TWI847400B - Electric-leakage detection device, electric-leakage detection system using the same, and electric-leakage detection method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric-leakage detection device includes an electric-leakage detection module, a switch module and an indicator. The electric-leakage detection device is configured for converting an AC electric-leakage voltage into a DC electric-leakage voltage. The switch module is electrically coupled to the electric-leakage detection module and configured for turning on or off according to the DC electric-leakage voltage. The indicator is electrically coupled to the switch module and configured for sending out an indication signal according to conduction of the switch module.

Description

Leakage current detection device, leakage current detection system using the same, and leakage current detection method

The present invention relates to a leakage detection device, a leakage detection system using the same, and a leakage detection method.

Electronic equipment is operated by electricity, so leakage may occur, which may cause electric shock to people around the electronic equipment. For example, during the rainy season or after a typhoon, pedestrians walking on the road may occasionally be shocked by electric shock due to leakage of the light pole when touching or approaching the light pole. Therefore, there is a need to propose a leakage detection system to warn people that electronic equipment has leakage.

Therefore, the present invention proposes a leakage detection device, a leakage detection system and a leakage detection method using the same, which can improve the aforementioned known problems.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a leakage detection device. The leakage detection device includes a leakage detection module, a switch module and an indicator. The leakage detection module is used to convert an AC leakage voltage into a DC leakage voltage. The switch module is electrically coupled to the leakage detection module and is used to turn on or off according to the DC leakage voltage. The indicator is electrically coupled to the switch module and is used to send an indication signal according to the conduction of the switch module. The leakage detection module is electrically coupled to a neutral line and a lamp of an electric power system to receive the AC leakage voltage.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a leakage detection system. The leakage detection system includes a lamp and a leakage detection device. The leakage detection device is arranged on the lamp and is used to detect the AC leakage voltage from the lamp. The leakage detection device includes a leakage detection module, a switch module and an indicator. The leakage detection module is used to convert an AC leakage voltage into a DC leakage voltage. The switch module is electrically coupled to the leakage detection module and is used to turn on or off according to the DC leakage voltage. The indicator is electrically coupled to the switch module and is used to send an indication signal according to the conduction of the switch module. The leakage detection module is electrically coupled to a neutral line and a lamp of an electric power system to receive AC leakage voltage.

An embodiment of the present invention proposes a leakage detection method. The leakage detection method includes the following steps: a leakage detection module converts an AC leakage voltage into a DC leakage voltage; a switch module is turned on or off according to the DC leakage voltage; and an indicator sends an indication signal according to the conduction of the switch module.

In order to better understand the above and other aspects of the present invention, the following is a specific example and a detailed description with the attached drawings as follows:

10: Leakage detection system

20: Electronic equipment

21: Luminous parts

22: Light pole

30: Power system

100: Leakage detection device

110: Leakage detection module

111: Rectifier circuit

112: Voltage divider circuit

113: Surge absorber

114: Capacitor

120: Switch module

120A: Optocoupler isolation circuit

120A1: LED

120A2: Optocoupler switch

120B: DC voltage output switch circuit

120B1: switch

120B2: Zener diode

130,135:Indicator

140: Power conversion module

145: Anti-reverse connection module

1451:Inductor

1452:Diode

150:Drive module

160: Counting module

170: Controller

180: Wireless communication module

a1:node

B: Base

C: Collector

E:Emitter

L:Firewire

N: Neutral line

G: Ground wire

S1, S2: indication signal

S3: The first standard signal

S4: Second level signal

S5: Leakage notification signal

S110~S130: Steps

V _L,AC : AC leakage voltage

V _L,DC : DC leakage voltage

V _L,a : partial pressure

_VS,AC : AC power supply voltage

V _S,DC ,V' _S,DC : DC drive voltage

R1~R5: resistor

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a leakage detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the appearance of the leakage detection device in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a partial circuit diagram of the leakage detection device in Figure 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the leakage detection method of the leakage detection device in FIG. 1.

