Power Device GUI Circuit for Safe Fault Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and maintenance of power systems require personnel to understand and apply safety principles, including hazardous area classifications, explosion-protection techniques, and safe testing procedures, which can be complex and pose risks such as electrocution and fire hazards.
Innovation Solution
A retrofit circuit for a power system device that includes a processor, memory, and communication interface, allowing for a graphical user interface (GUI) on a mobile computing system to assist with installation, maintenance, and monitoring. The GUI enables real-time recording and monitoring of tasks, fault finding, and the activation of bypass units to identify faulty components without exposing personnel to hazardous conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If personnel perform manual installation and maintenance of power systems, then they can directly inspect and test components, but they are exposed to hazardous conditions including electrocution and fire risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portable computing device with graphical user interface as an intermediary between personnel and the power system. This device enables remote monitoring, control, and diagnostic functions, allowing personnel to interact with the power system without direct physical contact with hazardous components. The communication interface acts as a mediator that transmits commands and data between the safe zone and the hazardous power system environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection and testing procedures with automated electronic monitoring and diagnostic systems. The portable computing device with its sensors, communication interfaces, and processing capabilities substitutes for physical manual operations, eliminating the need for personnel to physically access hazardous areas for routine inspection and testing tasks.
2Ease of operation
If personnel remove housing covers for inspection and testing, then they can access internal components, but they waste time and expose live contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The portable computing device serves as an intermediary that provides remote access to internal component data and status information. Through wireless communication interfaces and diagnostic protocols, the device can read sensor data, test results, and system parameters without requiring physical access to internal components, thereby eliminating the need to remove housing covers for routine inspections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of physical inspection data through sensors and communication interfaces. Instead of physically accessing components to gather information, the system creates electronic replicas of test results, status indicators, and diagnostic data that can be viewed and analyzed remotely on the portable computing device, eliminating repeated physical access cycles.
3Measurement precision
If personnel perform detailed inspections and testing, then they can identify faults, but they require extensive safety training and certification
Solution Approach 1:
The power system incorporates self-diagnostic capabilities through integrated sensors, communication interfaces, and processing units that automatically monitor system parameters, detect anomalies, and generate diagnostic reports. The system performs self-inspection and fault detection without requiring external personnel to execute complex testing procedures, thereby reducing the need for extensive safety training while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex manual inspection and testing procedures with automated electronic diagnostic systems. The portable computing device with its specialized software and communication protocols substitutes for trained personnel performing detailed physical inspections, transferring the complexity from human expertise requirements to automated algorithmic processing that can be safely executed remotely.
4Productivity
If multiple system power devices are connected in series, then power distribution is achieved, but fault finding becomes difficult and requires housing cover removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through communication interfaces that continuously transmit operational status, diagnostic data, and fault indicators from each power device in the series connection to the portable computing device. This real-time feedback enables remote identification of faulty components without requiring physical access, maintaining power distribution efficiency while simplifying fault detection through automated information return from each device in the series chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital representations of each power device's operational state and diagnostic information through communication interfaces. These digital copies of status data, test results, and fault indicators allow remote analysis of series-connected devices without physical access, enabling efficient fault identification in the power distribution network while preserving the integrity and sealing of device housings.
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.