Patents by Inventor Colin Gunn

Colin Gunn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9851382
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a power meter comprising a voltage sensor, at least one current and phase sensor circuit, and a central metering unit, wherein the voltage sensor is further configured to measure a voltage on an input line and transmit a signal related to the voltage to the central metering unit, wherein the at least one current and phase sensor circuit is further configured to measure a current and a voltage phase shift of a feeder line, and to transmit a signal related to at least one of the current of the feeder line and the voltage phase shift of the feeder line to the central metering unit, and wherein the central metering unit is configured to calculate power provided to a load via the feeder line based on the signal transmitted from the at least one current and phase sensor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Bruel, Paul Buda, Colin Gunn, Roy Colby, Alexander Filippenko
  • Patent number: 9651584
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments described herein provide a sensor comprising a housing configured to be coupled around a portion of the transmission line, at least one probe capacitor configured to encircle the portion of the transmission line with the housing coupled around the portion of the transmission line, a measurement capacitor configured to encircle the portion of the transmission line with the housing coupled around the portion of the transmission line, a capacitance acquisition system, and a voltage measurement system, wherein the capacitance acquisition system is configured to determine a first value related to capacitance of the at least one probe capacitor, and based on the first value, determine a second value related to capacitance of the measurement capacitor, and wherein the voltage measurement system is configured to receive a signal providing the second value and calculate a third value related to a voltage level of the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventor: Colin Gunn
  • Publication number: 20150346240
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments described herein provide a sensor comprising a housing configured to be coupled around a portion of the transmission line, at least one probe capacitor configured to encircle the portion of the transmission line with the housing coupled around the portion of the transmission line, a measurement capacitor configured to encircle the portion of the transmission line with the housing coupled around the portion of the transmission line, a capacitance acquisition system, and a voltage measurement system, wherein the capacitance acquisition system is configured to determine a first value related to capacitance of the at least one probe capacitor, and based on the first value, determine a second value related to capacitance of the measurement capacitor, and wherein the voltage measurement system is configured to receive a signal providing the second value and calculate a third value related to a voltage level of the transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Colin Gunn
  • Publication number: 20150331024
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a power meter comprising a voltage sensor, at least one current and phase sensor circuit, and a central metering unit, wherein the voltage sensor is further configured to measure a voltage on an input line and transmit a signal related to the voltage to the central metering unit, wherein the at least one current and phase sensor circuit is further configured to measure a current and a voltage phase shift of a feeder line, and to transmit a signal related to at least one of the current of the feeder line and the voltage phase shift of the feeder line to the central metering unit, and wherein the central metering unit is configured to calculate power provided to a load via the feeder line based on the signal transmitted from the at least one current and phase sensor circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Bruel, Paul Buda, Colin Gunn, Roy Colby, Alexander Filippenko
  • Patent number: 8342494
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first jaw (108) coupled to a second jaw (110) to form an opening (114) when the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110) are closed. An aligning structure couples to at least one of the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110). A portion of the aligning structure may be disposed within the opening (114) and aligns a power line (128) to a sensor (418) disposed within the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A. Ricci, Colin Gunn, Sam Gaib, Stewart Harding
  • Patent number: 7902854
    Abstract: Devices that couple to high voltage transmission lines obtain power themselves using the body capacitance of an element of the devices. The devices generate a comparatively lower voltage from the current flowing between the high voltage line and the element of the device that generates the body capacitance. The devices can be used to operate sensors that monitor the transmission lines or parameters of the power distribution system, such as current, line temperature, vibration, and the like. The devices can also be used as indicators, such as aircraft warning lights, information signs, etc. In addition, the devices can operate as RF transmission/reception or repeater devices, radar devices, mesh networking nodes, video/audio surveillance, sound emitting devices for scaring animals, drones that traverse the power line, etc. Because the devices operate in response to line voltage rather than current, the devices are reliable even in low current conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Power Measurement, Ltd.
