Abstract:
Several systems and methods for monitoring the proximity of a device to a power line are disclosed. Electric field monitoring systems are mounted to the device and include a plurality of electric field sensors and a monitoring system base unit. Each electric field monitoring sensor senses the strength of a magnetic field in which the sensor is positioned and transmits a corresponding magnitude output signal to the base unit when polled by the base unit. If a sensor reports a magnetic field exceeding a threshold, the frequency of polling for that sensor may be increased. If a sensor reports a magnetic field exceeding another (possibly identical) threshold, an alarm may be activated, movement of the device may be limited or stopped or another action or a combination of actions may be taken.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application No. 61/452,094, filed Mar. 12, 2011, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The described embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for monitoring the proximity of the equipment to electric field generating source. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,751 (Winters) discloses alarms for indicating to operating personnel when a projecting portion of a vehicle or other apparatus too closely approaches an energized electric power line. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,426 (Sacks et al.) discloses an alarm system for detecting an warning of the risk of shock and electrocution. The alarm system is adapted for use with mobile construction equipment, e.g., cranes, trucks, etc., that can be used around overhead power transmission lines. The alarm system has a sensor that detects the presence of outside power at the equipment where current is flowing therethrough to the ground. The sensor preferably includes a conductor and an inductive sensor such as a current transformer which limits the output signal on its low side that is sent to an alarm unit. In this manner, the system purports to continue to properly function despite the presence of large voltages at the equipment such as when the equipment contacts a high voltage power transmission line. The sensor can include a cable that provides a path of least resistance for current flowing through the equipment which can be detected by the sensor. Preferably, the cable is attached across a moving joint of the equipment where potential differences readily can be found. Alternatively, the conductor can be a portion of the equipment itself, through which current flows with the sensor detecting the flow through the equipment portion. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,853,307 (Nickerson) discloses a high-voltage-proximity warning system that has a local panel for being positioned in or about a cab of heavy equipment or other vehicle, a remote panel in predetermined electrical communication with the local panel and one or more proximity antennas for being positioned selectively on the vehicle in predetermined electrical communication with the local panel. The local panel is adapted to be push-button operable conveniently by an operator with gloved hands in a position where it is readily visible and easily connectable electrically to the remote panel and to the one or more proximity antennas. The remote panel is adapted to be positioned on or off of the vehicle where it can be protected for supportive operation and accessed for plural electrical connection to electrical devices that can include an electrical-source terminal, to speakers, and to warning and alarm communication devices. A method for use includes placing the local panel suitably for access by the vehicle operator in or about the cab, placing the remote panel suitable for access by a user technician in the vicinity of the local panel, setting control levels of high-voltage sensing an alarm control by the user technician, adjusting the alarm setpoint by the operator within the control levels set by the user technician in a configuration mode and connecting the system to an ignition terminal and to the communication devices which can be customized for use conditions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In a first aspect, some embodiments of the invention provide a power line proximity monitoring system comprising: a plurality of sensors mountable on a piece of equipment, each sensor comprising a sensing apparatus, a sensor controller and a wireless sensor transceiver, wherein the sensing apparatus is operable to sense a magnitude of an electric field, the controller is linked to the sensing apparatus and is operable to generate a sensor magnitude output signal corresponding to the sensed magnitude, and the sensor transceiver is linked to the sensor controller and is operable to transmit the sensor magnitude output signal; a base station comprising a base controller and a wireless base transceiver, wherein the base transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate with each of the plurality of sensor transceivers, and the base controller is linked to the base transceiver to receive the plurality of sensor magnitude output signals; and an analysis module to compare the plurality of sensor magnitude output signals to a pre-determined threshold magnitude and to output a command signal when the magnitude of at least one sensor magnitude output signal exceeds the threshold magnitude. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, each sensor transceiver is in two-way communication with the base transceiver. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the base transceiver is operable to wirelessly transmit a sensor control signal to each sensor to remotely control an operational parameter of each sensor. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, remotely controlling the operation parameter comprises adjusting an electric field sensing resolution of the sensing apparatus. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the base controller is operable to selectably trigger the base transceiver to poll the plurality of sensors to obtain the sensor magnitude output signals. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the base controller is operable to serially poll the plurality of sensors in a first order. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, when at least one sensor outputs a sensor magnitude output signal that exceeds the threshold magnitude the command signal comprises a poll re-order signal and the base controller is operable to poll the plurality of sensors in a different, second order based on the poll re-order signal. