# US 10,871,512 B2 · Method and system for detecting noise in an electrical grid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,512 B2 - Document ID: US10871512B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/300,055 - Filed: 2017-04-24 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-09 - Assignees: Fundacion Tecnalia Research & Innovation - Applicants: FundacióN Tecnalia Research & Innovation - Inventors: García-borreguero Melero Ibone; López Arantzamendi Beñat; Castro Rentería Marta; Arechalde Ugarteche Ibon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871512B2 ## CPC - G01R 31/086: {in power transmission or distribution networks, i.e. with interconnected conductors} - H04B 3/54: Systems for transmission via power distribution lines - H04B 2203/5425: improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A method and system for detecting a source of noise in an electrical grid distributing network implementing Power Line Communications, the method including, at each meter, disposing an element behaving as a resistive element within the frequency band of the PLC, and behaving as a nonresistive element at the frequency of the electrical grid, between a first cable belonging to the distributing network and a second cable belonging to the enduser network; measuring the difference in electric potential between the two ends of each element disposed between the first cable belonging to the distributing network and the second cable belonging to the enduser network; and from the one measurement, determining whether a device belonging to the enduser network and connected to the meter is causing a noise disturbance or not. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting a source of noise in an electrical grid distributing network implementing Power Line Communications, (PLC), said electrical grid distributing network comprising a plurality of meters respectively connected to a plurality of end-user networks, wherein said source of noise to be detected is originated in a device belonging to one of said end-user networks, wherein each of said meters is connected to at least one pair of cables corresponding to at least one phase of the 3 phases of the electrical grid, said at least one pair of cables comprising a first cable belonging to said distributing network and a second cable belonging to a corresponding end-user network, the method comprising: at each of said meters, disposing an element behaving as a resistive element within the frequency band of the PLC, and behaving as a nonresistive element at the frequency of the electrical grid, between said first cable belonging to the distributing network and said second cable belonging to the end-user network; measuring the difference in electric potential between the two ends (A, B) of each element disposed between said first cable belonging to the distributing network and said second cable belonging to the end-user network at the frequency band of the PLC; and from a spectral response within the frequency band of the PLC obtained from said at least one measurement, determining whether a device belonging to the end-user network and connected to said meter is causing a noise disturbance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: at each of said meters, disposing another element behaving as a resistive element within the frequency band of the PLC, and behaving as a nonresistive element at the frequency of the electrical grid, between the neutral cable belonging to the distributing network and the neutral cable belonging to the end-user network; measuring the difference in electric potential between the two ends of said element; from a spectral response within the frequency band of the PLC obtained from said measurement, determining whether a device belonging to the end-user network and connected to said meter is causing a noise disturbance or not. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said element is a switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said element is a cable, a splice, a resistor and a fuse, or any element behaving as a resistive element within the frequency band of the PLC, and behaving as a nonresistive element at the frequency of the electrical grid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one measurement in the difference in electric potential between the two ends of said element is performed within said meter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one measurement is performed within said meter by means of a spectrum analyzer disposed within the meter and configured to measure the spectral response at the frequency of the PLC network between the two ends of said element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one measurement in the difference in electric potential between the two ends of said element is performed at a measuring device outside said meter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one measurement is performed by means of a measuring device external to said meter, said measuring device comprising a spectrum analyzer configured to measure the spectral response at the frequency of the PLC network between the two ends of said element, shielded cables and an isolation probe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said measuring device is comprised within a terminal cover configured to cover said meter. ### Claim 10 A system for detecting a source of noise in an electrical grid distributing network implementing Power Line Communications, (PLC), said electrical grid comprising a plurality of meters respectively connected to a plurality of end-user networks, wherein said source of noise to be detected is originated in a device belonging to one of said end-user networks, wherein each of said meters is connected to at least one pair of cables corresponding to at least one phase of the 3 phases of the electrical grid, said at least one pair of cables comprising a first cable belonging to said distributing network and a second cable belonging to a corresponding end-user network, the system comprising: the system being characterized in that each of said meters comprises an element behaving as a resistive element within the frequency band of the PLC, and behaving as a nonresistive element at the frequency of the electrical grid, said element being disposed between said first cable belonging to the distributing network and said second cable belonging to the end-user network; and the system comprising means for measuring, at each meter, the difference in electric potential between the two ends (A, B) of each element disposed between said first cable belonging to the distributing network and said second cable belonging to the end-user network at the frequency band of the PLC; and for determining, from a spectral response within the frequency band of the PLC obtained from said at least one measurement, whether a device belonging to the end-user network and connected to said meter is causing a noise disturbance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said means for measuring comprises a spectrum analyzer configured to measure the spectral response at the frequency of the PLC network between the two ends of said element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said means for measuring is comprised within said meter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said means for measuring is external to said meter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein said means for measuring further comprises shielded cables and an isolation probe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein said means for measuring is comprised within a terminal cover configured to cover said meter.