Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
  • H02H5/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal non-electric working conditions with or without subsequent reconnection
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
  • H02H9/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection
  • H02H9/04—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection responsive to excess voltage
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
  • H02H5/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal non-electric working conditions with or without subsequent reconnection
  • H02H5/005—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal non-electric working conditions with or without subsequent reconnection responsive to ionising radiation; Nuclear-radiation circumvention circuits
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
  • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
  • G01S13/88—Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
  • G01S13/95—Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for meteorological use
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01W—METEOROLOGY
  • G01W1/00—Meteorology
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01W—METEOROLOGY
  • G01W1/00—Meteorology
  • G01W1/16—Measuring atmospheric potential differences, e.g. due to electrical charges in clouds

Definitions

• the invention is in the technical field of protection of electrical installations against overvoltages that may be caused by weather events, such installations being connected to a power supply network.
• the invention relates more particularly to a method of protecting an electronic system against overvoltages caused during particular meteorological events, including overvoltages caused by lightning in the event of a thunderstorm.
• the device in question comprises means for monitoring the electromagnetic activity of the atmosphere, and if this electromagnetic activity exceeds a determined alert level, then the protection device disconnects the electrical installation from the network.
• these variations in the atmospheric electromagnetic activity result from the propagation in the atmosphere of electromagnetic waves generated by lightning.
• the monitoring means of the protection device must necessarily wait for the occurrence of a flash to allow the device to disconnect the installation of the network. There is therefore a significant risk that lightning damages the electrical installation before the protective device disconnects the installation of the network.
• the invention is therefore to provide a method of protecting a more reliable electronic overvoltage system and offering a high level of security.
• the invention proposes a method for protecting at least one electronic system against an overvoltage likely to be caused by a current or imminent weather event, which electronic system is connected to a telecommunication network and comprises an integrated control circuit, the method comprising successively:
• an electrical isolation step controlled by the control circuit of at least one port of the electronic system.
• the method allows, from the analysis of meteorological data collected in real time, to disconnect the electronic system from the electrical network to protect it from overvoltages in the event of an adverse weather event, such as a thunderstorm, and this before the weather event detected causes an overvoltage, for example because of the lightning generated during this storm.
• an adverse weather event such as a thunderstorm
• the protection method of the invention may also include the following optional features considered in isolation or according to all possible technical combinations:
• the method comprises a step of sending by the control circuit of an alert signal to a terminal display connected to the electronic system.
• the method comprises an additional step of displaying a first alert message on the display terminal from information contained in the alert signal, the first warning message warning a user of the display terminal of a risk of overvoltage due to the current or imminent weather event.
• the method comprises the additional step of displaying at least one control button on the display terminal and associating the button with the transmission of a command to the electronic system intended to control the electrical isolation step; .
• the alert signal is set to turn on the display terminal when the display is turned off.
• the method comprises, when the level of danger attributed to the meteorological data recovered exceeds an additional alert threshold below the main alert threshold, an additional step of displaying on the terminal displaying a piece of information informing the user; the impending arrival of a weather event likely to generate a surge.
• the method comprises a delay step before the step of isolating at least one port of the electronic system, the delay time can be set by a user of the terminal.
• the delay time is contained in the warning signal and the display terminal is isolated from an electrical network at the end of the delay time.
• the step of connecting the electronic system to the remote server comprises a substep of sending to the remote server a meteorological data collection request, the query comprising a geolocation information of the electronic system.
• the weather data recovery step is performed in real time and includes the following substeps:
• the meteorological data analysis step comprises at least the following substeps:
• meteorological data partition to extract temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed and direction data
• the meteorological data analysis step comprises at least the following substeps:
• meteorological data partition to extract an alert level calculated by the remote server; • Analyzing the alert level of the remote server to assign it a level of danger among a level scale recorded in the memory space of the control circuit.
• the method comprises a step of generating a second alert message by the control circuit, intended to be sent to any terminal or computer peripheral in communication with the electronic system, the second warning message warning of the risk of overvoltage; due to the current or impending weather event.
