Variable Threshold Binary Input Module for Smart Grid Application

The binary input module in protection relays is used for protection of high voltage equipment. The Binary Input Module (BIM) in the protection device works only with one threshold. If an application requires more than one threshold, than multiple cards of BIM has to be used. This makes the device bulkier and costlier. This paper deals with a new design of BIM that can work with multiple thresholds. The design will be compact in size and also less expensive than the previous module. In this module, the user has to specify the input voltage, threshold voltage level and AC/DC mode. The BIM comprises of an input for receiving a voltage signal, rectifier, attenuator, peak detector, AC/DC select, reference generator and comparator. This paper basically deals with the design of the attenuator, peak detector and reference generator used in the BIM.