Transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function and method of operating the same

Abstract

A transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function includes a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal. The transmitting terminal includes a switch, a current measurer, a signal generator, and a controller. The receiving terminal includes a filter. The switch is coupled to a first DC power and a transmission line. The current measurer is coupled to the transmission line, and measures a current of the transmission line and provides a current signal. The signal generator provides a disturbance signal to the transmission line. The controller receives the current signal and controls the switch. If the controller determines that the current signal contains the disturbance signal, the controller turns off the switch.

Claims

1. A transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function, comprising a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal, wherein the transmitting terminal transmits a first DC power to the receiving terminal through a transmission line, the transmitting terminal comprising: a switch coupled to the first DC power and the transmission line; a current measurer coupled to the transmission line, and configured to measure a current of the transmission line and provide a current signal; a signal generator configured to provide a disturbance signal to the transmission line, wherein a voltage magnitude of the disturbance signal is less than a voltage magnitude of the first DC power; and a controller configured to receive the current signal and control the switch accordingly, wherein the receiving terminal comprises a filter coupled to the transmission line, and wherein the controller is configured to turn off the switch if the controller determines that the current signal contains the disturbance signal.

2. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein the disturbance signal is carried on the first DC power.

3. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein the disturbance signal is a high-frequency voltage signal.

4. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein the disturbance signal has at least one frequency.

5. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein when a resistance is between a positive end and a negative end of the transmission line, the current signal contains the disturbance signal.

6. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 3, wherein the controller has a high-pass filter, and the high-pass filter is configured to filter and extract the high-frequency voltage signal.

7. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein the current measurer is a Hall sensor.

8. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform a Fast Fourier Transform on the current signal to analyze the disturbance signal.

9. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein the receiving terminal further comprises: a DC converter coupled to the filter, and configured to step down the first DC power to a second DC power.

10. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 9, wherein the DC converter is a switch mode power supply, and a maximum switching frequency of the switch mode power supply is less than a frequency of the disturbance signal.

11. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 1, wherein if the current measurer does not measure the disturbance signal, the controller turns on the switch.

12. A method of operating a transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function, comprising steps of: transmitting a first DC power from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal through a transmission line; providing a disturbance signal to the transmission line, wherein a voltage magnitude of the disturbance signal is less than a voltage magnitude of the first DC power; measuring a current of the transmission line and providing a current signal; and interrupting the first DC power to the receiving terminal if determining that the current signal contains the disturbance signal.

13. The method of operating the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 12, wherein the disturbance signal is carried on the first DC power.

14. The method of operating the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 12, wherein the disturbance signal is a high-frequency voltage signal and has at least one frequency.

15. The method of operating the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 12, wherein when a resistance is between a positive end and a negative end of the transmission line, the current signal contains the disturbance signal.

16. The method of operating the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function in claim 12, wherein a Fast Fourier Transform is performed on the current signal to analyze the disturbance signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawing as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a conventional transmission and distribution system for detecting an electric shock.

(3) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function according to the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function that a person touches electricity according to the present disclosure.

(5) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of operating the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present disclosure in detail. It will be understood that the drawing figures and exemplified embodiments of present disclosure are not limited to the details thereof.

(7) Please refer to FIG. 2, which shows a block diagram of a transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function according to the present disclosure. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function includes a transmitting terminal 10 and a receiving terminal 20. The transmitting terminal 10 and the receiving terminal 20 are typically far apart, even up to several kilometers. The transmitting terminal 10 transmits a first DC power V.sub.DC1 to the receiving terminal 20 through a transmission line L.sub.X, and the transmission line L.sub.X has an equivalent line resistance R.sub.L. In particular, the first DC power V.sub.DC1 may be provided by converting an AC power source (not shown) by an AC-to-DC converter (not shown), but it is not to limit the present disclosure. In other embodiments, the first DC power V.sub.DC1 may be provided by converting a DC power source (not shown) by a DC-to-DC converter (not shown). The first DC power V.sub.DC1 is, for example but not limited to, a DC high voltage with 190 volts.