• the invention also relates to an electronic system, in particular a decoder, and which is essentially characterized in that it comprises an integrated control circuit having a memory space, the electronic system further comprising a power supply port. an electrical network, at least one network input port for connecting the system to an extended computer network, at least one multimedia output port for connecting the electronic system to a display terminal, the control circuit being adapted for successively:
• the electronic system of the invention may also include the following optional features considered in isolation or according to all possible technical combinations:
• the control circuit is adapted to, prior to electrical isolation (and when the assigned level of danger exceeds a main alert threshold), send an alert signal to the display terminal, the warning signal containing information for displaying an alert message on the display terminal to warn a user of the display terminal of a risk of overvoltage due to the current or imminent weather event.
• the control circuit is adapted to reconnect the considered port after a given time, through a timer module of the electronic system.
• the integrated control circuit of the electronic system comprises a cut-off circuit comprising electrically controlled circuit breakers, the circuit breakers being respectively mounted in respective supply lines of the ports considered and controlled by the control circuit.
• the invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by computer, lead it to implement the steps of the method as described above.
• the invention finally provides a computer readable storage means, on which is recorded the computer program as described above.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram representing the integration of the electronic system of the invention in a network environment
• FIG. 2 is a diagram of an electrical circuit of the electronic system according to one embodiment, for triggering circuit breakers for disconnecting at least one port of said electronic system, and
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the main steps of the protection method of the invention.
• the electronic system 1 comprises an integrated control circuit 2, itself comprising at least one memory space, a data processing processor, a plurality of input ports 21 and output 20, 22 to integrate the electronic system 1 in a telecommunication environment whose characteristics will be developed below.
• the decoder 1 is of course connected to the home electrical network via a power supply port 19, in order to be supplied with energy.
• control circuit 2 of the electronic system 1 comprises an electronic cut-off circuit 3 adapted to disconnect the power supply lines of the ports 19-22 of the electronic system 1. This cut-off circuit 3 and its operation will be described in detail below.
• the electronic system 1 is intended to be integrated in a local network for example of the TCP / IP type, this local area network being part of the telecommunication environment.
• the electronic system 1 is therefore connected to any peripheral and / or terminal connected to the local network.
• the electronic system 1 is a set-top box.
• decoder to define the electronic system 1 of the invention.
• the decoder 1 is connected via a gateway 4 (from the English "gateway") to an Internet-type extended network, for example according to a TCP / IP protocol, this extended network being part of the network. telecommunication environment.
• This decoder 1 is also connected to a display terminal 5, for example a television comprising at least one input port to a multimedia interface, preferably an HDMI input port (of English "High-Definition Multimedia Interface”).
• the decoder 1 therefore comprises at least one HDMI output port 20 for connecting to the television 5.
• the decoder 1 comprises at least one network input port 21 and optionally a network output port 22, for example Ethernet type.
• the decoder 1 is connected to the gateway 4 via its Ethernet input port 21, which allows it to receive content from the wide area network.
• the decoder is also adapted to be connected to an external device 6, for example via its Ethernet output port 22, or via a USB-type output port ("Universal Serial”). Bus “, translated” Universal Serial Bus “), or simply through the gateway 4 to which the external device 6 is connected.
• the decoder 1 comprises TV input and output ports for receiving and transmitting signals from a TV antenna.
• the control circuit 2 of the decoder 1 is adapted to retrieve and analyze meteorological data, for the purpose of defining the meteorological events in real time and thus to determine a level of dangerousness of these events, according to the invention.
• this database comprises ten levels numbered from one to ten, and at each level corresponds a particular weather event. The higher the level, the more adverse the weather event, and the greater the risk that the weather event will generate an overvoltage in the decoder 1, for example because of a flash produced during this event, is high.
• Table I below illustrates the correspondence between the level of danger and the weather event.
• the control circuit 2 sends an electrical signal to the breaking circuit 3 to define an electrical isolation sequence of the various ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1.
• An alert and electrical isolation procedure as an integral part of the protection process of the invention, will be described in detail later.
• the electrical cut-off circuit 3 comprises first, second and third input / output connectors for general use 7, 8, 9, commonly known as GPIO connectors (of the English “General”). Purpose Input / Output "), which enable the control circuit 2 to control the cutoff circuit 3.
• the GPIO connectors 7, 8, 9 enable the control circuit 2 to control circuit breakers 10, 11, 12, 13 of the circuit breaker. switching circuit 3.
• the circuit breakers 10-13 are respectively mounted on power supply lines of the respective ports 19-22 of the decoder 1.
