TWM604886U - Lightning strike counter - Google Patents

Abstract

A lightning strike counter is disclosed. The lightning strike counter includes a lightning strike input circuit, a bipolar waveform generating circuit, and a counting circuit. The lightning strike input circuit receives a lightning strike signal from a first lightning strike input end and a second lightning strike input end. The bipolar waveform generating circuit outputs a bipolar waveform signal from a bipolar waveform output end to the counting circuit in response to the lightning strike input circuit receiving the lightning strike signal. The counting circuit outputs a counting output signal from a counting output end in response to receiving the bipolar waveform signal from a counting input end.

Description

Lightning strike counter

The embodiment of the present invention relates to a counter. Specifically, the embodiment of the present invention relates to a lightning strike counter.

To detect and count lightning strikes, existing lightning strike counters generally use magnetic induction elements to detect the lightning strike current flowing through the wires, and then use the output current of the magnetic induction elements as the input signal of the counter. The above-mentioned magnetic induction element can be an induction magnetic ring, and its operation is to generate an induced current when a lightning strike is detected by passing a wire through a magnetic ring. In order to achieve the above operation, the inner diameter of the magnetic ring of the induction magnetic ring must be larger than the outer diameter of the wire, so the volume of the induction magnetic ring is difficult to reduce. In view of this, how to reduce the size of the lightning strike counter will be a problem that needs to be solved in the technical field of the present invention.

In order to solve at least the above-mentioned problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a lightning strike counter, which includes a lightning strike input circuit, a bipolar waveform generating circuit, and a counting circuit. The lightning strike input circuit includes a first lightning strike input terminal, a second lightning strike input terminal, and a protection element, wherein the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal are used to receive a lightning strike signal, and the protection element is coupled It is connected between the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal to control a voltage difference between the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal not to be higher than a preset value. The bipolar waveform generating circuit includes a transformer, a capacitor, and a bipolar waveform output terminal. The transformer includes a primary coil and a secondary coil, the primary coil and the capacitor are connected in series between the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal, and a first end of the secondary coil is coupled to the bipolar Waveform output terminal, a second terminal of the secondary coil is directly or indirectly coupled to a ground terminal. The bipolar waveform generating circuit is used for outputting a bipolar waveform signal from the bipolar waveform output terminal in response to the lightning strike input circuit receiving the lightning strike signal. The counting circuit includes a counting input terminal and a counting output terminal, wherein the counting input terminal is coupled to the bipolar waveform output terminal, and the counting circuit is used for receiving the bipolar waveform signal from the counting input terminal. The counting output terminal outputs a counting output signal.

In the embodiment of the present invention, through the protection element, the input high-voltage lightning strike voltage is converted into a voltage range suitable for the lightning strike counter, avoiding damage to the circuit of the lightning strike counter caused by the high voltage. Through the operation of the transformer and the capacitor, the bipolar waveform generating circuit can generate a bipolar waveform signal as the input signal of the counting circuit. The counting circuit then outputs a counting signal according to the input signal to achieve the count of detecting a lightning strike voltage. Using the above circuit of the embodiment of the present invention to perform lightning strike counting does not require the use of traditional large-volume magnetic induction elements. Therefore, compared with the traditional lightning strike counter, the present invention reduces the size of the lightning strike counter.

The above content is not intended to limit the present model, but only briefly describes the technical problems that can be solved by the present model, the technical means that can be adopted, and the achievable technical effects, so that those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present model belongs can have a preliminary understanding of the present invention. New. According to the attached drawings and the content described in the following embodiments, those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can further understand the details of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through a number of embodiments, but these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to only be implemented according to the operation, environment, application, structure, process, or steps. For ease of description, content that is not directly related to the embodiment of the present invention or content that can be understood without special description will be omitted in the text and the drawings. In the drawings, the size of each element and the ratio between each element are only examples, and are not used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, in the following content, the same (or similar) component symbols can correspond to the same (or similar) components. In the case of being realized, the number of each element described below may be one or more unless otherwise specified.

The terms used in this disclosure are only used to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the singular form "one" is also intended to include the plural form. The terms "including" and "including" indicate the existence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or elements, but do not exclude one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, elements and/or Or the existence of the aforementioned combination. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the terms “connected” and “coupled” used herein may be direct connection (that is, not connected through other components) or indirect connection (that is, connected through other components).