Please refer to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a leakage detection system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 shows an appearance diagram of the leakage detection device 100 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a partial circuit diagram of the leakage detection device 100 of Figure 2.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the leakage detection system 10 includes a leakage detection device 100 and an electronic device 20. The appearance of the leakage detection device 100 is, for example, a warning light (as shown in Figure 2), which can be configured or connected to the electronic device 20. In addition, the embodiment of the present invention does not limit the size and/or appearance of the leakage detection device 100. The electronic device 20 is, for example, a street lamp, a home appliance, or other electronic products driven by AC power. The electronic device 20 of the embodiment of the present invention is described by taking a street lamp as an example.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the electronic device 20 may include a light-emitting element 21 and a lamp pole 22. The light-emitting element 21 is disposed on the lamp pole 22, for example, at the top of the lamp pole 22. The light-emitting element 21 can be electrically coupled to the power system 30 to receive power from the power system 30 and emit light. The power system 30 can provide alternating current, and this alternating current is, for example, 110 volts (Volt, V) or 220V. In one embodiment, the power system 30 is, for example, a mains supply. In the power system 30 of Figure 1, L represents the live wire, N represents the neutral wire, and G represents the ground wire. The leakage detection device 100 is electrically coupled to the power system 30 to receive power from the power system 30 and operate normally. The leakage detection device 100 is further electrically coupled to the electronic device 20. When the electronic device 20 has a leakage, the leakage detection device 100 can send an indication signal S1 to remind the user that a leakage has occurred.

The leakage detection device 100 can be disposed on the lamp post 22, for example, at a position and/or height in the lamp post 22 that is easily observed by pedestrians, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the leakage detection device 100 and the lamp post 22 can be disposed separately, and the two can be connected by a wire.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the leakage detection device 100 includes a leakage detection module 110, a switch module 120, an indicator 130, an indicator 135, a power conversion module 140, an anti-reverse connection module 145, a drive module 150, a counting module 160, a controller 170 and a wireless communication module 180. The leakage detection module 110, the switch module 120, the indicator 130, the indicator 135, the power conversion module 140, the anti-reverse connection module 145, the drive module 150, the counting module 160, the controller 170 and/or the wireless communication module 180 are, for example, physical circuits formed by a semiconductor process.

The leakage detection module 110 is used to convert the AC leakage voltage V _L,AC into the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC . The switch module 120 is electrically coupled to the leakage detection module 110 and is used to be turned on or off according to the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC . The indicator 130 is electrically coupled to the switch module 120 and is used to send an indication signal S1 according to the conduction of the switch module 120. In this way, when the electronic device 20 has a leakage, the leakage detection device 100 can automatically detect the leakage of the electronic device 20 and send an indication signal S1 accordingly to warn people around.

The leakage detection module 110 is electrically coupled to the power system 30 and the electronic device 20. For example, the leakage detection module 110 is electrically coupled to the neutral line N of the power system 30 and the conductor of the electronic device 20, wherein the conductor is, for example, the outer shell (e.g., metal shell) of the lamp pole 22, or the outer shell (e.g., metal shell) of the light-emitting element 21, so that the leakage of the electronic device 20 (if any) can be transmitted to the leakage detection module 110 through the conductor, and the leakage detection module 110 detects the leakage (AC leakage voltage V _L,AC ) from the electronic device 20.