• the respective activation of the circuit breakers 10 - 13 is made possible by the activation by the GPIO connectors 7, 8, 9 of respective transistors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d integrated in the breaking circuit 3.
• the circuit breaker 10 is used to electrically isolate the power supply port 19 of the decoder 1 which is connected to the electrical network, the circuit breaker 1 1 to isolate the HDMI output port 20, the circuit breaker 12 makes it possible to isolate the port Ethernet output 22 and the circuit breaker 13 isolates the Ethernet input port 21.
• Each GPIO connector 7 - 9 may adopt a particular logic state (0 or 1), this logic state being assigned by the control circuit 2.
• this logic state being assigned by the control circuit 2.
• the logic state of a GPIO connector When the logic state of a GPIO connector is set to 0, it plays then the output role and therefore can not send signals to the circuit breaker considered 10 - 13. In contrast, when the logic state of a GPIO connector is set to 1, it plays the role of input and can send signals at the circuit breaker considered 10 - 13.
• the first GPIO connector 7 activates a first transistor 14 to enable triggering the electrical isolation of at least one of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1.
• the second 8 and third 9 GPIO connector allow the control circuit 2 to control the circuit breakers 10 - 13 in a predetermined sequence to select the power lines of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 which will be isolated from the power grid.
• the open or closed state of the circuit breakers 10 - 13 depends on the state combination of the second and third GPIO 8, 9.
• circuit breakers 10 - 13 A circuit breaker 10 - 13 in its active state (1) opens the power supply line of the port considered 19 - 22, that is to say isolates said port of the power grid.
• the control circuit 2 must send an instruction that will put the first 7 and the third 9 GPIO connectors in logic state 1 and the second GPIO connector 8 in logic state 0, according to the truth table shown in Table II above.
• the combination of the states of the second 8 and the third 9 GPIO connector is demultiplied by a demultiplexer 15 before activating at least one of the transistors 16a-16d specific to the circuit breaker considered 10-13.
• the control circuit 2 comprises a timing module 17 which makes it possible to deactivate the circuit breakers 10 - 13 to reconnect the considered ports of the decoder 1 to the electrical network, and this after a determined time.
• this timing module 17 is connected to a battery-type accumulator mounted in the decoder 1.
• a computer program is recorded in the memory space of the control circuit 2. This program is intended to be executed by the processor of the control circuit 2 to implement the protection method of the control circuit 2. decoder 1, and if necessary the TV 5 and other devices 6 connected to the decoder 1, against overvoltages that may be caused by particular meteorological events, including thunderstorms.
• the protection method is initiated by the control circuit 2 of the decoder 1 as soon as the latter is powered, for example by the user.
• the control circuit 2 starts the program in the background 100, said program loading all the parameters necessary for the implementation of the steps of the process. These parameters are the trigger threshold of an alert, the sequence of ports 19 - 22 to be isolated, and the first and second delay times.
• the trigger threshold corresponds to the level of danger from which the protection process initiates the alert and isolation procedure because of a risk of overvoltage.
• the first delay time corresponds to the delay between the generation of an alarm and the switching on of the electrical isolation of the ports 19 - 22.
• the second delay time corresponds to the delay between the isolation of the power lines of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 and the reconnection of these different lines by the timing module 17.
• the user is also able to modify these various parameters relating to the implementation of the method by controlling a graphical interface with the remote control of the decoder, or directly with physical buttons on the front of the decoder 1. We will return later to the user-adjustable parameters.
• the control circuit 2 of the decoder 1 connects said decoder 1 to a remote server 18 containing meteorological data ( Figure 1).
• This connection is made by sending a request according to an HTTP protocol (of the "HyperText Transfer Protocol"), or HTTPS to benefit from a secure connection.
• HTTP protocol of the "HyperText Transfer Protocol”
• HTTPS HyperText Transfer Protocol
• This request also includes the geographical coordinates of the decoder 1.
• the decoder 1 can connect to several remote servers 18.
• the remote server 18 does not respond to the connection request 102N, an error message 103 is broadcast on the television 5 and the program stops 104.
• the remote server responds 102Y, the connection between the decoder 1 and the remote server 18 is established.
• the control circuit 2 consults 105, retrieves 106 and then prepares 107 the values of the various parameters allowing the implementation of the steps of the method, these values being stored in the memory space of the control circuit 2.
