between the mains side and isolated side while maintaining high-speed communication through a dedicated unidirectional high-speed raw data interface. This intermediary interface is specifically designed to work with the isolated architecture, enabling rapid data transfer for time-critical applications such as arc detection without compromising the reliability provided by digital isolation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an intelligent electricity metering device for metering electric power consumption comprising a metering unit connected to a first processing unit on a mains side and a second processing unit connected to a communication unit on an isolated side. The mains side and the isolated side are digitally isolated from each other. In addition, the first processing unit is connected to the second processing unit by a first interface and the metering unit is connected to the second processing unit by a second interface.