WO2009015201A1 - Procédé et appareil pour alerte par émission radio basse puissance pour systèmes de surveillance - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour alerte par émission radio basse puissance pour systèmes de surveillance Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009015201A1
WO2009015201A1 PCT/US2008/070881 US2008070881W WO2009015201A1 WO 2009015201 A1 WO2009015201 A1 WO 2009015201A1 US 2008070881 W US2008070881 W US 2008070881W WO 2009015201 A1 WO2009015201 A1 WO 2009015201A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
alert
monitor
broadcast
low
transmitter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2008/070881
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English (en)
Inventor
Walter Curt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Power Monitors Inc
Original Assignee
Power Monitors Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Power Monitors Inc filed Critical Power Monitors Inc
Publication of WO2009015201A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009015201A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q9/00—Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
    • H04Q9/02—Automatically-operated arrangements

Definitions

  • the method uses a low-power radio broadcast transmitter (e.g., an AM or FM transmitter) to broadcast a message during an alert or status condition related to the electrical device.
  • a low-power radio broadcast transmitter e.g., an AM or FM transmitter
  • Fig. 1 is a diagram of an underground alert system in accordance with one embodiment.
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram of an above ground alert system in accordance with one embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one process of broadcasting alerts in accordance with one embodiment.
  • a system uses a low-power radio (LPR) transmitter, using the standard U.S. FM broadcast band or the standard U.S. AM broadcast band (e.g., 54OkHz - 161OkHz) to broadcast alerts or status signals.
  • the power is low enough to enable unlicensed operation, i.e. 100 mW or less.
  • the LPR transmitter can be connected to (e.g., by a physical hardwired connection or a wireless connection), or incorporated inside, a piece of electronic instrumentation (e.g. a general or special purpose computer) for measuring operating characteristics of any suitable device (e.g., an electrical device or non-electrical device).
  • the frequency broadcast used can be selected based on frequencies that are not being used by local radio stations or other entities.
  • the use of the LPR transmitter has several advantages in various embodiments.
  • the modulation technique is very simple, allowing for low-cost devices.
  • FM and AM receivers are inexpensive, ubiquitous, and available as commercial-off-the-shelf products in a large variety of forms (e.g., consumer products like car stereos, handheld radio receivers, etc.).
  • the US broadcast frequency band has good propagation properties in otherwise inaccessible locations (e.g. in a vault or manhole shaft). FCC regulations for unlicensed transmission are more relaxed compared to other commonly used bands. However, it should be appreciated that other modulation schemes and frequency bands are also possible, and may be more suitable in certain situations.
  • an LPR transmitter is coupled to at least one underground current monitor.
  • the monitor is used in an electrical network grid system, and detects open circuit conditions due to current limiter operations or conductor failures (e.g., the monitor can detect conditions of any suitable device in the electrical network grid system).
  • the monitor sends an alert through the LPR transmitter upon detection of a conductor failure (e.g., an open circuit condition).
  • the alert can be a generic voice message indicating a cable failure.
  • the alert can also be constructed by the monitor to indicate specifically which location, monitor serial number, etc. and ancillary information such as peak current load, number of remaining conductors, date of failure, etc., or can have any other suitable message information and type.
  • a broadcast-band transmitter which transmits to standard off-the-shelf receivers, is coupled with a piece of electronic instrumentation (e.g., a monitor) for the use of alert or status signaling.
  • a monitor 100 with an integrated LPR transmitter connected to an underground power grid network is provided.
  • a plurality of monitors 100, each having an LPR transmitter can be connected to a plurality of locations and devices of the power grid network to provide adequate monitoring coverage.
  • the monitor 100 having an integrated LPR transmitter is located within or near manhole shaft 110.
  • the monitor 100 is configured to measure at least one characteristic of power line cable 120.
  • monitor 100 comprises a PC or any other suitable specialized computer with any suitable operating system.
  • monitor 100 can collect, store, analyze, or be configured to do any suitable processing/computation task.
  • monitor 100 determines if an open circuit condition occurs in power line cable 120; however it should be appreciated that monitor 100 can be configured to detect any suitable condition of power line cable 120 (e.g., peak voltage/current, ambient temperature, humidity/moisture conditions of the ambient surroundings, etc.).
  • monitor 100 if monitor 100 detects a predetermined condition of power line cable 120, monitor 100 generates an appropriate alert and broadcasts the alert over a predetermined FM or AM band using the integrated LPR transmitter.
  • the monitor 100 transmits one of a plurality of pre-recorded voice messages based on the determined condition of the power line cable 120 (e.g., "Open Circuit Detected”, “Maximum Temperature Exceeded”, “Cable Operating Within Parameters”, or any other suitable message).
  • a plurality of pre-recorded voice messages based on the determined condition of the power line cable 120 (e.g., "Open Circuit Detected”, “Maximum Temperature Exceeded”, “Cable Operating Within Parameters”, or any other suitable message).
