Smartphone Magnetometer Power Outage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting power outages in electrical grids are often unreliable and costly, particularly in areas with fragile electrical infrastructure, as they rely on direct voltage measurements or contact with the grid, making them susceptible to failures and requiring extensive deployment of smart meters and PMUs.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using non-contact magnetic sensors in mobile devices to detect power outages by analyzing magnetic field strength and phase shifts, allowing for automated, reliable, and cost-effective detection without direct contact with the electrical grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smart meters are deployed to detect power outages, then detection reliability is improved, but deployment cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses smartphone magnetometers (which detect magnetic fields from power lines) as a simplified copy alternative to smart meters. Instead of deploying expensive smart meters throughout the grid, the system leverages the magnetic sensing capability already present in ubiquitous smartphones to detect power line presence and infer outage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repurposes the magnetometer sensor in smartphones for a new function - power outage detection. The magnetometer, originally designed for compass/navigation purposes, is utilized to detect magnetic fields from electrical power lines, enabling the smartphone to serve multiple functions including outage detection alongside its standard capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If PMUs are deployed to measure grid conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but deployment cost and limited applicability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, specialized PMU devices with inexpensive, widely-available smartphones. While individual smartphones are not designed for industrial-grade measurement, their magnetometers provide sufficient precision for detecting power line presence and inferring outage conditions when aggregated across multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a distributed network of measurement points using smartphones as copies of traditional measurement devices. Instead of deploying dedicated PMUs at critical substations, the patent uses multiple smartphone magnetometers to collectively monitor grid conditions across residential areas.
3Loss of energy
If customer phone calls are used to report outages, then detection cost is reduced, but response time and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated, self-service outage detection where smartphones automatically monitor power line magnetic fields and report outage conditions without requiring customer action. The detection and reporting process occurs autonomously in the background, eliminating the need for customers to manually call utility centers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where smartphone magnetometers regularly sample magnetic field conditions, automatically compare readings against baseline thresholds, and immediately report when outage conditions are detected. This real-time feedback mechanism replaces delayed human reporting with automated instantaneous notification.
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
Enables quick and accurate detection of power outages, reducing the time to restore service, improving customer satisfaction, and reducing costs by utilizing ubiquitous mobile devices with built-in magnetic sensors.
Implementation Method 1
one or more non-contact magnetic sensors in a mobile device in proximity to the AC electrical network... Based on the magnetic sensor data, it is determined that an outage exists
Implementation Method 2
a mobile device receives magnetic sensor data from one or more axes of the mobile device. The magnetic sensor data constitutes a time series of magnetic field strength readings of an ambient magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
Detecting an outage in an alternating current (AC) electrical network. One or more time-stamped and location-stamped data packets, each data packet including magnetic sensor data collected by one or more non-contact magnetic sensors in a mobile device in proximity to the AC electrical network are received. Based on the magnetic sensor data, it is determined that an outage exists in the AC electrical network.