# US 12,222,749 B2 · Modular power network device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,749 B2 - Document ID: US12222749B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/154,173 - Filed: 2023-01-13 - Published: 2023-05-11 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2023-01-13 - Assignees: Electricity Exchange Dac - Applicants: Electricity Exchange Dac - Inventors: Paddy Finn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222749B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/221: {to test buses, lines or interfaces, e.g. stuck-at or open line faults} - G06F 1/10: Distribution of clock signals {, e.g. skew} - G06F 1/12: Synchronisation of different clock signals {provided by a plurality of clock generators} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 13/36: for access to common bus or bus system - G06F 21/86: Secure or tamper-resistant housings - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - G08B 13/1436: {with motion detection} - H02J 3/18: Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks - H02J 11/00: Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted - H02J 13/00: Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network - H02J 13/12: Monitoring network conditions, e.g. electrical magnitudes or operational status - H02J 13/13: characterised by the transmission of data to equipment in the power network - H04L 7/0033: {Correction by delay} - H04L 7/0037: {Delay of clock signal} - H04L 12/40189: {by using a plurality of bus systems} - G06F 2213/40: Bus coupling - H02J 2103/35: Grid-level management of power transmission or distribution systems, e.g. load flow analysis or active network management - Y04S 40/20: Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A modular system is described which can provide high frequency monitoring of power use and responsive control as well as enabling network connectivity for centralised monitoring and operation. One modular system consists of a communications bus, end caps, and a combination of the modules providing communications, power metering, relay control and battery backup. Each modular system can be configured with a combination of modular units as needed for the application. A combination of bus communication monitoring and tilt detection provides security against external tampering after installation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of synchronizing communication across a plurality of interconnected modules powered by a common power source; the method comprising the steps of: (a) analyzing an input signal of the common power source at a first module of the plurality of modules; (b) analyzing the input signal of the common power source at a second module of the plurality of modules; (c) detecting a feature in the input signal at a time t1 at the first module; (d) detecting the feature in the input signal at a time t3 at the second module; and (e) determining an indication of delay in communication between the first module and the second module by either comparing t1 and t3 to a reference time signal at the first module, or comparing t1 and t3 to a reference time signal at the second module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting a timing of transmissions from the second module based on the indication of delay. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 1 wherein detecting a feature in the input signal comprises detecting an amplitude peak of the input signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 1, wherein: (a) the communication across the plurality of interconnected modules comprises transmission of data; and (b) the method further comprises the step of adjusting a transmission of data from the second module based on the indication of delay. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 4, wherein adjusting the transmission of data from the second module comprises the steps of: (a) transmitting by the second module, at the time t3 that is equal to the time t1 plus a time t2, data that is (i) generated at the time t1 by the first module, and (ii) transferred to the second module at the time t2; and (b) transmitting by the second module, at the time t3 that is equal to t1+t2, additional data generated by the second module at the time t1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 4, wherein adjusting the transmission of data from the second module comprises the steps of: (a) transmitting by the second module, at a time t4 that is greater than t1+t23, data that is generated at a time t1 by the first module and that is transferred to the second module at the time t23; and (b) transmitting by the second module, at a time t4 that is greater than t1+t3, data generated by the second module at the time t1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 1 wherein detecting a feature in the input signal comprises detecting an amplitude peak of the input signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 1, wherein the reference time signal comprises a global positioning (GPS) time signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of synchronizing communication of claim 8 further comprising the step of adjusting a timing of transmissions from the second module based on the indication of delay for data transmission from the first module to the second module.