• the main program launches 109 then three algorithms 200, 300, 400 which will respectively allow the collection of meteorological data, the analysis of meteorological data collected to identify the meteorological event, and the establishment of a level of dangerousness of the weather event.
• the control circuit 2 retrieves 201 the weather data of the remote server by sending data corresponding to the geographical location of the decoder.
• the received data is then formatted 202 by the control circuit 2 in a textual data format, such as "JavaScript Object Notation” (JSON) or “Extensible Markup Language” (XML) or in a binary data format, such as the "MessagePack", and recorded 301 in the memory space of the control circuit 2.
• JSON JavaScript Object Notation
• XML Extensible Markup Language
• MessagePack binary data format
• This data recovery step is periodically executed 203, according to a determined period. Typically, the collection of data is carried out every minute by the control circuit 2.
• the meteorological data analysis algorithm will parse the collected data 302, that is to say, it will extract parts of the meteorological data collected and classify them. In particular, the algorithm will extract weather data, atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind direction and speed, and air humidity rate, and if necessary the climatic alert level established by the server. distant 18.
• the meteorological data analysis algorithm will analyze the atmospheric pressure variations in the time 303, as well as the temperature variations in the time 304. It is by example known that a decrease in atmospheric pressure from 1 hectopascal to 2 hectopascals per hour is an indicator of storm and storm.
• the algorithm correlates atmospheric pressure and temperature variations to detect thunderstorm risks: the algorithm analyzing meteorological data makes it possible to study the variation of these data over variable time scales. The algorithm then recreates a set of data representing the derivative of the values over several time scales. Critical levels are achieved for negative derivatives between pressure and time, as well as for temperature and time, on scales of one to two hours. The algorithm also defines the correlation between the temperature and the pressure, which allows to see brutal decreases on the current atmospheric condition and thus possibly to trigger alerts.
• the analysis algorithm 300 studies the variations of speed and direction of the wind to establish a climate context 305, that is to say to assign a level textual hazard from the weather events database shown in Table I.
• This climatic context is therefore representative of a current or future meteorological event and is derived from the pressure, wind direction and wind speed and temperature data. previously analyzed.
• the algorithm 300 can analyze other meteorological parameters extracted from the collected data, such as the humidity level, the position of the clouds at low, medium and high. altitude, as well as George's index or K-index, which is an index of air stability and represents the storm potential.
• the climatic context representative of the complete analysis of the meteorological data, is then recorded 306 in the memory space of the control circuit 2.
• the fourth and fifth steps of the method described above are replaced by a single step of analyzing the level of the climate warning established by the remote server 18. This step leads to the recording 306 in the memory space of the control circuit 2 of the climatic context representative of this level of climate alert.
• the climate context is sent 401 to the algorithm for establishing a level of danger of the climatic event 400.
• the algorithm 400 then assigns a level of dangerousness to the previously determined weather event 402, using the database shown in Table I. the assigned level is therefore between 1 and 10 and represents the level of dangerousness of the weather event resulting from the climatic context.
• the algorithm 400 evaluates whether the level of danger reaches or exceeds the main alarm trigger threshold.
• the threshold is determined and stored in the memory space of the control circuit 2. It is also parameterizable by the user by controlling the appropriate graphic interface with the remote control of the decoder 1. For example, the user can choose to set the threshold to 8, that is to say, slightly stormy.
• a new collection and analysis of meteorological data is performed by the algorithms 200, 300, 400. As mentioned above, the collection and analysis of these meteorological data is carried out periodically as long as an alert is not triggered.
• the control circuit launches an alert algorithm 500 which initiates the alert procedure of electrical isolation of at least one port power line 19 - 22 of the decoder 1.
• the control circuit 2 controls the cessation of the periodic recovery of meteorological data.
• the control circuit 2 starts a countdown before activation of the cut-off circuit 3, this countdown being parameterizable by the user via the graphical interface of the menu of the decoder 1 to thus adjust the first delay time.
• the control circuit 2 also generates a first signal 501 destined for the television 5.
• This first emitted signal is preferably an HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) signal and makes it possible to warn the electronic card of the television 5.
• This first signal can also turn on the TV 5 if the latter is off.
• the signal further comprises information for displaying an alert message on the TV screen 5, to warn the user of the TV 5 of the risk of overvoltage.