(8) The transmitting terminal 10 includes a switch 14, a current measurer 16, a signal generator 18, and a controller 12. The switch 14 is coupled to the first DC power V.sub.DC1 and the transmission line L.sub.X. In particular, the switch 14 is, for example but not limited to, a mechanical switch or a power transistor switch. The current measurer 16 is coupled to the transmission line L.sub.X for measuring a current value of a current I.sub.X of the transmission line L.sub.X, and provides a current signal S.sub.I. In particular, the current measurer 16 is not limited to be disposed at a positive end or a negative end of the first DC power V.sub.DC1, i.e., the measurement position thereof is not limited to at the positive end or the negative end of the first DC power V.sub.DC1. The current measurer 16 is, for example but not limited to, a Hall sensor or a Rogowski coil. In this embodiment, the current value of the current I.sub.X is a magnitude of a current flowing from the receiving terminal 20 to the transmitting terminal 10.

(9) The signal generator 108 provides a disturbance signal V.sub.D to the transmission line L.sub.X. In particular, the disturbance signal V.sub.D and the first DC power V.sub.DC1 are in a superimposed relationship, that is, the disturbance signal V.sub.D is carried on the first DC power V.sub.DC1. In comparison with a magnitude of the first DC power V.sub.DC1 (190 volts), the disturbance signal V.sub.D is, for example but not limited to, 5 volts. In this embodiment, the disturbance signal V.sub.D is a high-frequency voltage signal, for example but not limited to, with 500 kHz. Alternatively, the disturbance signal V.sub.D is a signal composed of more than two frequencies, and the appropriate disturbance frequency can be selected according to an equivalent resistance model of the human body or other organisms. The controller 12 receives the current signal S.sub.I and provides a control signal S.sub.W to turn on or turn off the switch 14. It can be seen in the following detailed description.

(10) The receiving terminal 20 includes a filter 22 and a DC converter 24. The filter 22 is coupled to the transmission line L.sub.X, and the filter 22 is, for example but not limited to, an inductor or an EMI filter. The DC converter 24 is coupled to the filter 22 for stepping down the first DC power V.sub.DC1 to a second DC power V.sub.DC2 to supply power to a load 100. The second DC power V.sub.DC2 is, for example but not limited to, 48-volt DC voltage. In particular, the transmitting terminal 10 shown in FIG. 2 is not limited to a stand-alone module, i.e., it can be integrated in the AC-to-DC converter or the DC-to-DC converter depending on whether the input power source is AC or DC. Further, the DC converter 24 and the filter 22 shown in FIG. 2 can be integrated in the same module or separated.

(11) Hereinafter, the operation principle of the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function of the present disclosure will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a power transmitted from the transmitting terminal 10 to the receiving terminal 20 is equal to the first DC power V.sub.DC1 plus the disturbance signal V.sub.D (i.e., V.sub.DC1+V.sub.D). When no person touches electricity, the power of the first DC power V.sub.DC1 plus the disturbance signal V.sub.D is transmitted to the receiving terminal 20. However, the high-frequency disturbance signal V.sub.D is filtered out by the filter 22 so that the remaining first DC power V.sub.DC1 is transmitted to the DC converter 24 through the filter 22. By the DC converter 24, the first DC power V.sub.DC1 is stepped down to the second DC power V.sub.DC2 with 48 volts for supplying power to the load 100, such as a DC load.

