US 8,797,019 B2Granted

Handheld fiber optic current and voltage monitor for high voltage applications

OwnerXuekang Shan, Jin Haoinventors

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A handheld fiber optic current and voltage monitor for applications in high voltage environment. A light source generates constant optical signal that is split by a fiber optic splitter into two paths. One path feeds a DMEMS based current sensor that is driven by a current to voltage conversion device that converts the current in a conductor into a voltage. The other path goes to a DMEMS based electric field sensor driven by a condenser antenna that converts the electric field near a high voltage power line conductor into a voltage. The output optical signals from the current sensor and the electric field sensor are received by respective optical receivers and converted into electric signals. A signal processing unit processes the signals, and a display screen displays the results. All these are mounted on a plastic mast for handheld operation.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A handheld fiber optic current and voltage monitor for high voltage applications that comprises:

a light source that emits a constant optical power;
an optical splitter that divides the light from said light source into two paths;
an electric current to voltage conversion device that converts electric current flowing in a conductor into a voltage;
a DMEMS based fiber optic current sensor that is driven by said electric current to voltage conversion device and that modulates input constant optical power from said light source via said optical splitter;
an optical receiver that converts received optical signal from said DMEMS based fiber optic current sensor to electric signal;
a split metal cylinder that can be clamped on a power line;
a DMEMS based fiber optic electric field sensor;
an optical receiver that converts received optical signal from said DMEMS based fiber optic electric field sensor into electrical signal;
a signal processing unit that processes said electrical signals;
a display screen that displays the measured current and voltage;
a measuring tape that hangs from the display screen housing to measure the distance from the ground;
and
a plastic mast that holds the sensors, the circuit boards, and the display screen for handheld operation.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/609,685Filed 11 Sep 2012
Published: US 2014/0070792 A113 Mar 2014
Granted: 5 Aug 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01R 15/245
Using light-modulating devices: using magneto-optical modulators, e.g. based on the Faraday or Cotton-Mouton effect
G01R 15/142
Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks: arrangements for simultaneous measurements of…
G01R 15/241
Using light-modulating devices: using electro-optical modulators, e.g. electro-absorption
G01R 35/005
Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass: calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or…