Surge Detection for Wireless Transmitters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial equipment, including wireless transmitters, experiences a higher failure rate in areas prone to thunderstorms due to lightning strikes, with existing surge protection systems often inadequately confirmed or maintained, leading to potential underprotection and increased downtime.
Innovation Solution
A surge detection system comprising a voltage/current isolator, signal conditioner, and processing unit that identifies and logs surge events, providing information on their characteristics and frequency, allowing for analysis of existing protection adequacy and enabling predictive maintenance to improve surge protection schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing surge protection systems are used without detection capability, then equipment is protected to some extent, but the adequacy of protection cannot be confirmed and maintenance cannot be predictive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by detecting surge events and providing information about them to operators. The detection circuit monitors voltage or current signals for surge conditions, and when surges are detected, information is provided to indicate the occurrence and characteristics of these events. This feedback loop enables operators to assess whether surge protection is adequate and perform predictive maintenance based on actual surge data.
2Productivity
If equipment operates in lightning-prone areas without surge detection, then operational continuity is maintained, but equipment failure rate increases due to undetected surge damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting surge events before they cause equipment failure. The detection circuit continuously monitors for surge conditions and provides advance warning information to operators. This allows operators to take preventive measures, such as shutting down equipment or activating additional protection, before surges can cause damage, thereby maintaining operational continuity while reducing failure rates.
3Device complexity
If surge protection systems lack detection and monitoring capabilities, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to perform predictive maintenance and assess protection adequacy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the surge protection system to automatically detect, monitor, and provide information about surge events without requiring external monitoring equipment or complex manual inspection procedures. The detection circuit and information provision mechanism allow the system to self-assess its protection adequacy and communicate surge event data, simplifying maintenance operations while enhancing predictive capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes obtaining a voltage or current signal associated with a component of a device and isolating and conditioning the voltage or current signal to generate an output signal. The method also includes processing the output signal to identify one or more surge events, where each surge event is associated with an excessive voltage or current experienced by the device. The method further includes generating information associated with the one or more surge events and transmitting or storing the information. The voltage or current signal could be obtained from a case or housing of the device, a cable coupled to the device, or an antenna coupled to the device. The information associated with the one or more surge events could include a date/time stamp, a severity, a duration, or a shape or profile of each surge event.