Power Device GUI Circuit for Safe External Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power system maintenance and installation require personnel to follow safety protocols, including hazardous area classifications and testing procedures, but existing methods lack real-time monitoring and documentation tools, leading to potential safety risks and inefficiencies, especially in interconnected power systems with renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A retrofit circuit with a processor, memory, and communication interface connected to a mobile computing system provides a graphical user interface for real-time monitoring and documentation, allowing for fault identification and reducing the need for unnecessary housing cover removals, while enabling firmware updates and data recording in interconnected power systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual inspection and testing methods are used for power system maintenance, then personnel can perform basic safety checks, but safety risks increase due to exposure to live contacts and loss of time through unnecessary housing cover removals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection methods with automated electronic testing systems. The system uses electronic communication interfaces and processors to automatically detect faults through electrical signals, eliminating the need for manual housing cover removal and direct physical contact with live components. This substitution reduces both safety risks and time loss while maintaining inspection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary testing system that communicates with power devices through standardized communication interfaces. This intermediary system acts as a mediator between personnel and the live power system, allowing fault detection without direct human contact with hazardous components. The communication interface serves as a safe intermediary channel for gathering system information
2Ease of operation
If housing covers are removed for inspection and testing, then internal components can be accessed, but seal integrity is compromised and exposure to live contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical access methods (physical opening of housings) with electronic communication methods. The system establishes communication with power devices through external interfaces without requiring physical access to internal components, thereby eliminating exposure to live contacts while maintaining ease of operation through wireless or wired communication protocols
3Productivity
If housing covers are repeatedly removed and reclosed, then inspection can be performed, but seal integrity deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces repeated mechanical opening and closing operations with a single external communication interface. The system performs all necessary inspections through electronic communication without compromising the housing seal, thereby maintaining both inspection efficiency and seal integrity over the device's operational lifetime
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the inspection process through electronic data transmission. Instead of physically accessing components, the system obtains digital representations of component status through communication interfaces, allowing repeated inspections without physical intervention that would degrade seal integrity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for a system power device utilized in an interconnected power system. The interconnected power system may include multiple system power devices connected to various inter connections of groups of direct currents (DC) from power sources which also may be connected in various series, parallel, series parallel and parallel series combinations for example. The apparatus may include a processor connected to a memory and a communication interface operatively attached to the processor. The communication interface may be adapted to connect to a mobile computing system of a user in close proximity to the system power devices. A graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile computing system may allow various operational and re-configuration options for the interconnected power system which may include installation, maintenance and monitoring schedules in the interconnected power system when the user of the GUI is in close proximity to the system power devices.