DESC:TECHNIAL FIELD

[001] The present invention, in general, relates to electrical protection apparatus, and more particularly to an electronic circuit module having status indication mechanism indicating fault condition in an electric circuit with assisted trip indication and voltage regulation.

BACKGROUND

[002] Isolation of electrical circuits is necessary to protect downstream equipments in event of faults. For tripping accuracy and faster tripping arrangements, conventionally and in present art, the protection equipments are employed with electronic means to operate in all condition including abnormal. It is understood by the person skilled in that art that, for accurate trip time and functioning of electronics on board regulated supply is prime concern.

[003] The prior-art patent document US 8484487 B2 discloses a method and a system for supplying power to a microcontroller with a single cell by using a power supply pump circuit to supply power to an integrated circuit/ microcontroller.

[004] The prior-art patent document US 20140266090 A1 discloses switching regulator with adaptive PWM/PFM modulator by providing a switching regulator controller for a buck switching regulator, the switching regulator receiving an input voltage and controlling a high-side switch and a low-side switch using a feedback control loop to generate a switching output voltage, the switch output voltage being applied to an LC filter circuit to generate a regulated output voltage having a substantially constant magnitude on an output node.

[005] The prior-art patent document US 20120306586 A1 discloses control circuit and method for a PWM voltage regulator by providing a control circuit for providing a PWM signal for a PWM voltage regulator to convert an input voltage into an output voltage.

[006] In the patent documents cited above, and other generic arrangements for power supply requirements, voltage regulation using PWM topology is used. This is accomplished using high frequency switching of devices such as MOSFET, and the like components/devices. This topology is helpful during extreme conditions and can introduce issues of electromagnetic interference (EMI) /electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) if not properly tuned.

[007] Further, the topologies used in the convention techniques are complex, much costlier, and requires extra man power for their operation and maintenance.

[008] Reference is made to Patent Publication US 6525542 B2, wherein status acquisition apparatus is disclosed, for monitoring the status of devices forming part of such systems, e.g., relays, circuit breakers, interrupters, isolators and similar protective switching devices. The status acquisition apparatus comprises a conversion circuit which converts an input voltage to a pulse width modulated signal and a comparison circuit which monitors the pulse width modulated signal to determine the status of the device. The output from the status acquisition apparatus may be fed to an indicator such as a bulb or perhaps to a microprocessor. It may be fed by a microprocessor together with the output of other status acquisition apparatus for subsequent processing. However, in this patent publication, the PWM and PFM topologies used, calls for use of more sophisticated operating logic and high dependency on microcontroller.

[009] Thus, in view of the above mentioned drawbacks, there exists a need for providing a module that enables fault status indication and voltage regulation, without use of any high frequency switching component and not at the expense of reliable operation, and in addition with trip indication status, not at the cost of intricate complex structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and compact module with incorporated voltage regulator mechanism that facilitates voltage regulation along with providing status of an electrical circuit.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a voltage regulation technique without use of any high frequency switching component with reliable operations is provided and thereby to obviate the problems of the EMI and EMC compliance.

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide visual indication of trip status, and regulates supply voltage to other electronic components for their efficient operation.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide the mechanism configured to dynamically adjust for providing accurate voltage regulation and trip status.

[0015] In one implementation, there is a provided a module for regulating voltage and indicating at least one status of an electric circuit, said module comprising:
at least one signal conditioning module receives said electrical signal from a sensor device, rectify at least one variation in said electrical signal and generate a voltage signal for processing;
at least one controller unit, operably coupled to said signal conditioning element, receives said voltage signal from said signal conditioning element as an input signal, said controller unit configured to:
• generate at least one pulse signal corresponding to said input signal;
• transmit said pulse signal to at least one indicator means, to enable switching of said indicator means at a particular switching frequency to indicate at least one status of said electrical circuit, wherein said switching of said indicator means is controlled by means of at least one switch;
wherein, during low order overload condition, said controller unit increases said switching frequency of said indicator means to indicating fault status of said electrical circuit and to obtain voltage regulation.

[0016] In another implementation, the present invention provides a method for regulating voltage and indicating at least one status of an electric circuit, said method comprising:
• receiving, by means of a controller unit, at least one voltage signal corresponding to at least one input current signal from a signal conditioning element;
• generating, by means of said controller unit, a pulse signal corresponding to said voltage signal; and thereby
• actuating, by means of said pulse signal from said controller unit, at least one indicator means according to said voltage signal to enable switching of said indicator means at a particular switching frequency to indicate at least one status of said electrical circuit, wherein said switching of said indicator means is controlled by means of at least one switch;
wherein, during low order overload condition, said controller unit increases said switching frequency of said indicator means to indicate fault status of said electrical circuit and to obtain voltage regulation.