(12) In this condition, because of the presence of the filter 22, the high-frequency disturbance signal V.sub.D fails to form a corresponding current in the loop, and therefore the current value of the current I.sub.X measured by the current measurer 16 does not significantly contain a high-frequency current component caused by the disturbance signal V.sub.D. Therefore, when the current measurer 16 measures the current value of the current I.sub.X and provides the current signal S.sub.I to the controller 12, the controller 12 can calculate the current signal S.sub.I through, for example but not limited to, the Fast Fourier Transform to analyze the high-frequency component of the disturbance signal V.sub.D. In this embodiment, since the current value of the current I.sub.X flowing from the receiving terminal 20 to the transmitting terminal 10 does not significantly contain a high-frequency current component caused by the disturbance signal V.sub.D, no high-frequency component of the disturbance signal V.sub.D is analyzed from the current signal S.sub.I through the Fast Fourier Transform by the controller 12. Therefore, the controller 12 provides the control signal S.sub.W to turn on the switch 14 so that the first DC power V.sub.DC1 can be normally and continuously transmitted to the receiving terminal 20 to supply power to the load 100.

(13) In another embodiment, a ripple value of the current value of the current I.sub.X can be measured by the current measurer 16, for example, a current sensor with induction coils may be used to measure a variation degree of the current, and then the current measurer 16 provides the current signal S.sub.I to the controller 12. The controller 12 sets a ripple threshold, and if the controller 12 determines that the ripple value of the current signal S.sub.I is less than the ripple threshold, the controller 12 provides the control signal S.sub.W to turn on the switch 14 so that the first DC power V.sub.DC1 can be normally and continuously transmitted to the receiving terminal 20 to supply power to the load 100.

(14) Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows a schematic diagram of the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function that a person touches electricity according to the present disclosure. A power transmitted from the transmitting terminal 10 to the receiving terminal 20 is equal to the first DC power V.sub.DC1 plus the disturbance signal V.sub.D (i.e., V.sub.DC1+V.sub.D). When a person touches electricity, the human body equivalently provides a resistance R.sub.B between the negative end and the negative end of the transmission line L.sub.X, i.e., a simple resistance is to represent the body resistance. Since the disturbance signal V.sub.D with the high-frequency component does not pass through the filter 22 and the human body does not have a filtering mechanism, the current value of the current I.sub.X flowing through a loop formed by the resistance R.sub.B to the transmitting terminal 10 contains the disturbance signal V.sub.D with the high-frequency component. In this condition, the current measurer 16 measures the current value of the current I.sub.X and provides the current signal S.sub.I to the controller 12. At this time, the ripple value of the current signal S.sub.I will also become larger so that the controller 12 can determine that the ripple value has exceeded the ripple threshold, or the controller 12 calculates the current signal S.sub.I through the Fast Fourier Transform to analyze the high-frequency component of the disturbance signal V.sub.D.

(15) Since the controller 12 can determine the high-frequency component of the disturbance signal V.sub.D once an electric shock occurs when a person touches electricity, the controller 12 provides the control signal S.sub.W to turn off the switch 14 so as to interrupt the transmission of the first DC power V.sub.DC1 to the receiving terminal 20. Therefore, the electric shock can be immediately eliminated to achieve the electric shock protection function.

(16) In particular, the DC converter 24 converts the first DC power V.sub.DC1 to a voltage that is required by the load 200. In one embodiment, the DC converter 24 may be a linear regulator or a switch mode power supply (SMPS). If the switch mode power supply is used, no matter whether the switching frequency of the switches of the switch mode power supply is with variable frequency control or fixed frequency control, the current will have a component of the switching frequency. Therefore, the frequency selection of the disturbance signal V.sub.D must be able to be distinguished from the switching frequency of the switches so as to avoid false detection. For example, if the maximum switching frequency of the switches of the DC converter 24 is close to 100 kHz, the frequency of the disturbance signal V.sub.D can be selected as, for example but not limited to, 500 kHz greater than 100 kHz, that is, the frequency selection of the disturbance signal V.sub.D is preferably greater than the maximum switching frequency of the DC converter 24. In particular, the closer the two frequencies are, the more complicated the design of the controller is. Through proper selection of the frequency of the disturbance signal V.sub.D, the controller 12 can filter and extract the specific frequency of the current signal S.sub.I (for example, the frequency of the disturbance signal V.sub.D) with a simple high-pass filter, and determine whether the specific frequency exceeds a frequency threshold. Alternatively, the controller 12 can calculate the current signal S.sub.I through, for example but not limited to, the Fast Fourier Transform to analyze the high-frequency component of the disturbance signal V.sub.D.

