US 11,699,904 B2
Systems and methods for phase identification using relative phase angle measurements
Christopher Fleck, St. Louis, MO (US); Roger Smith, Gibsonia, PA (US); and Rebecca Ross, Apollo, PA (US)
Assigned to Aclara Technologies LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Aclara Technologies LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Jul. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/365,520.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/047,442, filed on Jul. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0006290 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. H04L 7/02 (2006.01); H02J 3/08 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 3/08 (2013.01) [H04L 7/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for determining a phase of one or more nodes coupled to an electrical distribution system, the system comprising:
a plurality of gateway devices, each of the gateway devices in electronic communication with one or more node devices connected to a power distribution network and having a memory and one or more electronic processors configured to:
transmit a synchronization message;
receive a node response message from a first node device of the one or more node devices, wherein the node response message includes a duration value indicating a duration between a receipt of the transmitted synchronization message and a detected zero crossing;
compare the duration value against previous duration values received from at least a second node device with a known phase connection;
determine a phase of the first node device based on the comparison; and
store the phase of the first node device in the memory.