Patent · US Expired

Voltage detection of utility service disturbances

US5943246A · kind A · utility

31Cited by
3References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 29, 1997
Grant dateAug 24, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02H3/207
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A digital voltage detector uses a running average to detect utility service disturbances in real time. An isolation transformer taps the main electrical AC power supply line and provides an analog voltage waveform to a system controller. The analog waveform is sampled digitally in real time, and the samples are squared to create respective instantaneous squared voltage values. A running average is kept of the instantaneous squared voltage values for a preselected period of time, preferably one half-cycle for the main power supply waveform. The running average is compared to a preselected under-voltage threshold value and a preselected over-voltage threshold value, and a disturbance detection signal is generated if the running average violates either threshold value. The disturbance detection signal is preferably used to activate a standby electrical AC power supply, and contemporaneously to disable the main electric AC power supply.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.