Synchronizer for a data acquisition system
AssigneeCableWISE Techimp Limited
InventorNelson Hall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data acquisition system is provided that in one example comprises a sensor electrically coupled to a data acquisition unit via a signal splitter. In use, the sensor senses one or more signals transmitted over a “live” power cable carrying, for example, 50 Hz or 60 Hz, medium voltage power. The one or more signals are then transmitted to the data acquisition unit to be stored, displayed, and/or analyzed. The data acquisition system includes a synchronizer that allows the data acquisition unit to synchronize the storage of the sensed signals to the frequency of the power transmitted over the tested power cable or system. In one embodiment, the synchronizer provides an accurate phase angle reference or trigger signal for accurate phase resolved data acquisition and testing.
Claims19
A system for testing an electrical power system for defects, the electrical power system transmitting power at a known frequency, comprising:
- a data acquisition unit;
- a synchronizing circuit coupled to the data acquisition unit;
- a signal splitter separately coupled to each of the synchronizing circuit and the data acquisition unit;
- and
- a capacitive test sensor coupled to the signal splitter and capacitively coupleable to a live power component of the electrical power system, wherein:
- the capacitive test sensor is configured to sense one or more signals transmitted over the electrical power system, to generate test signals based on the sensed one or more signals, and to send the test signals to the signal splitter;
- the signal splitter is configured to send at least a first portion of the test signals to the synchronizing circuit and to send at least a second portion of the test signals to the data acquisition unit separately from sending the first portion of the test signals to the synchronizing circuit;
- the synchronizing circuit is configured to generate trigger signals based on the first portion of the test signals received from the signal splitter and to send the trigger signals to the data acquisition unit;
- and
- the data acquisition unit is configured to receive the second portion of the test signals from the signal splitter independently of receiving the trigger signals from the synchronizing circuit and to synchronize storage of the second portion of the test signals to a frequency of the power transmitted over the electrical power system based on the trigger signals received from the synchronizing circuit.
A system for testing a power system component for defects via a live insulated power cable, the power cable transmitting power at a known frequency, comprising:
- a capacitive test sensor capable of capacitively coupling to the live power cable, the sensor configured to generate test signals based on one or more power cable signals transmitted over the power cable;
- a data acquisition unit coupled to the capacitive test sensor, wherein the data acquisition unit is configured to receive at least a first portion of the test signals from the test sensor;
- and
- a synchronizer discrete from but coupled to the capacitive test sensor and the data acquisition unit, wherein the synchronizer comprises:
- a portable housing;
- an input connector carried by the portable housing and coupled to the capacitive test sensor, wherein the synchronizer is configured to receive at least a second portion of the test signals from the test sensor via the input connector, wherein the second portion of the test signals is sent to the synchronizer separately from the first portion of the test signals sent to the data acquisition unit;
- an output connector carried by the portable housing and coupled to the data acquisition unit;
- at least one battery disposed in the portable housing;
- and
- a synchronizing circuit disposed in the portable housing and powered by the at least one battery, wherein the synchronizing circuit is configured to provide one or more trigger signals based on the second portion of the test signals received via the input connector, and wherein the synchronizer is configured to output the one or more trigger signals via the output connector;
- wherein the data acquisition unit is configured to receive the first portion of the test signals independently of receiving the trigger signals from the synchronizer and to synchronize storage of the first portion of the test signals received from the test sensor based on the one or more trigger signals received from the synchronizer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.