Figures 1A and 1B illustrate circuit diagrams of two lightning strike counters in some embodiments of the present invention, but the content shown here is only to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, not to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

1A, the lightning strike counter 1 may include a lightning strike input circuit 11, a bipolar waveform generation circuit 12, and a counting circuit 13.

The lightning strike input circuit 11 may include a first lightning strike input terminal N01, a second lightning strike input terminal N02, and a protection element P1. The first lightning strike input terminal N01 and the second lightning strike input terminal N02 can be used to receive a lightning strike signal S1.

The protection element P1 is coupled between the first lightning strike input terminal N01 and the second lightning strike input terminal N02 to control a voltage difference between the first lightning strike input terminal N01 and the second lightning strike input terminal N02 not to be higher than one default value. The protection element P1 can be a variety of switching protection elements or overvoltage protection elements, which can directly or indirectly lead the current into the ground terminal when the voltage difference between its two ends is higher than a preset value, so as to control the voltage difference between its two ends. It is higher than the preset value and prevents the lightning strike counter 1 from being damaged by excessive current. In some embodiments, the protection element P1 may be a gas discharge tube (GDT), a semiconductor discharge tube (Thyristor Surge Suppressors, TSS), or other switching protection elements.

The first lightning strike input terminal N01 and the second lightning strike input terminal N02 are connected to both ends of the protection element P1, so the voltage difference between the two ends of the protection element P1 will be sensed. When the lightning strike signal S1 is input to the two ends of the protection element P1, the protection element P1 will control the voltage difference between its two ends not to be higher than the preset value, and the bipolar waveform generating circuit 12 is based on the first lightning strike input terminal N01 and the The voltage difference induced by the second lightning strike input terminal N02 is used for subsequent operations.

The bipolar waveform generating circuit 12 may include a transformer T1, a capacitor C1, and a bipolar waveform output terminal N03. The transformer T1 includes a primary winding T11 and a secondary winding T12. The primary winding T11 and the capacitor C1 are connected in series between the first lightning input terminal N01 and the second lightning input terminal N02. In other embodiments, the relative positions of the primary winding T11 of the transformer T1 and the capacitor C1 can be interchanged. Fig. 1B illustrates an embodiment in which the positions of the primary coil T11 and the capacitor C1 are interchanged. The difference between Fig. 1B and Fig. 1A is that in the connection shown in Fig. 1B, the primary winding T11 of the transformer T1 is connected to the first lightning input terminal N01, and the capacitor C1 is connected to the second lightning input terminal N02.

The first terminal N04 of the secondary coil T12 is coupled to the bipolar waveform output terminal N03, and the second terminal N05 of the secondary coil T12 can be directly (that is, not through other components) or indirectly (that is, through other components) Coupled to a ground terminal G1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the bipolar waveform generating circuit 12 further includes a first resistor R1, and the second terminal N05 of the secondary winding T12 can be connected to the ground terminal G1 through the first resistor R1. In some other embodiments, the bipolar waveform generating circuit 12 does not include the first resistor R1 (that is, the first resistor R1 in Figure 1A is omitted), then the second terminal N05 of the secondary winding T12 Connect directly to the ground terminal G1.

The bipolar waveform generating circuit 12 can be used to output a bipolar waveform signal S2 from the bipolar waveform output terminal N03 in response to the lightning strike input circuit 11 receiving the lightning strike signal S1.

In detail, when the first lightning strike input terminal N01 and the second lightning strike input terminal N02 receive the lightning strike signal S1, the capacitor C1 will be charged and discharged successively, and then pass through the primary coil T11 and the secondary coil T12 of the transformer T1 The induced current can be generated at the second end N05 of the secondary coil T12 to generate a bipolar waveform signal S2 as the input signal of the counting circuit 13.

