PG&E has been granted a patent for a system designed to monitor and mitigate damage to electrical utility structures. The system utilizes various sensors and communication networks to detect hazards, generate alert signals, and electrically isolate power lines to enhance safety and prevent damage. GlobalData’s report on PG&E gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on PG&E, was a key innovation area identified from patents. PG&E's grant share as of July 2024 was 55%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
System for monitoring hazards to electrical utility structures
The patent US12051313B2 outlines a comprehensive system designed for monitoring electrical utility structures, which are integral to the transmission of high-voltage electrical energy exceeding 1000 volts. The system comprises various components, including sensors, utility structures, conductors, and communication networks. The sensors are strategically positioned to monitor the vicinity of the utility structures and are programmed to generate hazard signals upon detecting potential threats. The system facilitates communication between multiple utility structures, allowing hazard signals to be relayed through distinct communication networks. Additionally, the integration of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system enhances the monitoring capabilities, enabling the transmission of response signals to deenergize conductors when necessary.
Further elaboration on the system reveals the inclusion of advanced sensor technologies, such as LiDAR and cameras, which enhance the detection of hazards and environmental conditions. The system is designed to automatically deenergize utility structures in response to hazard signals, ensuring safety and operational integrity. Each utility structure can be equipped with its own controller, allowing for localized responses to detected hazards. The communication networks are structured to maintain connectivity, with cellular networks capable of transmitting images and data even in the event of radio network failures. This multifaceted approach to monitoring and response underscores the system's potential to improve safety and reliability in the management of electrical utility infrastructures.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
