Protective Device Functional Group Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective devices for electrical systems are complex and prone to user input errors, making them difficult to operate quickly and efficiently.

Innovation Solution

The protective device is designed with functional groups, allowing for the assignment of function modules, which reduces the number of user inputs required by limiting connections between specific types of function modules and measurement inputs, thereby simplifying the configuration and reducing error probability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If protective devices allow flexible assignment of function modules to measurement inputs, then the device can be adapted to various system topologies, but the complexity of device setting increases and user input errors become more frequent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to system topologiesVSAvoidcomplexity of device setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the function modules into two distinct groups: switch-specific function modules and protection-specific function modules. This segmentation allows each group to be configured independently with predetermined connection rules, reducing the complexity of device setting while maintaining adaptability to various system topologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal connection rules that apply to all function modules within each group. Switch-specific function modules universally connect to switches, while protection-specific function modules universally connect to measurement inputs. This universal approach simplifies configuration across different system topologies without requiring complex individual settings for each module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If protective devices require detailed configuration of each function module's connections, then precise control is achieved, but the time required for device setting increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of configurationVSAvoidtime for device setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining the connection relationships between function module groups and measurement inputs. The assignment of switch-specific function modules to switches and protection-specific function modules to measurement inputs is established in advance through structured grouping, eliminating the need for time-consuming individual configuration during device setting while maintaining precise control over connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If protective devices allow unrestricted assignment of function modules, then configuration flexibility is maximized, but the probability of user input errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidprobability of user input errors
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preventing erroneous assignments before they can occur. The structured grouping system with distinct switch-specific and protection-specific function module groups establishes predetermined valid connection paths, automatically preventing invalid assignments and reducing the probability of user input errors while maintaining configuration flexibility within the structured framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP2127053B1Protective device
Publication Date: 2018.01.31 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2127053B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2127053B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2127053B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a protective device (10) for the protection of an electrotechnical system, in particular for the protection of an electrical energy supply system, wherein the protective device has a plurality of measurement inputs (M) and a plurality of functional modules that may be connected to the measurement inputs by user adjustment of the protective device such that the functional modules perform user-defined protective functions and are able to send corresponding control signals for activating or deactivating associated switches of the electrotechnical system. Provision is made according to the invention for the protective device to make available functional groups, each of which is associated with one or more functional modules as part of the device setting, wherein the protective device provides at least two different functional group types, of which at least one functional group type is switch-specific and at least one functional group type is protection-specific, wherein exclusively switch-specific functional modules can be associated with a switch-specific functional group and exclusively protection-specific functional modules can be associated with a protection-specific functional group.