US 12,218,511 B2
Monitoring systems and methods for power line structures and energy harvesting
Steven Marquis, Fall City, WA (US)
Filed by Steven Marquis, Fall City, WA (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/697,875.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/162,176, filed on Mar. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0302753 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G01R 31/08 (2020.01); G01K 1/024 (2021.01); H02G 3/08 (2006.01); H02J 50/00 (2016.01)
CPC H02J 50/001 (2020.01) [G01K 1/024 (2013.01); G01R 31/085 (2013.01); H02G 3/088 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A monitoring system for a power line support structure, comprising:
a weather resistant enclosure configured to be mounted near to or on a power line support structure without contacting any power line supported by the support structure;
an electrical energy harvesting circuit mounted within the weather resistant enclosure, the harvesting circuit configured to produce operational power and comprising a rectifier electrically coupled to a power converter;
an electric field antenna electrically coupled to the harvesting circuit, the electric field antenna configured to receive electric fields emanating from one or more power lines supported by the support structure;
an energy storage device mounted within the weather resistant enclosure and electrically coupled to the harvesting circuit for storing the operational power supplied by the harvesting circuit;
an earth ground connection electrically coupled to the harvesting circuit for electrically or capacitively coupling the harvesting circuit to earth ground;
a controller mounted within the weather resistant enclosure and electrically coupled to the energy storage device;
a radio mounted within the weather resistant enclosure and electrically coupled to the energy storage device and the controller, the radio configured to transmit data from the controller; and
a radio antenna electrically coupled to the radio;
wherein the controller and the radio are powered by the operational power supplied by the harvesting circuit and/or stored by the energy storage device.