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the poll re-order signal configures the base controller to poll the at least one sensor more frequently than the other sensors in the plurality of sensors. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the poll re-order signal configures the base controller to poll the at least one sensor immediately after polling each of the other sensors in the plurality of sensors. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the command signal comprises a least one of an alarm signal and an equipment control signal. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, each sensor further comprises an individual power source. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, each sensor further comprises a solar cell operable to charge the power source. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, each sensor enters a reduced-power sleep mode when communication between the sensor and the base station is interrupted for a pre-determined length of time. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, some embodiment provide a method of monitoring the magnitude of an electric field, the method comprising: a) serially polling a plurality of sensors in a first order to obtain a corresponding plurality of sensed electric field magnitudes; b) comparing the sensed magnitudes to a predetermined poll re-order threshold magnitude value; and c) serially polling the plurality of sensors in a different, second order when at least one sensors outputs a sensed electric field magnitude that exceeds the poll re-order threshold magnitude value. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, step c) further comprises the polling the at least one sensor more frequently than the other sensors. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, step c) further comprises polling the at least one sensor immediately after polling each of the other sensors in the plurality of sensors. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the method further comprises generating and an alarm output when the at least one sensor senses an electric field magnitude that exceeds an alarm threshold magnitude value. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the method further comprises inhibiting the movement of a piece of equipment toward the sensed electric field based on the alarm output. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the method further comprises remotely adjusting a sensor resolution of one sensor by wirelessly transmitting a sensor control signal to the one sensor. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the method further comprises polling each of the plurality of sensors at least once in a predetermined sampling period. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the predetermined sampling period is less than 100 milliseconds. 
         [0027]    These and other aspects of the invention are further identified and described in the following description of several example embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a crane equipped with an electrical line proximity monitoring system; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the crane of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an example of a sensor and a base unit for use in an electrical line proximity monitoring system; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a crane equipped with another electrical line proximity monitoring system; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the crane of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    Cranes and other equipment with moving parts, including, for example, bucket trucks, are frequently used in close proximity to live, or energized, electrical lines. As the boom or other components of a crane are moved, there can be a risk that a part of the crane may come into contact with an electrical line, potentially electrocuting the operator and others, and damaging the equipment. Providing an electric field monitoring system on the crane may help reduce the likelihood of the crane contacting an energized electrical line. An electric field monitoring system can be used detect the presence and strength of an electric field near a crane boom (or another component of a crane) and, optionally can provide an alarm or command signal in response to detection of an electric field. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a schematic representation of a truck-mounted crane  100  includes a base  102 , and a boom  104  with a lower boom section  106  and an upper boom section  108 . A metal rope and hook  110  hang from the distal end of the upper boom section  108  and may be used to lift and lower items coupled to the hook. The crane  100  is controlled from a control unit  112 , which allows the boom  106  to be rotated relative to the base  102 , and raised and lowered. Optionally, the upper boom section  108  may be telescopically extendible to adjust the lifting radius of the crane  100 . In the illustrated example, the control unit  112  is mounted on the base of the crane. Alternatively, instead of being mounted on the base of the crane  100  the control unit  112  can be mounted within the cab  114  or can be removable from the crane  100 . Providing a removable control unit  112  may allow an operator operate the crane  100  while standing a predetermined distance away from the base  102 . Optionally, the removable control unit  112  can be linked to the crane  100  using a wire, or a wireless communication link. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 1 , the boom  104  of the crane  100  is illustrated in close proximity to a live electrical line  116 . When the electrical line  116  is energized, an electric field exists in the vicinity of the electrical line  116 . Generally, the magnitude of the electric field surrounding the electrical line  116  declines in accordance with Coulomb&#39;s Law, such that an object further from the electrical line  116  experiences an electric field of a smaller magnitude compared to an object positioned closer to the electrical line  116 . Due to these variations in electric field magnitude, it may be safe for the boom  104  to be positioned a first distance away from the electrical line  116 , and dangerous for the boom  104  to be positioned a second, closer, distance from the electrical line  116 . In most instances, it is undesirable to position the boom  104  in direct, physical contact with the electrical line  116 . Monitoring the magnitude of the electric field experienced by the boom  104 , and the relative changes in electric field magnitude when the boom  104  is moved, can be used as a means to estimate the physical distance between the boom  104  and the electrical line  116 . 
