Multi-Rate Waveform Capture in Power Quality Meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hardware architectures are unable to support multiple rate waveform capture due to performance limitations, memory bandwidth constraints, and memory size limitations, leading to inefficient data processing and storage in intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) used for power quality monitoring and energy management.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically pre-orders high-resolution sampled data into separate high and low resolution streams, optimizing data manipulation and storage by offloading the process of pre-ordering full bandwidth samples into two or more data sub-streams, allowing for concurrent accumulation and storage of high and low resolution samples with independently settable capture intervals, thereby facilitating multi-rate concurrent waveform capture and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single large data buffer is used to accommodate low sample rate data time intervals, then low resolution waveform capture is supported, but memory size and processing efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single large data buffer into multiple separate buffers, each dedicated to a specific sample rate (e.g., high sample rate buffer for 1024 samples/cycle, low sample rate buffer for 128 samples/cycle). This segmentation allows each buffer to be optimally sized for its specific purpose, eliminating the need for a single oversized buffer that must accommodate the largest time interval requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating specialized buffers with properties optimized for their specific function. Each buffer is configured with appropriate size, data structure, and access patterns tailored to its designated sample rate, rather than using a generic uniform buffer structure for all data types.
2Measurement precision
If high sample rate is used for all captures to maintain high resolution data capture, then high resolution event monitoring is improved, but storage requirements and memory bandwidth increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data capture system into multiple parallel pathways, each handling a specific sample rate. High sample rate data (1024 samples/cycle) is captured in dedicated high-resolution buffers only when needed for transient events, while low sample rate data (128 samples/cycle) is captured separately for continuous monitoring, thereby eliminating the need to store high-resolution data continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the sampling rate parameter based on the type of event being monitored. The system can switch between high sample rate (1024 samples/cycle) for transient capture and low sample rate (128 samples/cycle) for continuous monitoring, optimizing storage requirements while maintaining measurement precision when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single large pool of memory is used for waveform capture, then both high and low resolution data can be stored, but CPU processing efficiency deteriorates due to the need to identify and select data from the memory pool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the memory pool into multiple dedicated buffers, each associated with a specific sample rate and event type. This eliminates the CPU's need to search through a large pool of mixed data to identify relevant samples, as each buffer is already organized and labeled for its specific purpose. The CPU can directly access the appropriate buffer based on the current capture mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of captured data by routing high sample rate and low sample rate data to their respective dedicated buffers at the time of capture. This pre-sorting and pre-organization eliminates the need for subsequent data selection and identification processes, significantly improving CPU processing efficiency during data retrieval and analysis.
4Duration of action of moving object
If low resolution sampling rate is used to support capture over longer period of time, then capture duration is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic multi-rate sampling system that can adaptively switch between low sample rate (128 samples/cycle) for extended continuous monitoring and high sample rate (1024 samples/cycle) for detailed transient capture. The system dynamically adjusts the sampling rate based on the specific monitoring requirements, allowing long-duration capture when low resolution suffices while maintaining high precision when transients occur.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for use in an IED that perform high resolution waveform capture to generate multi-rate waveform data in real-time. In one embodiment, high-resolution sampled data is dynamically pre-ordered into separate high resolution and low resolution data streams for presentation and storage. This pre-ordering of data is optimized so as to minimize the amount of data manipulation required to prepare the sampled data for eventual presentation and storage in the IED. Pre-ordering of data facilitates minimum performance impact so that continuous real-time data capture can be achieved.