# US 11,451,047 B2 · Protection of electrical devices based on electromagnetic pulse signal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,047 B2 - Document ID: US11451047B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/942,020 - Filed: 2018-03-30 - Published: 2019-01-31 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-30 - Assignees: TechHold, LLC - Applicants: TechHold, LLC - Inventors: David Anderson; Greg Fuchs; Frederick R. Faxvog - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451047B2 ## CPC - H02H 7/04: for transformers - H02H 1/0007: {concerning the detecting means (in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445)} - H02H 3/22: of short duration, e.g. lightning - G01R 29/0814: {Field measurements related to measuring influence on or from apparatus, components or humans (EMC, EMI and similar testing in general G01R31/001), e.g. in ESD, EMI, EMC, EMP testing, measuring radiation leakage; detecting presence of micro- or radiowave emitters; dosimetry; testing shielding; measurements related to lightning} - H02H 3/50: responsive to the appearance of abnormal wave forms, e.g. AC in DC installations - H02H 9/005: {avoiding undesired transient conditions} - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A circuit includes a detector and controller circuit configured to detect a high field RF (radio frequency) electromagnetic fields indicating a potential of an electromagnetic pulse event capable of damaging electrical equipment connected to a power grid. The circuit also includes controller receiving an input from the detector circuit, the controller being included within a shielded enclosure and configured to initiate an event in response to detection of the high field electromagnetic pulse field to remove the electrical equipment from the power grid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit comprising: a detector circuit configured to detect an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of a future electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment connected to a power grid, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal; a controller receiving an input from the detector circuit, the controller being included within a shielded enclosure and configured to generate an actuation signal output from the controller to initiate an event in response to detection of the electromagnetic field to electrically disconnect the electrical equipment from the power grid prior to occurrence of the future electromagnetic event. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the future electromagnetic event comprises E3 components of an electromagnetic pulse event caused by a nuclear high altitude blast. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to initiate the event by actuating a control signal, the control signal switching a switch from a normally-closed position to an open position, thereby electrically disconnecting the electrical equipment from the power grid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The circuit of claim 3, wherein the switch comprises a circuit breaker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein, upon initiating the event, the controller causes isolation of a portion of the power grid from a remaining portion of the power grid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein electrical equipment comprises a transformer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The circuit of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to actuate a plurality of switches, each switch of the plurality of switches being electrically connected between the power grid and a different phase of the transformer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the electrical equipment comprises at least one of a circuit breaker, a relay, a generator, a transmission line amplifier, a repeater, a capacitor, one or more series capacitors, or a transformer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field comprises at least one of an E1 field or an E2 field of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of detector circuits. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The circuit of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to actuate a switch upon two or more detectors of the plurality of detectors each exceeding a respective threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, further comprising an output line extending from the controller to the switch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The circuit of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of output lines extending from the controller to a plurality of switches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to actuate a plurality of actuation signals on the plurality of output lines. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein, by actuating the switch, the circuit avoids damage to the switch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the detector circuit configured to detect an electromagnetic field above a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The circuit of claim 16, wherein the predetermined threshold is adjustable in the detector circuit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to actuate a plurality of switches associated with a plurality of different electrical equipment of a power grid sub station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller executes instructions to: measure a frequency and/or amplitude of an E1 signal component of the electromagnetic field; and measure a frequency and/or amplitude of an E2 signal component of the electromagnetic field; wherein the actuation signal is generated based on detection of the E1 signal component and the E2 signal component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the detector circuit is configured to detect an electromagnetic field in a frequency range between 100 Hz to 10 GHz. ### Claim 21 A method of protecting a transformer electrically connected to a power grid, the method comprising: detecting, via a detection circuit, an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of an electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal; in response to detecting the electromagnetic field at a detection circuit, sending an actuation signal from a controller positioned within a shielded enclosure, the actuation signal triggering a normally-closed switch to an open state, thereby electrically disconnecting the transformer from the power grid prior to arrival of the electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment. ### Claim 22 A circuit comprising: a detector circuit configured to detect an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of a future electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment connected to a power grid, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal; a controller receiving an input from the detector circuit, the controller being included within a shielded enclosure and configured to generate an actuation signal output from the controller to actuate one or more breakers in a region expected to be affected by the future electromagnetic event prior to occurrence of the future electromagnetic event; wherein actuating the one or more breakers electrically segments the power grid into a plurality of segments, the plurality of segments including a segment including the electrical equipment, the segment being electrically isolated from a remainder of the power grid in response to detection of the electromagnetic field. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The circuit of claim 22, wherein the one or more breakers are located at a one or more different power grid substations. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The circuit of claim 22, wherein the one or more breakers are electrically connected to one or more power line phases of one or more power lines within the power grid. ### Claim 25 A method of protecting electrical equipment electrically connected to a power grid, the method comprising: detecting, via a detection circuit, an electromagnetic field indicating a potential of an electromagnetic event capable of damaging electrical equipment, the electromagnetic field comprising at least one of an E1 or E2 component of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) signal, and the future electromagnetic event including an E3 component of the electromagnetic pulse signal; in response to detecting the electromagnetic field at a detection circuit, sending an actuation signal from a controller positioned within a shielded enclosure, thereby electrically disconnecting the electrical equipment from the power grid prior to arrival of the electromagnetic event capable of damaging the electrical equipment.