Transfer Function Estimation for Utility Meter Sensor Drift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Utility meters face inaccuracies in measuring current and voltage due to device drift, aging, or tampering, necessitating frequent monitoring of transfer function estimates and certainty values to ensure accurate utility consumption measurement.

Innovation Solution

A manager apparatus is introduced to control the determination of transfer function estimates for measurement sensors in utility meters, allowing for periodic monitoring, report generation, and communication of results to utility network entities, optimizing the monitoring process to balance accuracy and resource constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transfer function estimates are determined with great regularity (e.g., second-by-second basis) to reliably monitor sensor accuracy and identify tamper events, then measurement accuracy and tamper detection capability are improved, but the processing and communication burden on utility meters with limited computing power, storage capacity, and bandwidth increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor accuracy monitoringVSAvoiddata processing burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential monitoring data (transfer function estimates and certainty values) from the continuous data stream, separating critical information from raw data. This allows reliable monitoring while reducing the volume of data that needs to be processed and communicated by the utility meter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary processing of transfer function estimates and certainty values before they reach the utility meter for communication. By pre-processing and pre-filtering data at the measurement device, the patent reduces the computational burden on the utility meter while maintaining monitoring reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If transfer function estimates are determined with great regularity to identify short-duration tamper events, then tamper detection capability is improved, but the communication bandwidth requirements and data transmission burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetamper event identificationVSAvoidcommunication bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial monitoring by selectively determining transfer function estimates based on certainty values rather than continuously. This partial action approach maintains adequate tamper detection capability while significantly reducing communication bandwidth requirements compared to full continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of transfer function estimates is performed to detect sensor drift and tampering, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but the energy consumption and computational load on utility meters increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveutility consumption measurement accuracyVSAvoidutility meter power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial monitoring by selectively determining transfer function estimates based on certainty values rather than continuously. This partial action approach maintains adequate measurement precision while significantly reducing communication bandwidth requirements compared to full continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic determination of transfer function estimates based on certainty value thresholds rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic action maintains measurement precision by monitoring at appropriate intervals while reducing the energy consumption and computational load on utility meters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4033259B1Managing the determination of a transfer function of a measurement sensor

Publication Date: 2025.01.01 ANALOG DEVICES INT UNLTD CO

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AI summary

The present disclosure provides a system and method for the management of a monitor module in an electrical measurement system to determine an estimate of a transfer function of a first measurement sensor in the measurement system. The management comprises outputting a first control instruction for instructing the monitor module to determine an estimate of the transfer function of the first measurement sensor over a first individual run length of time, obtaining a first monitor result from the monitor module, the monitor result comprising the estimate of the transfer function of the first measurement sensor and generating a report based at least in part on the first monitor result.