         [0037]    In the illustrated example, an electric field monitoring system  101  for use with the crane  100  includes a plurality of electric field sensors  120   a - l  and a monitoring system base unit  122 . Electric field sensors  120   a - l  are installed along the length of the boom  104 . Sensors  120   a - f  are installed along one side of the boom  104 , and sensors  120   g - l  are installed in corresponding positions on the opposite side of the booms  104 . 
         [0038]    Alternatively, or in addition to the sensors  120   a - l  mounted on the boom  102 , sensors  120  can be mounted in other positions on the crane  100 , including, for example, on the hook  110  and on the cab  114 . 
         [0039]    Each of the sensors  120   a - l  is coupled to a monitoring system base unit  122  to allowing the sensors to communicate with the monitoring system base unit  122 . Optionally, the base unit  122  can be a self-contained unit that can be positioned in proximity to the operator of the crane  100 . Alternatively, the base unit  122  can be integrated into the control unit  112 , or other portion of the crane  100 . In the illustrated example, the base unit  122  can be coupled to and communicate with each of the sensors  120   a - l  through a bidirectional wireless communication link, which may be based on a standard communication protocol or may be proprietary to the system. Alternatively, the sensors  120   a - l  may communicate with the base unit  122  using a wired connection. 
         [0040]    Reference is next made to  FIG. 3 , which comprises a block diagram of an example of a sensor  120  and an example of the base unit  122  that can be used in an electrical line proximity monitoring system. In the illustrated example, the sensor  120  includes a power source  124 , a wireless transceiver  126 , a controller  128  and an electric field magnitude detector  130 . The power source  124  can be a battery or other suitable, generally self-contained power source. Optionally, a solar panel  132  can be connected to the power source  124 . The solar panel  132  may help re-charge the power source  124 , which may help prolong the service life of the sensor  120 . Alternatively, or in addition to the solar panel  132 , the power source  124  can be configured to be recharged using another source of power, including, for example, power generated by the motor of the crane  100 , a portable generator or by plugging the sensor  120  into a standard wall socket when the crane  100  is not in use. Alternatively, instead of being rechargeable, the power source  124  can be a replaceable power source, such as conventional alkaline batteries. Optionally, the sensors  120   a - l  can be configured to enter a low-power, sleep mode after a predetermined period of inactivity, for example in the absence of polling requests from base unit  122  for a period of five minutes. In sleep mode, the electric field magnitude detector  130  can be disabled and other sensor  120   a - l  components can be configured to reduce their power consumption. Converting the sensors  120   a - l  to sleep mode may help reduce power consumption when the crane  100  is not in use, and may help prolong the life of the power source  124 . Preferably, the sensors  120   a - l  can be remotely awakened from sleep mode by a wake-up signal transmitted by the base unit  122 . 
         [0041]    The electric field magnitude detector  130  may be any device that provides an analog or digital magnitude output signal corresponding to the magnitude of an electric field in which the sensor  120  is positioned. 
         [0042]    The controller  128  is coupled to the electric field magnitude detector  130  to receive the magnitude output signal, which the controller  128  may optionally record. The controller  128  is also coupled to the wireless transceiver  126  to facilitate wireless communication with the base station  122 . 
         [0043]    The base station  122  includes a wireless transceiver  134 , a controller  136  and a power source  144 . Optionally, the power source  144  can be the same type of power source  124  used in the sensors  120   a - l.  Alternatively, the power source  124  in the base unit  122  can be different than the power sources  124  in the sensors  120   a - l.  For example, the base unit power source  144  may be the battery of a vehicle, such as the truck on which crane  100  is mounted, a municipal power source, a generator or any other source of electric power. The base unit  122  can also include an alarm transducer  138  for generating an alarm signal. The alarm transducer can be siren, light source, speaker or other type of transducer that can provide alarm information to the crane operator. 
