Self-powered current monitor

A self-powered current monitor for communicating characteristics of an electric current;

• said self-powered current monitor comprising:
• (a) a current-sensing means, connected in series with said electric current, providing an analog signal containing information about said characteristics;
• (b) an analog-to-digital converter means, connected to said current-sensing means, converting said analog signal into a digital signal;
• (c) an interface means communicating said characteristics to other equipment;
• (d) a memory means storing working data and program data;
• (e) a microprocessor means, connected to said analog-to-digital converter means and to said interface means and to said memory means, receiving said digital signal, utilizing said program data and said working data to determine said characteristics, and providing output suitable for said interface means;
• (f) a power supply means, connected in series with said electric current, deriving regulated d-c power from said electric current;
• and
• (g) a power-distributing means, connected to said power supply means and to said analog-to-digital converter means and to said interface means and to said memory means and to said microprocessor means, distributing said regulated d-c power from said power supply means to said analog-to-digital converter means and to said interface means and to said memory means and to said microprocessor means;
• said electric current being generated by a current source;
• wherein said characteristics of said electric current comprise one or more of root-mean-square magnitude, average magnitude, peak magnitude, harmonic component magnitudes, distortion factor, form factor, crest factor, equivalent k-factor for transformers with harmonic rating, graphical representation of the waveform, current demand, and maximum current demand.

In combination:

• (a) a power supply means receiving an electric current from a current source and providing a regulated d-c power output derived from said electric current;
• (b) a current-sensing means, connected to said power supply means, providing an analog signal containing information about said electric current;
• and
• (c) a burden-reducing means, connected to said power supply means;
• said current source being adversely affected by the normal burden effect of said power supply means;
• said burden-reducing means acting to temporarily reduce the burden effect that said power supply means has on said current source while said burden-reducing means is actuated;
• said power supply means utilizing stored energy to maintain said regulated d-c power output while said burden-reducing means is actuated.

In combination:

• (a) a power supply means receiving a plurality of electric currents from a plurality of current sources and providing a regulated d-c power output derived from said plurality of electric currents;
• and
• (b) a plurality of current-sensing means, connected to said power supply means, providing a plurality of analog signals each containing information about characteristics of one of said plurality of electric currents;
• wherein each of said plurality of current-sensing means comprises a resistor connected in series with one of said plurality of electric currents thereby producing one of said plurality of analog signals which is a voltage signal across said resistor proportional to said electric current;
• wherein said characteristics of said electric currents comprise one or more of root-mean-square magnitude, average magnitude, peak magnitude, harmonic component magnitudes, distortion factor, form factor, crest factor, equivalent k-factor for transformers with harmonic rating, graphical representation of the waveform, current demand, and maximum current demand.