    Inventors: Colin Gunn, Simon H. Lightbody, John Bradford Forth, Martin A. Hancock, Geoffrey T. Hyatt
  • Publication number: 20080246507
    Abstract: Devices that couple to high voltage transmission lines obtain power themselves using the body capacitance of an element of the devices. The devices generate a comparatively lower voltage from the current flowing between the high voltage line and the element of the device that generates the body capacitance. The devices can be used to operate sensors that monitor the transmission lines or parameters of the power distribution system, such as current, line temperature, vibration, and the like. The devices can also be used as indicators, such as aircraft warning lights, information signs, etc. In addition, the devices can operate as RF transmission/reception or repeater devices, radar devices, mesh networking nodes, video/audio surveillance, sound emitting devices for scaring animals, drones that traverse the power line, etc. Because the devices operate in response to line voltage rather than current, the devices are reliable even in low current conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: POWER MEASUREMENT LTD.
    Inventors: Colin Gunn, Simon H. Lightbody, Bradford J. Forth, Martin A. Hancock, Geoffrey T. Hyatt
  • Publication number: 20080129314
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first jaw (108) coupled to a second jaw (110) to form an opening (114) when the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110) are closed. An aligning structure couples to at least one of the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110). A portion of the aligning structure may be disposed within the opening (114) and aligns a power line (128) to a sensor (418) disposed within the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Marc A. Ricci, Colin Gunn, Sam Gaib, Stewart Harding
  • Publication number: 20080065335
    Abstract: A line device monitors at least one power parameter of an electric power line and produces at least one representation thereof. The at least one representation is communicated to a microprocessor based device. The representation is compared with a measurement of the at least one power parameter produced by legacy instrumentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Doig, Martin Hancock, Colin Gunn, J. Forth, Peter Cowan, Simon Lightbody
  • Publication number: 20070136010
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the current in a power line of a power system and systems incorporating the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus may comprise an enclosure providing a window operable to permit the passage of the power line therethrough. The apparatus may further comprise an active current transformer set within the enclosure and operative to produce a scaled version of the current. The apparatus may further comprise an amplifier coupled with the active current transformer and operative to reduce the phase shift and ratio error between the current and the scaled version of the current. The apparatus may further comprise a powering current transformer set within the enclosure and operative to receive power from the power line on a primary winding and deliver power on a secondary winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Colin Gunn, Martin Hancock, J. Forth, Simon Lightbody, Jason Sheppard, Brian Kingham
  • Publication number: 20060284647
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for measuring power parameters on a power conductor, such as a high voltage transmission line may include a corona structure, an electronics assembly and a conductor mountable device. The corona structure may define an outer boundary surrounding the electronics assembly and the conductor mountable device. The corona structure may shield the electronic assembly and conductor mountable device from a corona produceable with the power conductor. The conductor mountable device may be a power parameter measurement device, such as a current sensor assembly. The current sensor assembly may be a split-core design that includes multiple transformer cores. The electronics assembly and the conductor mountable device may powered from a line voltage suppliable on the power conductor. Data may be wirelessly transmitted and received with the sensor apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Colin Gunn, Stewart Harding, Marc Ricci, Peter Cowan, Martin Hancock
  • Publication number: 20060279910
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for measuring power parameters on a power conductor, such as a high voltage transmission line may include a corona structure, an electronics assembly and a conductor mountable device. The corona structure may define an outer boundary surrounding the electronics assembly and the conductor mountable device. The corona structure may shield the electronic assembly and conductor mountable device from a corona produceable with the power conductor. The conductor mountable device may be a power parameter measurement device, such as a current sensor assembly. The current sensor assembly may be a split-core design that includes multiple transformer cores. The electronics assembly and the conductor mountable device may powered from a line voltage suppliable on the power conductor. Data may be wirelessly transmitted and received with the sensor apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Colin Gunn, Stewart Harding, Marc Ricci, Daniel Loewen, Peter Cowan, Martin Hancock
  • Publication number: 20060066456
    Abstract: Power quality detection, monitoring, reporting, recording and communication in a revenue accuracy electrical power meter is disclosed. Transient events are detected by monitoring the wave shape of the electrical power and comparing deviations to a known threshold. Sags and Swells are detected by computing root mean square value over a rolling window and comparing the computed value with a known threshold. Harmonic frequencies and symmetrical components are quantified by a known algorithm and compared with a known threshold. Incoming waveforms are stored to memory. All recorded and computed data is moved to non-volatile storage via direct memory access transfer in the event that a power quality event jeopardizes the operating power of the meter. Further, the meter provides a power supply utilizing high and low capacitive storage banks to supply sufficient energy to survive short duration power quality events which jeopardize the meter's operating power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Rene Jonker, Piotr Przydatek, Colin Gunn, Michael Teachman, Constantine Antoniou