The leakage detection module 110 further includes a rectifier circuit 111, a voltage divider circuit 112, a surge absorber 113, and a capacitor 114. The rectifier circuit 111 is electrically coupled to the AC leakage voltage V _L,AC and used to convert the AC leakage voltage V _L,AC into a DC leakage voltage V _L,DC . The voltage divider circuit 112 is electrically coupled to the rectifier circuit 111 and used to transmit a divided voltage V _L,a of _{the DC leakage voltage V L,} DC , where the divided voltage V _L,a is less than the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC . The divided voltage V _L,a is, for example, the voltage of the node a. The voltage divider circuit 112 includes, for example, a plurality of resistors R1 to R5. These resistors R1 to R5 can be connected in series, in parallel, or in combination, as long as they can provide a voltage divider suitable for detection. The embodiment of the present invention does not limit the connection form of these resistors. In addition, the resistor R5 can be connected in parallel with the capacitor 114 to reduce the voltage ripple. The surge absorber 113 is used as a surge suppressor for the DC input terminal to protect the circuit components connected in series at the rear end. In one embodiment, the rectifier circuit 111 is, for example, a bridge rectifier circuit, and the surge absorber 113 is, for example, a varistor.

The DC leakage voltage V _L,DC is, for example, greater than 20V, such as 30V. However, the value of the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC depends on the actual situation (for example, the value of the AC leakage voltage V _L,AC , or the value of the AC leakage voltage V _L,AC after rectification and conversion by the rectifier circuit 111), and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, compared with the voltage value of the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC , since the voltage division V _L,a is smaller, it is more suitable for the operation of the back-end circuit, for example, it is suitable for the operation of the switch module 120.

The switch module 120 is electrically coupled to the leakage detection module 110, for example, electrically coupled to the node a. The switch module 120 can be turned on or off according to the divided voltage V _L, a of the DC leakage voltage V _L, DC. The switch module 120 includes an optocoupler isolation circuit 120A and a DC voltage output switch circuit 120B. The DC voltage output switch circuit 120B is electrically coupled to the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A. When the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A is turned on, the DC voltage output switch circuit 120B is turned on, so that the DC driving voltage V _S,DC provided by the power conversion module 140 can be transmitted to the driving module 150 through the DC voltage output switch circuit 120B. The DC driving voltage V _S,DC will have a voltage drop after passing through at least one component (for example, the diode 1452). The DC driving voltage after the voltage drop is represented by V' _S,DC , which is provided to the circuit at the rear end of the power conversion module 140, such as the indicators 130 and 135.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A includes a light emitting diode 120A1 and an optical coupling switch (e.g., a phototransistor) 120A2. The light emitting diode 120A1 is electrically coupled to a DC leakage voltage V _L,DC . For example, the light emitting diode 120A1 can be electrically coupled to the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC through a voltage divider circuit 112. The light emitting diode 120A1 is used to emit a light according to the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC . The optical coupling switch 120A2 is disposed adjacent to the light emitting diode 120A1 and is used to be turned on (short-circuited) according to the light. For example, the voltage divider V _L,a drives the light emitting diode 120A1 to emit light, and the optical coupling switch 120A2 is turned on in response to the light. In detail, when the voltage at the node a (divided voltage V _L,a ) rises to a level that can turn on the LED 120A1 connected in parallel (emitting light), the optical coupling switch 120A2 is turned on accordingly.

The DC voltage output switch circuit 120B is electrically coupled to the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A and the indicator 130. The DC voltage output switch circuit 120B can be turned on according to the conduction of the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A. When the DC voltage output switch circuit 120B is turned on, the DC driving voltage V'S _,DC can be transmitted to the indicator 130 through the DC voltage output switch circuit 120B to drive the indicator 130. The DC voltage output switch circuit 120B includes a switch 120B1 and a Zener diode 120B2. The switch 120B1 is, for example, a bipolar transistor, having an emitter E, a collector C, and a base B, wherein the base B is electrically coupled to an electrode of the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A, such as a source, the collector C is electrically coupled to an electrode of the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A, such as a drain, and is electrically coupled to the power conversion module 140, and the emitter E is electrically coupled to the driving module 150. When the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A is turned on, the base B and the collector C of the switch 120B1 are turned on, so that the collector C and the emitter E are turned on. In this way, the DC driving voltage V'S _,DC can flow from the collector C through the emitter E, and then be transmitted to the driving module 150 through the emitter E.