[0017] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a process flow representation of the voltage regulator mechanism in an electronic protection relay, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0019] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0020] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0021] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0022] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0023] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0024] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0025] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0026] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0027] In one implementation, the present invention provides a circuit module that may include, but not limited to, an indicator means, a semiconductor device and controller unit, which is simple in nature and achieves reliability. The module may utilize a switching topology that helps in protecting critical components in an electrical circuit during abnormal condition, not at expenses of costlier components in addition, and thereby helps in protecting the semiconductor device as well. The module may provide visual indication of a status of the electrical status and in addition regulates supply voltage to the electronic components for their efficient operation. The indicator means is selected from a Light Emitting diode (LED). The semiconductor device is a Zener regulator device which is used to regulate voltage during high order overload condition. The controller unit can be a microcontroller.

[0028] Referring now to figure 1, in one implementation, during the normal operation, electrical signal that may be a current signal, is passed through current sensors, which may include but not limited to, the current transformer (10) in this scenario (as shown in figure). The current signal may be rectified by means of a diode bridge rectifier referred as signal conditioning circuit (20).

[0029] In one implementation, the sensor device can be selected from current sensor or a current transformer (10), wherein said sensor device coupled to at least one port of a common terminal to sense at least one electrical signal from a common terminal (where all phase inputs are connected). The Voltage signal generated at common point is with ripple and it can be filtered via at least one capacitor and resistor arrangement. Further, in the circuit module the signal conditioning element is a bridge rectifier diode.

[0030] In one implementation, the Zener regulator is operably coupled to the common terminal at one end and said indicator means at other end, wherein said semiconductor device acts as a secondary voltage regulator in the circuit module.

[0031] In one implementation, Zener diode (31) is coupled at the said common terminal, thereby generating power supply for entire electronic card. In the implementation, Zener diode (31) may acts as a secondary voltage regulator during high fault condition.

[0032] In one implementation, during normal condition when terminal voltage is not constant, the LED (32) may be actuated by the configuration of a controller unit (11). The microcontroller shall generate a Pulse signal based on the input electrical signal and thereby utilize said pulse signal to modulate switching of said LED using a switch (33).

[0033] In one implementation, during normal condition LED is switched ON/OFF, with the help of microcontroller (11), and switching of said LED can be controlled by means a switching element transistor (33) such that necessary terminal voltage regulation can be obtained. In the implementation, for voltage regulation, emulated voltage regulator power from bridge rectifier may be given to the microcontroller to which LED indicator is connected depending on system condition input current to bridge rectifier and in turn voltage generated varies, same is fed to microcontroller and by sensing this voltage microcontroller switched current system status: healthy or faulted state, at this level microcontroller switches on port pin for LED display there by regulation of voltage is achieved.

[0034] In one implementation, during normal operation power balance is achieved such that for course correction 1 LED indication for 3 seconds may be sufficient. This may give indication of normal status of a device. While, during high fault the controller will enable continuous glow of LED.

[0035] In one implementation, during low order overload condition, when Zener diode is away from reverse breakdown zone, the rate of LED blinking frequency may be increased to obtain voltage regulation and indicating faulted status of a device. During normal condition microcontroller (Renesas RL-78) port pin may be switched high and low and same port pin is connected to the transistor switch with transistor collector connect at 5 volt point for which voltage regulation is required. During normal condition this port pin is switched such that led will blink only 1 time over time duration of 3 seconds this will maintain 5V regulated and this rate is achieved for power balance along with current transformer input on electronic card. During low order overload condition such as 30% overload than set value, LED blinking frequency is increased by certain order to ensure voltage regulation being maintained due to increase in sensed current. In present scenario this is increased to 1 blink per 1 second. This will give indication of abnormal status. During higher order faults this blinking rate (in locked rotor condition LED may glow continuously) will increase means microcontroller port pin switching will increase depending on measured voltage by microcontroller. This voltage is generated by rectifying current transformer current and filtered via capacitor and resistor arrangement.

[0036] In one implementation, during high order overload, i.e., when the current flowing in the electrical circuit is selected above 5 In, the microcontroller will enable constant glowing of the LED, giving indication of very high abnormal status of the electric circuit. In the implementation, Zener diode (31) may act as a secondary voltage regulator, thereby increasing reliability of Zener diode (31) for high level fault.