  • Publication number: 20050288876
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reclassifying instrument transformers. A line mounted device that includes a sensor that can be attached to a power line. The line mounted device generates data or representations of the power parameters of the power line. A processor in the line mounted device produces modified representations of the power parameters that are transmitted wirelessly to a microprocessor based device. The microprocessor based device also receives second representations of the power parameters from legacy instrumentation. Compensation data is produced based on the modified representations from the line mounted device and the second representations from the legacy instrumentation. The compensation data can be used to compensate or correct the representations of the power parameters from the legacy instrumentation even after the line mounted device is no longer attached to the power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Doig, Martin Hancock, Colin Gunn, J. Forth, Peter Cowan, Simon Lightbody
  • Publication number: 20050288877
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reclassifying instrument transformers. A line mounted device that includes a sensor that can be attached to a power line. The line mounted device generates data or representations of the power parameters of the power line. A processor in the line mounted device produces modified representations of the power parameters that are transmitted wirelessly to a microprocessor based device. The microprocessor based device also receives second representations of the power parameters from legacy instrumentation. Compensation data is produced based on the modified representations from the line mounted device and the second representations from the legacy instrumentation. The compensation data can be used to compensate or correct the representations of the power parameters from the legacy instrumentation even after the line mounted device is no longer attached to the power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Doig, Martin Hancock, Colin Gunn, J. Forth, Peter Cowan, Simon Lightbody, Marcie Cochrane, Stewart Harding, Daniel Loewen
  • Publication number: 20050275397
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring power in a conductor. A flex circuit may include multiple layers including a voltage sensing layer, a coil layer, and a ground layer. The coil layer includes traces that form a coil structure around a conductor when the flex circuit is wrapped around the conductor. The coil layer generates a voltage that may be integrated to determine a current in the conductor. When the flex circuit is wrapped around the conductor, the voltage sensing layer is closest to the conductor. The voltage sensing layer forms a capacitor with the conductor. Using an adjustable capacitive voltage divider, the voltage of the conductor may be determined from a voltage signal received from the voltage sensing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Simon Lightbody, Michael Teachman, Colin Gunn, Benedikt Huber
  • Publication number: 20050206530
    Abstract: An energy measurement system including a radio frequency (“RF”) device powered by a solar panel. The RF device comprising a wireless communication port operative to transmit and receive communication over a wireless network of additional RF devices. The energy measurement system able to transmit energy parameters of the RF device over the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Cumming, Michael Teachman, Arthur Wynans, Eric Haight, Daniel Loewen, Martin Hancock, Colin Gunn
  • Publication number: 20050027464
    Abstract: Power quality detection, monitoring, reporting, recording and communication in a revenue accuracy electrical power meter is disclosed. Transient events are detected by monitoring the wave shape of the electrical power and comparing deviations to a known threshold. Sags and Swells are detected by computing root mean square value over a rolling window and comparing the computed value with a known threshold. Harmonic frequencies and symmetrical components are quantified by a known algorithm and compared with a known threshold. Incoming waveforms are stored to memory. All recorded and computed data is moved to non-volatile storage via direct memory access transfer in the event that a power quality event jeopardizes the operating power of the meter. Further, the meter provides a power supply utilizing high and low capacitive storage banks to supply sufficient energy to survive short duration power quality events which jeopardize the meter's operating power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Rene Jonker, Piotr Przydatek, Colin Gunn, Michael Teachman, Constantine Antoniou
  • Publication number: 20050017751
    Abstract: Devices that couple to high voltage transmission lines obtain power themselves using the body capacitance of an element of the devices. The devices generate a comparatively lower voltage from the current flowing between the high voltage line and the element of the device that generates the body capacitance. The devices can be used to operate sensors that monitor the transmission lines or parameters of the power distribution system, such as current, line temperature, vibration, and the like. The devices can also be used as indicators, such as aircraft warning lights, information signs, etc. In addition, the devices can operate as RF transmission/reception or repeater devices, radar devices, mesh networking nodes, video/audio surveillance, sound emitting devices for scaring animals, drones that traverse the power line, etc. Because the devices operate in response to line voltage rather than current, the devices are reliable even in low current conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Colin Gunn, Simon Lightbody, J. Forth, Martin Hancock, Geoffrey Hyatt