The bipolar waveform signal S2 includes a positive pulse signal S21 and a negative pulse signal S22. The transmission of the positive pulse signal S21 and the negative pulse signal S22 may have a time delay. The transmission sequence of the positive pulse signal S21 and the negative pulse signal S22 is not limited. In some cases, the positive pulse signal S21 will be transmitted to the counting circuit 13 earlier than the negative pulse signal S22. In some cases, the positive pulse The wave signal S21 is transmitted to the counting circuit 13 later than the negative pulse signal S22. In the embodiment where the bipolar waveform generating circuit 12 includes the first resistor R1, the time delay can be set by adjusting the resistance value of the first resistor R1.

The withstand voltage value of the capacitor C1 must be higher than the preset protection voltage value of the protection element P1 (for example, the impulse spark over voltage of the gas discharge tube, the switching voltage of the semiconductor discharge tube) . In some embodiments, the capacitance value of the capacitor C1 may be set between 1 nafarad (nF) and 33 nafarad. The turns ratio of the primary winding T11 of the transformer T1 and the secondary winding T12 may be "1:1" or not "1:1". According to different requirements, the voltage value of the output bipolar waveform signal S2 can be set by adjusting the above-mentioned coil turns ratio.

The counting circuit 13 can be various circuits with counting functions, which can output a counting signal to an external device in response to receiving an input signal once to achieve the counting function. The counting circuit 13 can include a counting input terminal N06 and a counting output terminal N07, wherein the counting input terminal N06 is coupled to the bipolar waveform output terminal N03, and the counting circuit 13 is used to respond to the reception from the counting input terminal N06 The bipolar waveform signal S2 outputs a count output signal S3 from the count output terminal N07.

Figure 2 further illustrates a circuit diagram of a counting circuit 13 in the lightning strike counter 1 of some embodiments of the present invention. However, the content shown here is only to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, not to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, the counting circuit 13 may also include a second resistor R2, a third resistor R3, a fourth resistor R4, a fifth resistor R5, a first diode D1, a thyristor TY, and a relay. RL, a reset signal input terminal N08. The thyristor TY includes a control electrode E0, a first electrode E1, and a second electrode E2. The relay RL includes a first control terminal N21, a second control terminal N22, a first controlled terminal N31, and a second controlled terminal N32.

The second resistor R2 is coupled between the counting input terminal N06 and an anode of the first diode D1, a cathode of the first diode D1 is coupled to the control electrode E0 of the thyristor TY, the The first end of the third resistor R3 is coupled to a voltage source VD, and the second end of the third resistor R3 is coupled to the first electrode E1 of the thyristor TY and the first end of the fourth resistor R4. The second terminal of the four resistor R4 is coupled to the counting output terminal N07 and the first terminal of the fifth resistor R5. The second electrode E2 of the thyristor TY is coupled to the first controlled terminal N31 of the relay. The first control terminal N21 is coupled to the reset signal input terminal N08, the second terminal of the fifth resistor R5 and the second controlled terminal N32 of the relay RL are coupled to the ground terminal G1, and the relay RL The second control terminal N22 is directly (that is, not through other components) or indirectly (that is, through other components) coupled to the ground terminal G1.

The first diode D1 can be various types of diodes, and is used to prevent the current from the ground terminal G1 from flowing backward into the control electrode E0 of the thyristor TY. The second resistor R2 can be used to adjust the current of the control electrode E0 entering the thyristor TY. In some embodiments, the resistance value of the second resistor R2 may be between "0" and "1000" ohms. The third resistor R3 can be used to control the current flowing into the first electrode E1 of the thyristor TY, and make the thyristor TY meet the conduction/non-conduction condition. The resistance value of the third resistor R3 can be adjusted according to the voltage of the voltage source VD. According to different requirements, the fourth resistor R4 and the fifth resistor R5 can be used to adjust the voltage of the counting output terminal N07 in a voltage division manner.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the counting circuit 13 may further include a second diode D2, an anode of the second diode D2 is coupled to the second control terminal N22 of the relay RL, and the A cathode of the second diode D2 is coupled to the ground terminal G1. The second diode D2 can be various kinds of diodes, and can prevent current from flowing back from the second control terminal N22 of the relay RL to the first control terminal N21. In some other embodiments (for example, when the relay RL does not reverse the current flow from the second control terminal N22 to the first control terminal N21), the counting circuit 13 may not include the second diode D2 (ie, the second diode D2 in Figure 2 is omitted), and the second control terminal N22 of the relay RL is directly coupled to the ground terminal G1.