• the display is in fact another graphical interface that describes the alert in progress.
• Control buttons are also advantageously displayed on the TV screen 5, each button being associated with the transmission of a command to the control circuit 2 to control the various parameters of the alert and electrical isolation procedure .
• the user can choose to ignore the rest of the isolation procedure or to trigger it before the end of the first delay time, or choose which port power lines 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 he wishes to isolate. .
• the control circuit 2 generates a text or binary data message 502, for example in the JSON format, which contains a description of the alert and the first delay time before launching by the control circuit 2. the electrical isolation of at least one of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1.
• This message is then sent 503 on the local network to the devices 6 connected to this network and therefore to the decoder 1, using a UDP type protocol to broadcast the message on all the communicating devices on the TCP / IP network.
• the devices concerned have a functionality to receive and decode the JSON message, they will also be able to disconnect from the power grid after the first delay time.
• the first delay time is contained in the HDMI CEC signal sent to the TV 5, so that the electronic card of the latter will control the closing and isolation of the electricity network of the TV 5 at the end of the first timer.
• the control circuit 2 sends an electrical signal 504 to the GPIO connectors 7, 8, 9 of the cut-off circuit 3.
• This signal assigns a logic state to each GPIO connector 7, 8, 9 according to a sequence for isolating 505 electrically and successively at least one of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 by activating the circuit breakers considered 10 - 13, as described above.
• the circuit breakers 10 - 13 make it possible, if necessary, to discharge a surplus of electrical energy in the event of an overvoltage.
• the HDMI and Ethernet ports 20, 21, 22 are successively disconnected from the power grid, then the power port 1 9 is finally disconnected to turn off the decoder 1.
• the electrical signal sent to the breaking circuit 3 is also received 506 by the timing module 17 which starts the second delay time before rebooting: at the end of the second delay time stored in the memory space of the circuit 2, a recloser of the timer module 17 (which is powered by battery power) electrically reconnects the power port 19 and the input Ethernet port 21 to reconnect the decoder 1 to the wide area network.
• the control circuit 2 then performs a collection and analysis of new meteorological data to determine a new level of danger.
• control circuit 2 again pilot the decoder 1 stop. If the new level is below the main threshold, then the control circuit 2 sends an electrical signal to the GPIO connectors to control the reconnection to the electrical network of the ports 19 - 22 of the decoder 1 which have been isolated, by deactivating the circuit breakers considered 10 - 13 (which makes it possible to close the supply lines of the ports 19 - 22 considered).
• the second delay time can be parameterized by the user via the graphical interface of the decoder 1.
• this second delay time is also integrated in the JSON message sent by the control circuit 2 to the peripherals and in the HDMI CEC signal sent to the television 5.
• the respective electronic cards of the television set 5 and devices can then control the ignition of the latter if they have such features.
• an additional threshold of alert below the main alert threshold is recorded in the memory space of the control circuit 2.
• the method comprises a step (not shown) of display on the television screen 5 of a data informing the user of the the next or probable arrival of a weather event likely to generate a surge.
• this additional threshold can be set to 7, that is to say, correspond to heavy rain.
• the electronic system 2 and the protection method according to the invention operate preventively. Indeed, it is planned to isolate the electronic system 2 itself and the various terminals and devices to which it is connected well before a single flash was generated because of an adverse weather event.
• the electronic system 2 of the invention thus implements a protection method of the invention more reliable and offering a high level of security.
• the embodiment described above is not limiting, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
• control circuit 2 comprising the circuit breaker 3 and having in memory the program implementing the steps of the protection method according to the invention can be directly integrated in the gateway 4 connected to the wide area network, or in an electronic box independent connected to the decoder 1 and the wide area network.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
• Remote Monitoring And Control Of Power-Distribution Networks (AREA)
• Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Families Citing this family (2)

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• 2017
  • 2017-09-29 FR FR1759066A patent/FR3071974B1/fr active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-09-28 EP EP18774066.7A patent/EP3676923A1/de active Pending
  • 2018-09-28 CN CN201880073134.2A patent/CN111344925B/zh active Active
  • 2018-09-28 US US16/651,750 patent/US11296498B2/en active Active
  • 2018-09-28 WO PCT/EP2018/076491 patent/WO2019063800A1/fr not_active Ceased

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