(17) Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows a flowchart of a method of operating the transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function according to the present disclosure. The transmission and distribution system with electric shock protection function includes a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal. The transmitting terminal is connected to the receiving terminal through a transmission line. The method includes following steps. First, a first DC power is transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal through the transmission line (S11). The first DC power may be provided by converting an AC power source by an AC-to-DC converter, or by converting a DC power source by a DC-to-DC converter.

(18) Afterward, a disturbance signal is provided to the transmission line (S12). The disturbance signal is generated by a signal generator. The disturbance signal and the first DC power are in a superimposed relationship, that is, the disturbance signal is carried on the first DC power. The disturbance signal is a high-frequency voltage signal, for example but not limited to, with 500 kHz. Alternatively, the disturbance signal is a signal composed of more than two frequencies, and the appropriate disturbance frequency can be selected according to an equivalent resistance model of the human body or other organisms.

(19) Afterward, a current of the transmission line is measured and a current signal is provided (S13). A current measurer coupled to the transmission line is used to measure a magnitude of a current flowing through the transmission line and provides the current signal according to the magnitude of the current.

(20) Finally, the first DC power transmitted to the receiving terminal is interrupted when the current signal contains the disturbance signal (S14). When no person touches electricity, the power of the first DC power plus the disturbance signal is transmitted to the receiving terminal. However, the high-frequency disturbance signal is filtered out by a filter coupled to the transmission line so that the remaining first DC power is transmitted to the receiving terminal through the filter. In this condition, because of the presence of the filter, the high-frequency disturbance signal fails to form a corresponding current in the loop, and therefore the current value measured by the current measurer does not significantly contain a high frequency current component caused by the disturbance signal. Therefore, when the current measurer measures the current value and provides the current signal to a controller, the controller can calculate the current signal through, for example but not limited to, the Fast Fourier Transform to analyze the high-frequency component of the disturbance signal. Since the current value of the current flowing from the receiving terminal to the transmitting terminal does not significantly contain a high-frequency current component caused by the disturbance signal, the controller provides a control signal to turn on the switch coupled to the transmission line so that the first DC power can be normally and continuously transmitted to the receiving terminal to supply power to the load. In another embodiment, a ripple value of the current value can be measured by the current measurer, for example, a current sensor with induction coils may be used to measure a variation degree of the current, and then the current measurer provides the current signal to the controller. The controller sets a ripple threshold, and if the controller determines that the ripple value of the current signal is less than the ripple threshold, the controller provides the control signal to turn on the switch so that the first DC power can be normally and continuously transmitted to the receiving terminal to supply power to the load.

(21) When a person touches electricity, the human body equivalently provides a resistance between the positive end and the negative end of the transmission line. Since the disturbance signal with the high-frequency component does not pass through the filter and the human body does not have a filtering mechanism, the current value of the current flowing through a loop formed by the resistance to the transmitting terminal contains the disturbance signal with the high-frequency component. In this condition, the current measurer measures the current value and provides the current signal to the controller. At this time, the ripple value of the current signal will also become larger so that the controller can determine that the ripple value has exceeded the ripple threshold, or the controller calculates the current signal through the Fast Fourier Transform to analyze the high-frequency component of the disturbance signal. Since the controller can determine the high-frequency component of the disturbance signal once an electric shock occurs when a person touches electricity, the controller provides the control signal to turn off the switch so as to interrupt the transmission of the first DC power to the receiving terminal. Therefore, the electric shock can be immediately eliminated to achieve the electric shock protection function.

(22) In Conclusion, the Present Disclosure has Following Features and Advantages:

(23) 1. By providing the disturbance signal and carrying it on the power, the determination of whether a person touches electricity can be simply achieved.

(24) 2. Once an electric shock occurs when a person touches electricity, the transmission of the power to the receiving terminal can be interrupted so that the electric shock can be immediately eliminated to achieve the electric shock protection function.

(25) Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.