If the voltage difference between the control electrode E0 of the thyristor TY and the second electrode E2 (in this case, the second electrode E2 is the cathode) is greater than a preset value, the first electrode E1 of the thyristor TY (in this case, The first electrode E1 is the anode) and the second electrode E2 is connected, and a current flows from the first electrode E1 to the second electrode E2. In other words, when the control electrode E0 of the thyristor TY receives the positive pulse signal S21 in the bipolar waveform signal S2, it will cause conduction between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 of the thyristor TY, and the voltage source VD The provided current is left to the ground terminal G1, and the voltage of the count output terminal N07 changes from a high potential (for example: "5" volts) to a low potential (for example: "0" volts), and the count output terminal N07 will output a low potential The counting output signal S3 represents that the counting circuit 13 counts a lightning strike.

In some embodiments, the thyristor TY may be a one-way thyristor or a two-way thyristor, but it is not limited to this.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the relay RL is an optocoupler. In this embodiment, when the voltage difference between the first control terminal N21 and the second control terminal N22 of the relay RL exceeds a preset value, the light emitting diode between the first control terminal N21 and the second control terminal N22 When the phototransistor between the first controlled terminal N31 and the second controlled terminal N32 receives light, a current will be generated, and the first controlled terminal N31 and the second controlled terminal N32 will be conductive.

When the reset signal input terminal N08 does not receive the reset signal S4, it is set to maintain a high potential (the high potential causes the voltage difference between the first control terminal N21 and the second control terminal N22 to exceed a preset value, for example: "5" volts), so when the reset signal input terminal N08 does not receive the reset signal S4, the first control terminal N21 and the second control terminal N22 remain conductive. In response to the reset signal input terminal N08 receiving a reset signal S4 with a low potential (for example, "0" volts), the first controlled terminal N31 and the second controlled terminal N32 will be turned off, causing the gate The second electrode E2 of the fluid TY and the ground terminal G1 are also shut off, so that the thyristor TY cannot continue to maintain a conductive state and returns to a non-conductive state. In other words, the thyristor TY of the counting circuit 13 is reset, and the counting circuit 13 can again generate the counting output signal S3 in response to receiving the new bipolar waveform signal S2.

The reset signal S4 can be received from an external controller (for example, a microcontroller). In some embodiments, the external controller can respond to the count output signal S3 received from the count output terminal N07, and The reset signal S4 is input to the counting circuit 13 to reset the counting circuit 13.

The relay RL illustrated in Figure 2 above is not a limitation. In some other embodiments, where feasible, the relay RL can also be one of a solid state relay, a reed switch relay, and an electromagnetic relay.

In addition, the counting circuit 13 shown in FIG. 2 above is not limited, and other counting circuits with the same function can also be used instead of the counting circuit 13 to complete the related operations of the lightning strike counter 1 if it can be implemented. For example, the counting circuit 13 can also be a flash counter (Flash Counter) circuit, but it is not limited to this.

The above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples to illustrate the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any other embodiments resulting from modifications, changes, adjustments, and integrations of the above-mentioned embodiments, as long as those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains are not difficult to think of, are covered by the protection scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of this new model is subject to the scope of the patent application.

As follows: 1: Lightning strike counter 11: Lightning strike input circuit 12: Bipolar waveform generating circuit 13: Counting circuit C1: Capacitance D1: The first diode D2: The second diode E0: Control pole E1: first electrode E2: second electrode G1: Ground terminal N01: The first lightning strike input terminal N02: The second lightning strike input terminal N03: Bipolar waveform output terminal N04: First end N05: second end N06: Counting input terminal N07: Counting output terminal N08: Reset signal input terminal N21: The first control terminal N22: second control terminal N31: The first controlled end N32: The second controlled end P1: Protection element R1: first resistance R2: second resistor R3: third resistor R4: Fourth resistor R5: fifth resistor RL: Relay S1: Lightning strike signal S2: Bipolar waveform signal S21: Positive pulse signal S22: Negative pulse signal S3: count output signal S4: Reset signal T1: Transformer T11: Primary coil T12: secondary coil TY: thyristor VD: voltage source

The attached drawings can help illustrate various embodiments of the present invention, among which: [Figure 1A] illustrates a circuit diagram of a lightning strike counter in some embodiments of the present invention; [Figure 1B] illustrates the circuit diagram of another lightning strike counter of some embodiments of the present invention; and [Figure 2] illustrates a circuit diagram of a counting circuit in the lightning strike counter of some embodiments of the present invention.