The indicator 130, for example, includes a light emitter, which includes at least one light emitting diode, and the aforementioned indication signal S1 is, for example, light. The indicator 135 is electrically coupled to the switch module 120 and is used to send out the indication signal S2 according to the conduction of the switch module 120. For example, when the switch module 120 is turned on (for example, leakage occurs), the DC driving voltage V'S _,DC is transmitted to the driving module 150 through the switch module 120, and then the driving module 150 drives the indicator 130 to send out the indication signal S1, and the DC driving voltage V'S _,DC is transmitted to the indicator 135 through the switch module 120, driving the indicator 135 to send out the indication signal S2. When the switch module 120 is turned off (for example, leakage does not occur), the DC drive voltage V'S _,DC cannot be transmitted to the drive module 150 through the switch module 120, the indicator 130 does not send the indication signal S1, and the indicator 135 does not send the indication signal S2. In one embodiment, the indicator 135 is, for example, a buzzer, and the indication signal S2 is, for example, a buzzer sound. In another embodiment, the indicator 135 can be a vibrator, and the indication signal S2 is, for example, vibration. In other embodiments, the indicator 135 can be a display, and the indication signal S2 is, for example, displayed text, graphics, etc.

The power conversion module 140 is electrically coupled to the power system 30 and the switch module 120. The power system 30 can provide an AC power supply voltage V _S,AC to the power conversion module 140. The power conversion module 140 converts the AC power supply voltage V _S,AC into a DC drive voltage V _S,DC , and outputs the DC drive voltage V _S,DC to the switch module 120. In one embodiment, the power conversion module 140 includes an AC-to-DC circuit (not shown) to convert the AC power supply voltage V _S,AC into a DC drive voltage V _S,DC . In addition, the power conversion module 140 may further include a battery (not shown) and a battery charge and discharge circuit (not shown), the battery charge and discharge circuit being electrically coupled to the battery to store the power supplied by the power system 30 in the battery, or output the stored power of the battery. When the power conversion module 140 is electrically coupled to the power system 30, the power supplied by the power system 30 is supplied to the power conversion module 140 and its back-end circuit. When the power conversion module 140 is not coupled to the power system 30 or the power system 30 does not provide the AC power supply voltage V _S,AC to the power conversion module 140, the battery outputs its stored power (DC drive voltage V _S,DC ) to the back-end circuit. In one embodiment, the DC driving voltage V _S,DC is, for example, greater than 12V, such as 20V or other values.

The anti-reverse connection module 145 electrically couples the power conversion module 140 and the DC voltage output switch circuit 120B of the switch module 120. The anti-reverse connection module 145 can prevent damage caused by reverse connection of positive and negative poles. The anti-reverse connection module 145 includes an inductor 1451 and a diode 1452, wherein the inductor 1451 is, for example, a common mode inductor for electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering, and the diode 1452 is used to prevent the positive and negative poles of the input voltage from being reversed. In another embodiment, the leakage detection device 100 can also omit the anti-reverse connection module 145.

The driving module 150 is electrically coupled to the indicator 130 and the switch module 120 and is used to drive the indicator 130 to issue an indication signal S1 according to the _DC driving voltage V'S,DC. For example, when the switch module 120 is turned on, the DC driving voltage V'S _,DC is transmitted to the indicator 130 through the driving module 150, and the indicator 130 uses the DC driving voltage V'S _,DC to issue an indication signal S1.

