Oblique Inductive Component Mounting for Magnetic Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern electronic meters are vulnerable to fraudulent operations using strong magnets, which disrupt energy measurement and communication, and existing solutions like shielding increase costs and size.

Innovation Solution

The electronic meter design features an inductive component with a conductive wire winding axis oriented obliquely to the planar face, making it harder for magnets to effectively disturb the meter's operation by requiring the magnet to be inclined, thus reducing the magnetic field's impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If shielding is added to protect inductive components from magnetic fields, then magnetic immunity is improved, but cost and size of the meter increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic immunityVSAvoidsize of the meter
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The winding axis of the inductive component is oriented obliquely (at an angle between 30° and 60°) relative to the normal of the flat face, breaking the symmetry that would otherwise align the winding axis perpendicular to the face. This asymmetric orientation ensures that a magnet placed on the flat face cannot easily align its magnetic field with the winding axis, thereby reducing magnetic interference without requiring additional shielding components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding shielding in the same dimensional plane (which would increase size), the solution introduces a dimensional change by tilting the winding axis out of the perpendicular alignment. This spatial reorientation in a different angular dimension effectively reduces the magnet's ability to couple with the inductive component, achieving protection without increasing the meter's external dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If shielding is added to protect inductive components from magnetic fields, then magnetic immunity is improved, but cost of the meter increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic immunityVSAvoidcost of the meter
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The winding axis of the inductive component is oriented obliquely (at an angle between 30° and 60°) relative to the normal of the flat face, breaking the symmetry that would otherwise align the winding axis perpendicular to the face. This asymmetric orientation ensures that a magnet placed on the flat face cannot easily align its magnetic field with the winding axis, thereby reducing magnetic interference without requiring additional shielding components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The solution uses the existing inductive component structure (transformer, inductor, or relay) with a modified winding orientation rather than adding expensive permanent magnetic shields. By utilizing the inherent properties of the inductive component and simply changing its mounting angle, the patent achieves magnetic immunity without incurring additional material or manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the winding axis is oriented obliquely, then magnetic interference is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic interferenceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The winding axis of the inductive component is oriented obliquely (at an angle between 30° and 60°) relative to the normal of the flat face, breaking the symmetry that would otherwise align the winding axis perpendicular to the face. This asymmetric orientation ensures that a magnet placed on the flat face cannot easily align its magnetic field with the winding axis, thereby reducing magnetic interference without requiring additional shielding components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameter of the inductive component's orientation from the conventional perpendicular alignment to an oblique angle between 30° and 60° relative to the normal of the flat face. This parameter change alone is sufficient to reduce magnetic interference, as it prevents easy alignment between the magnet's field and the winding axis, without introducing additional complex structures or mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design significantly limits the risk of magnetic interference without increasing the meter's cost or size, making it more difficult for fraudsters to disrupt the meter's operation.

Implementation Method 1

The magnetic field generated by the magnet saturates the coils of the inductive components whose inductive value collapses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2963427B1Electronic counter with magnetic immunity
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS
  • EP2963427B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

An electronic meter of the type electric meter, comprising a housing (2) including at least one substantially flat face (9) and containing at least one electronic board (12) substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat face, the electronic board (12) being provided with at least one inductive component (16) having a winding of conductive wire around a winding axis (X) substantially parallel to the electronic board (12). According to the invention, the inductive component (16) is mounted on the board (12) such that the winding axis extends obliquely with respect to the substantially flat face (9).