  • a user on the street 130 located near manhole cover 140 is carrying an FM receiver 150. If the user has tuned the FM receiver 150 to the predetermined FM band that monitor 100 used when broadcasting the alert, FM receiver 150 will receive and playback the alert regarding the condition of power line cable 120. It should be appreciated that with such a broadcast, any standard FM receiver tuned to the predetermined band used by the monitor 100 to broadcast the alert will receive the alert if the standard FM receiver is within the broadcast range. Thus, the FM receiver does not need to be within a very close proximity of, or have a wired connection to, the monitor 100 to receive the broadcast alerts regarding the monitored power line cable 120. However, it should be understood that the above features are optional and/or can be accomplished with any other suitable components in any suitable manner.
  • the LPR transmitter may be configured to broadcast encrypted or encoded messages that require a decoding device to playback/interpret the encoded broadcast alert.
  • a decoding device in addition to the FM receiver to receive and playback the alert regarding the condition of the power line cable.
  • an LPR transmitter connected to an above ground power grid network is provided.
  • a monitor 200 having an integrated LPR transmitter is located on or near power line pole 210.
  • the monitor 200 is configured to measure at least one characteristic of transformer 220; however, it should be appreciated that the monitor 200 may be configured to measure any suitable power device.
  • monitor 200 determines if a power surge condition occurs in transformer 220; however it should be appreciated that monitor 200 can be configured to detect any suitable condition of transformer 220 (e.g., peak voltage/current, transformer temperature, humidity/moisture conditions of the ambient surroundings, etc.).
  • monitor 200 if monitor 200 detects a predetermined condition of transformer 220, monitor 200 generates an appropriate alert and broadcasts the alert over a predetermined FM band (it should be appreciated that the AM band or any other suitable unlicensed or licensed band may be used) using the integrated LPR transmitter (e.g., like a voice alert described in connection with Fig. 1).
  • a vehicle 230 on the street 240 located near power pole 210 includes a standard radio receiver capable of receiving the FM band.
  • the FM receiver is tuned to the predetermined FM band that monitor 200 used to broadcast the alert.
  • the FM receiver in vehicle 230 receives and is configured to play back the alert regarding the condition of transformer 220.
  • the above features are optional and/or can be accomplished with any other suitable components in any suitable manner.
  • a monitor e.g., with integrated/connected LPR transmitter
  • the monitor can also be configured to broadcast the alert repeatedly on a periodic basis or in any other suitable manner.
  • the monitor can be programmed to only broadcast during certain times (e.g. only during the day, weekends, at night, at one or more predetermined times, etc.).
  • electric utility workers can routinely tune their FM radios to known broadcast frequencies of the monitors to listen for alerts. Thus, as the electric utility workers drive (or travel by any other suitable methods) by various locations, broadcasted alerts can easily be heard on an FM radio in their vehicle. Alternatively, if the electric utility workers' vehicles are not equipped with an FM radio, the electric utility workers' can carry an inexpensive, separate, dedicated, or multifunction FM radio for this purpose.
  • a monitor is configured with a predetermined period in which the monitor determines the status of a monitored device and broadcasts an alert regarding the detected status.
  • a monitor is configured to determine if the time and date is equal to a predetermined time and date. If the time and date are not equal to the predetermined time and date, the monitor returns to step 300. If the time and date are equal to the predetermined time and date, the monitor determines the present status of the monitored device in step 310.
  • the monitor generates an appropriate alert message based on the detected status of the monitored device (e.g., "System Failure Detected", or any other suitable message).
  • the monitor broadcasts the generated message over a predetermined FM frequency using the LPR transmitter.
  • the FM radio receiver can receive and play back the alert broadcast.
  • the monitor may be configured to not broadcast any alert/signal. That is, the monitor does not broadcast any alerts if the monitored device is working within standard operating conditions. In one such embodiment, if the monitor detects an alert condition, the monitor generates and broadcasts the alert. Thus, the monitor conserves power and reduces the amount of broadcast traffic that could occur if a plurality of monitors operated in the same broadcast range and were simultaneously broadcasting alerts that confirmed that each of the monitored devices were operating properly. However, it should be appreciated that in some embodiments, one or more monitors may still be configured to broadcast the general status of a monitored device.
  • general status messages of conditions of the monitored device may also be transmitted as described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 (e.g., peak voltage/current, ambient temperature, humidity/moisture conditions of the ambient surroundings, etc.).
  • the monitor can broadcast the general conditions continuously, or on a periodic basis or in any other suitable manner.
  • the transmitted message can include measured parameters or equipment status, as determined by the monitor
  • the timing of a monitor's broadcast alerts may be configured based on other monitors that are located in the same broadcast range (e.g., the same geographic area). For example, if a plurality of monitors in communication with (or connected/integrated to) LPR transmitters are connected to the same or different pieces of equipment within the same broadcast area, the broadcasted alerts could interfere with each other and prevent a listener from determining the status of the different pieces of monitored equipment.
  • the plurality of monitors in the same broadcast range are configured with a staggered broadcast timing configuration so that the plurality of monitors do not broadcast alerts at the same time. Thus, interference between the plurality of monitors in the same broadcast range is reduced or eliminated.