1: Lightning strike counter

11: Lightning strike input circuit

12: Bipolar waveform generating circuit

13: Counting circuit

C1: Capacitance

D1: The first diode

D2: The second diode

E0: Control pole

E1: first electrode

E2: second electrode

G1: Ground terminal

N01: The first lightning strike input terminal

N02: The second lightning strike input terminal

N03: Bipolar waveform output terminal

N04: First end

N05: second end

N06: Counting input terminal

N07: Counting output terminal

N08: Reset signal input terminal

N21: The first control terminal

N22: second control terminal

N31: The first controlled end

N32: The second controlled end

P1: Protection element

R1: first resistance

R2: second resistor

R3: third resistor

R4: Fourth resistor

R5: fifth resistor

RL: Relay

S1: Lightning strike signal

S2: Bipolar waveform signal

S21: Positive pulse signal

S22: Negative pulse signal

S3: count output signal

S4: Reset signal

T1: Transformer

T11: Primary coil

T12: secondary coil

TY: thyristor

VD: voltage source

Claims (7)

A lightning strike counter, including: A lightning strike input circuit includes a first lightning strike input terminal, a second lightning strike input terminal, and a protection element, wherein the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal are used to receive a lightning strike signal, and the protection element Coupled between the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal to control a voltage difference between the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal not to be higher than a preset value; A bipolar waveform generating circuit includes a transformer, a capacitor, and a bipolar waveform output terminal, where: The transformer includes a primary coil and a secondary coil, the primary coil and the capacitor are connected in series between the first lightning strike input terminal and the second lightning strike input terminal, and a first end of the secondary coil is coupled to the bipolar Waveform output terminal, a second terminal of the secondary coil is directly or indirectly coupled to a ground terminal; and The bipolar waveform generating circuit is used for outputting a bipolar waveform signal from the bipolar waveform output terminal in response to the lightning strike input circuit receiving the lightning strike signal; and A counting circuit includes a counting input terminal and a counting output terminal, wherein the counting input terminal is coupled to the bipolar waveform output terminal, and the counting circuit is used for receiving the bipolar waveform signal from the counting input terminal, A count output signal is output from the count output terminal. The lightning strike counter according to claim 1, wherein the protection element is a gas discharge tube or a semiconductor discharge tube. The lightning strike counter according to claim 1, wherein the bipolar waveform generating circuit further includes a first resistor, and the first resistor is coupled between the second terminal of the secondary coil and the ground terminal. The lightning strike counter according to claim 1, wherein the counting circuit further includes a second resistor, a third resistor, a fourth resistor, a fifth resistor, a first diode, a brake fluid, a relay, A reset signal input terminal, where: The second resistor is coupled between the counting input terminal and an anode of the first diode, a cathode of the first diode is coupled to a control electrode of the thyristor, and a third resistor The first end is coupled to a voltage source, a second end of the third resistor is coupled to a first electrode of the thyristor and a first end of the fourth resistor, and a second end of the fourth resistor Coupled to the count output terminal and a first terminal of the fifth resistor, a second electrode of the thyristor is coupled to a first controlled terminal of the relay, and a first control terminal of the relay is coupled to The reset signal input terminal, a second terminal of the fifth resistor and a second controlled terminal of the relay are coupled to the ground terminal, and the second control terminal of the relay is directly or indirectly coupled to the ground terminal ; And In response to receiving a reset signal at the reset signal input terminal, the counting circuit is reset. The lightning strike counter according to claim 4, wherein the counting circuit further includes a second diode, an anode of the second diode is coupled to the second control terminal of the relay, and the second diode A cathode of the body is coupled to the ground terminal. The lightning strike counter according to claim 4, wherein the thyristor is a one-way thyristor or a two-way thyristor. The lightning strike counter according to claim 4, wherein the relay is one of a solid state relay, an optocoupler, a reed switch relay, and an electromagnetic relay.

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