The counting module 160 is electrically coupled to the driving module 150 and is used to selectively output one of the first level signal and the second level signal to the driving module 150 when the DC voltage output switch circuit 120B is turned on. The driving module 150 is further used to: when the driving module 150 receives the first level signal S3, drive the indicator 130 to send the indication signal S1; and, when the driving module 150 receives the second level signal S4, do not drive the indicator 130 to send the indication signal S1. In one embodiment, the first level signal S3 is, for example, one of a high level signal and a low level signal, and the second level signal S4 is, for example, the other of a high level signal and a low level signal, wherein the high level signal is, for example, 2 volts, and the low level signal is, for example, 0 volts. In one embodiment, the first standard signal S3 and the second standard signal S4 may be issued alternately and continuously for a period of time. At any time point in the period of time, the counting module 160 issues one of the first standard signal S3 and the second standard signal S4; at the next time point in the period of time, the counting module 160 issues the other of the first standard signal S3 and the second standard signal S4. In this way, the indication signal S1 is issued intermittently (issued only when the first standard signal S3 is received). For example, the indication signal S1 is a light, and under the control of the counting module 160, the indicator 130 flashes. In addition, the intervals between any two adjacent time points in the aforementioned period of time may be substantially equal. The period of time may be a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours, a few days, etc. Alternatively, the indication signal S1 may continue to be issued until the leakage condition is resolved or the alarm is manually cleared.

The controller 170 is electrically coupled to the optocoupler isolation circuit 120A of the drive module 150 and the switch module 120. The controller 170 can control the wireless communication module 180 to send a leakage notification signal S5 to an external server (not shown) according to the conduction of the switch module 120. The user can monitor the status of the electronic device 20 through this external server. In one embodiment, the controller 170 is, for example, a microcontroller unit (MCU).

Please refer to Figure 4, which shows a flow chart of the leakage detection method of the leakage detection device 100 in Figure 1.

In step 5110, the leakage detection module 110 converts the AC leakage voltage V _L,AC into a DC leakage voltage V _L,DC .

In step 5120, the switch module 120 is turned on or off according to the DC leakage voltage V _L,DC .

In step 5130, the indicator 130 sends an indication signal S1 according to the conduction of the switch module 120.

Other embodiments of the leakage detection method of the present invention have been mentioned above and will not be elaborated here.

In summary, the embodiments of the present invention provide a leakage detection device, a leakage detection system and a leakage detection method using the same, which can detect AC leakage voltage (when leakage occurs) and convert the AC leakage voltage into DC leakage voltage. The DC leakage voltage can drive the switch module to conduct, and the indicator sends an indication signal to warn of the occurrence of leakage.

In summary, although the present invention has been disclosed as above by the embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those with common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined in the attached patent application.

10: Leakage detection system

20: Electronic equipment

21: Luminous parts

22: Light pole

30: Power system

100: Leakage detection device

110: Leakage detection module

120: Switch module

120A: Optocoupler isolation circuit

120B: DC voltage output switch circuit

130,135:Indicator

140: Power conversion module

145: Anti-reverse connection module

150:Drive module

160: Counting module

170: Controller

180: Wireless communication module

L:Firewire

N: Neutral line

G: Ground wire

S1, S2: indication signal

S3: The first standard signal

S4: Second level signal

S5: Leakage notification signal

Claims (20)