  • any other suitable timing configuration may be used to reduce or eliminate broadcast interference between the plurality of monitors in the same broadcast range.
  • the plurality of monitors in the same broadcast range can be configured to broadcast alerts on different FM frequencies to prevent simultaneous broadcast alert interferences.
  • the plurality of monitors can be configured to broadcast alerts on different FM frequencies and in a staggered timing configuration.
  • an FM radio can be configured to scan through different FM frequencies at a predetermined rate to efficiently distinguish between monitors broadcasting alerts in the same broadcast range.
  • some monitors can be configured to broadcast over FM frequencies, while other monitors in the same area can be configured to broadcast over AM frequencies.
  • a monitor can be configured to broadcast over FM and AM frequencies simultaneously, in a predetermined order, or in any other suitable manner.
  • a monitor can be configured with a broadcast receiver (e.g., an FM or AM broadcast receiver).
  • the broadcast receiver enables the monitor to determine whether another monitor is broadcasting on a specific/selected band before broadcasting on the same band (alternatively, the broadcast receiver enables the monitor to determine if excessive interference is present on a specific/selected band and would prevent the alert from being received). If the monitor detects that another monitor is broadcasting on the specific/selected band, the monitor can be configured to wait until the band is clear or the monitor can be configured to select a different band to broadcast the alert.
  • the monitoring device can include a predetermined number of bands to select for broadcasting the alert; however it should be appreciated that any suitable number of bands can be used.
  • a monitor in communication with an LPR includes fully programmable parameters such as transmitting frequency, transmission power, alert broadcast schedule, canned messages and message construction rules, etc. It should be appreciated that these parameters may also depend on the specific alert.
  • an LPR transmitter can be configured to connect to existing monitoring devices (i.e., the LPR transmitter is retrofitted to existing monitoring devices that lack the ability to broadcast alerts via a radio).
  • equipment monitors may already be installed or connected to devices requiring monitoring.
  • an LPR transmitter to convert the existing monitor into a monitor that can broadcast alerts over an FM frequency (or other suitable radio frequency) is provided.
  • the LPR transmitter is configured with hardware and/or software (e.g., a PC or other suitable specialized computer with any suitable operating system) that enables the LPR transmitter to be connected to the exiting monitor.
  • the retrofitted LPR is configured to receive alerts from the existing monitor and convert the alerts to broadcast alerts over FM frequencies (e.g., such as voice alerts).
  • an existing monitor includes an Ethernet interface that is used to communicate alert conditions to a remote monitoring system.
  • the LPR transmitter includes an Ethernet interface that allows the LPR to receive the alerts (e.g., codes) transmitted by the existing monitor.
  • the LPR can be configured to receive the Ethernet communication based alerts and convert the alert into a suitable LPR broadcast alert.
  • the LPR can be configured to connect to a monitor that includes an LED alert code (e.g., a visual alert display) and convert the visual alert display into radio broadcast alerts.
  • the LPR can be configured with any suitable interface to connect to existing monitors and be programmed to receive and convert any known or proprietary alerts or alert codes into broadcast alerts as described above.
  • digital or analog data may also or alternatively be sent using the invention.
  • touch-tone or other signaling may be sent through the modulation scheme to transmit digital data, or analog means may be used further modulate the radio carrier.
  • the broadcast alerts can include ID, location identifiers, or the like.
  • the SCA subcarrier in US broadcast FM can be used alone to send an alert. This channel is available with commercial FM radios with SCA decoding.
  • an alert transmitted via the SCA subcarrier can be used in addition to an alert transmitted over the standard US broadcast FM band.
  • the Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) or Radio Data System (RDS) can be used to send an alert as small amounts of digital information.
  • RBDS Radio Broadcast Data System
  • RDS Radio Data System
  • the LPR transmitter can be configured to transmit both analog and digital alerts as audio and text. It should be appreciated that any other suitable broadcast bands can be used where appropriate in various other embodiments.
  • any instrumentation may benefit from this invention to allow status or alert broadcasts
  • equipment in hazardous or difficult-to-access locations is especially suitable.
  • power quality monitors installed in underground vaults, arc-flash hazard areas, or power quality monitors connected to high voltages present special challenges for basic alert signaling.
  • the broadcast alert system is especially suitable for these situations where frequent access is expensive and hazardous to diagnostic and repair crews.
  • Other equipment located on towers, embedded in other equipment, or otherwise inaccessible are also well suited for this system.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Monitoring And Testing Of Transmission In General (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des procédés et des appareils permettant une instrumentation pour émettre une alerte ou un état de statut qui résout les problèmes d'étroite proximité ou d'une connexion câblée. Un procédé utilise un transmetteur d'émission radio basse puissance pour émettre un message pendant une alerte ou un état de statut.
PCT/US2008/070881 2007-07-25 2008-07-23 Procédé et appareil pour alerte par émission radio basse puissance pour systèmes de surveillance Ceased WO2009015201A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US95189307P 2007-07-25 2007-07-25
US60/951,893 2007-07-25