         [0044]    Optionally, the base unit  122  can also include one or more auxiliary outputs  140 . The auxiliary outputs  140  can be used to control external pieces of equipment, including, for example the control unit  112  and the boom  104 . 
         [0045]    When the crane  100  is in use, the boom  104  can be moved relative to the electrical line  116 . Moving the boom  104  causes a corresponding movement of the sensor  120   a - l  mounted on the boom  104 . When the distance between the electrical line  116  and a sensor, for example sensor  120   a  changes, the magnitude of the electrical field detected by sensor  120   a  will change. For example, if sensor  120   a  is moved closer to the electrical line  116 , the magnitude of the electrical field detected by the electric field magnitude detector  130  will generally increase. 
         [0046]    The controller  128  in each sensor  120   a - l  can be configured to trigger the electric field magnitude detector  130  to sense the electric field magnitude at a pre-determined frequency or sampling rate. For example, each sensor  120   a - l  may be configured to sense the magnitude of the electric field surrounding the sensor  120   a - l  at a sample rate between about once per second and about once per 10 milliseconds, or at a rate of about once every 40 milliseconds. In other embodiments, the sensors may sense the magnitude of the electric field at a higher or lower frequency. 
         [0047]    When triggered by its controller  128   a - l,  each sensor  120   a - l  senses the magnitude of the electric field immediately surrounding the sensor  120   a - l.  For a given boom position, the magnitude of the electric field detected by sensor  120   a  can be different than the magnitude detected by sensor  1201 . The magnitude output signals generated each time the electric field magnitude detectors  130   a - l  sense the electric field magnitude can optionally be stored, permanently or temporarily, by the corresponding controllers  128   a - l.    
         [0048]    Periodically, the base unit  122  can poll each sensor  120   a - l.  In response to each poll request, the controllers  128   a - l  in the sensors  120   a - l  activate the wireless transceivers  126   a - l  to transmit the last recorded electric field magnitude to the base unit  122 . In the illustrated example, the base unit  122  is configured to serially poll the sensors  120   a - l  in a given order and at a given polling rate. For example, the base unit  122  can poll the sensors  120   a - l  in the following order:
       ABCDEFGHIJKLABCD . . .       
 
         [0050]    The base unit  122  can be configured to poll the sensors at a plurality of different polling rates, including, for example a polling rate between about once per second and about once per 10 milliseconds, or at a polling rate of about once every 40 milliseconds. In this example, each sensor  120   a - l  is polled by the base unit  122  at least one every 40 milliseconds. In other embodiments, the polling frequency may be higher or lower. 
         [0051]    The base unit  122  compares each reported electric field magnitude to one or more predetermined electric field magnitude threshold values. In the illustrated example, the base controller  136  includes an analysis module  142  that stores the plurality of electric field magnitude threshold values, and can compare the sensed electric field magnitudes to the threshold values. If the electric field magnitude reported at any sensor  120   a - l  exceeds one or more of the electric field magnitude threshold values, the base unit  122  controller can be configured to perform a corresponding action. 
         [0052]    In the illustrated example, the electric field magnitude threshold values can include a re-poll or low alert threshold valve. If the electric field magnitude of a given sensor, for example sensor  120   g,  exceeds the low alert threshold value it may mean that sensor  120   g  is in relatively close proximity to the electrical line  116 . To help monitor the position of sensor  120   g  more closely, it may be desirable to poll sensor  120   g  more frequently than the other sensors  120  that did not report an electric field magnitude above the low alert threshold. For example, in one embodiment, the base unit  122  can poll sensor  120   g  more frequently than the other sensors  120 , and optionally may poll sensor  120   g  on every second poll. The remaining sensors  120  are then polled sequentially in the remaining poll slots. In this example, the polling order would be:
       AGBGDGEGFGHGIGJGKGLGAGBG . . .       
 
         [0054]    This increased polling can optionally continue until sensor  120   g  reports an electric field magnitude below the low alert limit threshold. 
         [0055]    Optionally, in some embodiments, the polling frequency for more than one sensor  120  may be increased, for example if more than one sensor  120  detects an electric field magnitude above the low alert threshold. 