[0037] In one implementation, the voltage regulator mechanism, as shown in figure 1, provides an additional protection to Zener diode. This arrangement of Zener voltage regulation is course while LED regulation is fine adjustment.

[0038] In one implementation, the controller unit may be operably coupled to at least one tripping mechanism to actuate the tripping mechanism in response to a low order overload condition or fault condition.

[0039] Some of the important features of the present invention, considered to be noteworthy are mentioned below:
1. The present invention provides a mechanism for low cost and reliable power supply by achieving voltage regulation and by providing trip status indication.
2. The present invention provides visual indication of system status through LED, and regulates supply voltage to electronic components for their efficient operation.
3. The present invention provides Zener diode protection by branching current through LED.
4. The present invention achieves EMI/EMC issue resolution by switching to Zener and LED power supply design.
5. The present invention provides a voltage regulation technique without use of any high frequency switching component with reliable operations is provided.
6. The present invention provides trip indication status using internal simplified structures.
7. The present invention provides a voltage regulating module wherein, the LED can be switched ON and OF by means of microcontroller controlling a switching element and thereby achieving voltage regulation and at the same time based on system status may provide trip status.
8. The present invention provides the mechanism/topology which is configured to achieve voltage regulation and provide trip status based on depending on system status, simultaneously.
9. In the present invention, during normal condition of the electrical circuit, rate of switching the LED is preferably selected as 3 seconds. During low order overload condition, rate of switching said LED is preferably selected as 1 second. And during high order overload condition, the LED may glow at a constant rate indicating a very high abnormal status of said electric circuit.

[0040] Although a module and method for assisted trip indication and voltage regulation have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the module and method for assisted trip indication and voltage regulation.
,CLAIMS:1. An electronic circuit module for regulating voltage and indicating at least one status of an electric circuit, said module comprising:
at least one signal conditioning module (20) receives said electrical signal from a sensor device, rectify at least one variation in said electrical signal and generate a voltage signal for processing;
at least one controller (11) unit, operably coupled to said signal conditioning element, receives said voltage signal from said signal conditioning element as an input signal, said controller unit configured to:
generate at least one pulse signal corresponding to said input signal;
transmit said pulse signal to at least one indicator (32) means, to enable switching of said indicator (32) means at a particular switching frequency to indicate at least one status of said electrical circuit, wherein said switching of said indicator means is controlled by means of at least one switch (33);
wherein, during low order overload condition, said controller unit increases said switching frequency of said indicator means to indicate fault status of said electrical circuit and to obtain voltage regulation.

2. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor device is a current sensor or a current transformer (10), wherein said sensor device coupled to at least one port of a common terminal to sense at least one electrical signal.

3. The module as claimed in claim 1-2, wherein said voltage signal is generated by rectifying electrical signal from said sensor device and thereby filter said electrical signal by means of at least one capacitor and resistor arrangement.

4. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal conditioning element is a bridge rectifier diode.

5. The module as claimed in claims 1-2, further comprises at least one semiconductor device, operably coupled to other port of said common terminal at one end and said indicator means at other end, wherein said semiconductor device acts as a secondary voltage regulator in said module.

6. The module as claimed in claim 5, wherein said semiconductor device is a Zener regulator adapted to regulate voltage during high order overload condition.

7. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicator means is a Light Emitting diode (LED).

8. The module as claimed in claim 7, wherein during normal condition, rate of switching said LED is preferably selected as 3 seconds.

9. The module as claimed in claim 7, wherein during low order overload condition, rate of switching said LED is preferably selected as 1 second.

10. The module as claimed in claim 7, wherein during high order overload condition, said LED glows at a constant rate indicating a very high abnormal status of said electric circuit.

11. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller unit operably couple to at least one tripping mechanism to actuate said tripping mechanism in response to a low order overload condition or fault condition.

12. A method for regulating voltage and indicating at least one status of an electric circuit, said method comprising:
receiving, by means of a controller unit, at least one voltage signal corresponding to at least one input current signal from a signal conditioning element;
generating, by means of said controller unit, a pulse signal corresponding to said voltage signal; and thereby
actuating, by means of said pulse signal from said controller unit, at least one indicator means according to said voltage signal to enable switching of said indicator means at a particular switching frequency to indicate at least one status of said electrical circuit, wherein said switching of said indicator means is controlled by means of at least one switch;
wherein, during low order overload condition, said controller unit increases said switching frequency of said indicator means to indicate fault status of said electrical circuit and to obtain voltage regulation.