Publications (1)

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WO2009015201A1 true WO2009015201A1 (fr) 2009-01-29

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PCT/US2008/070881 Ceased WO2009015201A1 (fr) 2007-07-25 2008-07-23 Procédé et appareil pour alerte par émission radio basse puissance pour systèmes de surveillance

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11328582B1 (en) 2021-07-07 2022-05-10 T-Mobile Usa, Inc. Enhanced hazard detection device configured with security and communications capabilities

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020112250A1 (en) * 2000-04-07 2002-08-15 Koplar Edward J. Universal methods and device for hand-held promotional opportunities
US20050154499A1 (en) * 2002-03-28 2005-07-14 Aldridge Wayne K. Power distribution/generation system
US20060111040A1 (en) * 2004-11-24 2006-05-25 Jenkins Patrick A Wireless tank monitoring system having satellite communications capability

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020112250A1 (en) * 2000-04-07 2002-08-15 Koplar Edward J. Universal methods and device for hand-held promotional opportunities
US20050154499A1 (en) * 2002-03-28 2005-07-14 Aldridge Wayne K. Power distribution/generation system
US20060111040A1 (en) * 2004-11-24 2006-05-25 Jenkins Patrick A Wireless tank monitoring system having satellite communications capability

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11328582B1 (en) 2021-07-07 2022-05-10 T-Mobile Usa, Inc. Enhanced hazard detection device configured with security and communications capabilities

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