A leakage detection device includes: a leakage detection module for converting an AC leakage voltage into a DC leakage voltage; a switch module electrically coupled to the leakage detection module and used to turn on or off according to the DC leakage voltage; and an indicator electrically coupled to the switch module and used to send an indication signal according to the conduction of the switch module; wherein the leakage detection module is electrically coupled to a neutral line of an electric power system and a lamp to receive the AC leakage voltage. The leakage detection device as described in claim 1, wherein the leakage detection module further comprises: a rectifier circuit electrically coupled to the AC leakage voltage and used to convert the AC leakage voltage into the DC leakage voltage; and a voltage divider circuit electrically coupled to the rectifier circuit and used to provide a voltage division of the DC leakage voltage; wherein the switch module is used to turn on or off according to the voltage division of the DC leakage voltage. The leakage detection device as described in claim 1 further includes: a power conversion module for outputting a DC driving voltage; wherein the switch module is electrically coupled to the power conversion module; when the switch module is turned on, the DC driving voltage is transmitted to the indicator through the switch module. A leakage detection device as described in claim 3, wherein the indicator is a light-emitting device, and the leakage detection device further comprises: a driving module electrically coupled to the light-emitting device and the switch module and used to drive the light-emitting device to emit the indication signal according to the DC driving voltage. The leakage detection device as described in claim 4 further includes: a counting module electrically coupled to the driving module and used to: output a first standard signal to the driving module; wherein the driving module is further used to: drive the light-emitting element to emit the indication signal according to the first standard signal. The leakage detection device as described in claim 5, wherein the counting module is further used to: output a second level signal to the driving module; wherein the driving module is further used to: according to the second level signal, not drive the light-emitting element to emit the indication signal. A leakage detection device as described in claim 1, wherein the switch module includes: an optocoupler isolation circuit electrically coupled to the leakage detection module; and a DC voltage output switch circuit electrically coupled to the optocoupler isolation circuit and the indicator, and used to be turned on according to the conduction of the optocoupler isolation circuit; wherein the indicator emits the indication signal according to the conduction of the DC voltage output switch circuit. A leakage detection device as described in claim 7, wherein the DC voltage output switch circuit includes an emitter, a collector and a base, wherein the base is electrically coupled to the optocoupler isolation circuit, the collector is electrically coupled to a power conversion module and the switch module, and the emitter is electrically coupled to the indicator. The leakage detection device as described in claim 1 further includes: a wireless communication module; and a controller electrically coupled to the wireless communication module and used to control the wireless communication module to send a leakage notification signal according to the conduction of the switch module. A leakage detection system, comprising: a leakage detection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, arranged in the lamp and used to detect the AC leakage voltage from the lamp; and the lamp. A leakage detection system as described in claim 10, wherein the lamp includes a light-emitting element and a lamp pole, and the light-emitting element is disposed on the lamp pole. A leakage detection method includes: a leakage detection module converting an AC leakage voltage into a DC leakage voltage; a switch module turning on or off according to the DC leakage voltage; and an indicator sending an indication signal according to the conduction of the switch module. The leakage detection method as described in claim 12, wherein the leakage detection module further includes a rectifier circuit and a voltage divider circuit; the leakage detection method further includes: the rectifier circuit converts the AC leakage voltage into the DC leakage voltage; and the voltage divider circuit provides a voltage division of the DC leakage voltage; The switch module is turned on or off according to the voltage division of the DC leakage voltage. The leakage detection method as described in claim 12 further includes: a power conversion module outputs a DC driving voltage; when the switch module is turned on, the DC driving voltage is transmitted to the indicator through the switch module. The leakage detection method as described in claim 14, wherein the indicator is a light-emitting device; the leakage detection method further comprises: a driving module drives the light-emitting device to emit the indication signal according to the DC driving voltage. The leakage detection method as described in claim 15 further includes: a counting module outputs a first standard signal to the driving module; and the driving module drives the light-emitting element to emit the indication signal according to the first standard signal. The leakage detection method as described in claim 16 further includes: the counting module further outputs a second level signal to the driving module; and the driving module does not drive the light-emitting element to emit the indication signal according to the second level signal. The leakage detection method as described in claim 12, wherein the switch module includes an optocoupler isolation circuit and a DC voltage output switch circuit, and the DC voltage output switch circuit is electrically coupled to the optocoupler isolation circuit and the indicator; the leakage detection method further includes: the DC voltage output switch circuit is turned on according to the conduction of the optocoupler isolation circuit; and the indicator emits the indication signal according to the conduction of the DC voltage output switch circuit. The leakage detection method as described in claim 18, wherein the DC voltage output switch circuit includes an emitter, a collector and a base, wherein the base is electrically coupled to the optocoupler isolation circuit, the collector is electrically coupled to a power conversion module and the switch module, and the emitter is electrically coupled to the indicator; the leakage detection method further includes: when the optocoupler isolation circuit is turned on, the collector and the base are turned on; when the collector and the base are turned on, the collector and the emitter are turned on, so that the indicator sends the indication signal. The leakage detection method as described in claim 12, wherein the leakage detection method further includes: a controller controls a wireless communication module to send a leakage notification signal according to the conduction of the switch module.

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