         [0056]    Alternatively, or in addition to using an absolute low alert threshold value, the monitoring system may use a relative re-poll threshold value, such as, for example, the highest electric field magnitude sensed by any of the sensors  120 . In this example, the polling frequency for the sensor  120   a - l  reporting the highest electric field magnitude may be increased in the manner described above, even if the sensed electric field magnitude is not greater than an absolute low alert threshold value. 
         [0057]    The monitoring system can also include a medium alert or alarm threshold value. When a sensor  120   a - l  transmits an electric field magnitude value that exceeds the alarm threshold to the base unit  122 , the controller  136  can be configured to output an alarm signal, and trigger the alarm transducer  138 . Triggering the alarm transducer  138 , for example sounding an alert siren, may help notify the crane operator that the boom  104  is too close to the electrical line  116 . In some instances, in response to hearing the alert siren, the crane operator may stop moving the boom  104 , or move it away from the electrical line  116 . Optionally, the alarm transducer  138  can also include a flashing light and other mechanisms for attracting the attention of the crane operator. 
         [0058]    Optionally, the monitoring system can also include a high alert threshold value. When a sensed electric field magnitude exceeds the high alert threshold value the controller  136  can be configured to automatically disable further movement of the crane&#39;s boom  104  (or other moving portion of the machine). To disable the movement of the machine, equipment shutdown signals can be output via the auxiliary outputs  140  and can be used to disable systems driving the moving portion of the machine, including for example, the boom actuators and crane motor. Optionally, the auxiliary outputs  140  can be connected to the control unit  112 . Automatically disabling the movement of the crane&#39;s boom  104  may help prevent the boom  104  from contacting the electrical line  116 . 
         [0059]    Optionally, the monitoring system may be configured to only disable further movement of the crane&#39;s boom  104  in a direction that might increase the electric field near the sensor  120   a - l  that has exceeded the high alert threshold, while still allowing the boom  104  to be moved away from the electrical line  116 . 
         [0060]    In the illustrated example, the threshold and alarm limits may be set by the crane operator, and may be adjusted based on the characteristics of the electrical line  116 , sensors  120   a - l  and other variables. 
         [0061]    Optionally, the wireless communication link between the sensors  120   a - l  and the base unit  122  is bidirectional to allow the based unit  122  to send poll requests to the sensors  120   a - l.  In some embodiments, the base unit  122  may also transmit other control signals to the sensors  120   a - l,  such as instructions to increase or decrease the resolution of electric field strength measurement. The ability to remotely adjust the resolution of the sensors  120   a - l  may allow a crane operator to adjust the resolution of the sensors  120   a - l  based on the characteristics of a given electrical line. 
         [0062]    In the embodiment described above, the base unit  122  polls each sensor  120   a - l  to obtain the sensed electric field magnitudes. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the different sensors  120   a - l  may transmit their recorded electric field magnitude measurements, together with an identifier for the sensor, to the base unit  122  using a time division multiplexing protocol. In this example, each sensor  120   a - l,  can be assigned a time slice or time slot relative to a master clock or sync signal. The base unit may  122  transmit a sync signal at the start of a time period (for example when the crane is in use). Each sensor can then wait until its assigned time slot to transmit its identifier and recorded electric field magnitude. 
         [0063]    Alternatively, or in addition to any of configurations described above, the sensors  120   a - l  may transmit their recorded electric field measurements at different frequencies, allowing the base unit  122  to wirelessly communicate with multiple sensors  120   a - l  at once. 
         [0064]    Reference is next made to  FIGS. 4 and 5  which illustrate another electric field monitoring system  201  mounted on a crane  200 . Electric field monitoring system  201  is similar to the electric field monitoring system  101  and corresponding elements are identified by similar reference numerals. 
         [0065]    In electric field monitoring system  201 , the electric field sensors  120   a - f  are mounted on a top side of the crane boom  204 . In this configuration, the electric field sensors  120   a - f  can sense an electric field on either side of the boom  204 , potentially reducing the number of electric field sensors required for a boom of a given length. System  201  is otherwise essentially the same as system  101 . 
         [0066]    Optionally, the electric field monitoring systems described above may be used in other environments where a device is moved in relation to the position of an electrical line or other potentially dangerous electric field. For example, this invention may be used with a basket truck, excavation equipment, a dump truck or a building crane. 
         [0067]    The present invention has been described here by way of example only. Various modification and variations may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.