SELF TEST, MONITORING, AND DIAGNOSTICS IN GROUPED CIRCUITRY MODULES

• US 20080133153A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries Incorporated (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries Incorporated (MKS Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Almonte, Kenneth V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,683,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/016 Testing of capacitors measuring capacitance G01R27/2605

Abstract

A rotary capacitor electrical test system for providing a power source to a capacitor under electrical test can include at least one programmable voltage source, at least one programmable current source, and a controller for programming the voltage and current sources. Random access, non-volatile, memory can be provided for storing information and for providing read/write capability for the controller. At least one digital/analog converter can communicate between the controller and the programmable voltage and current sources. A diagnostic program is operable through the controller for testing internal integrity of basic input/output functions of at least some subsystems. A circuit health monitoring program can operate through the controller for periodically testing and determining internal integrity of at least some subsystems. A self test program can operate through the controller for determining if at least some internal subsystems are working properly on a test/fail basis.

Claims

1. In a rotary capacitor electrical test system for providing a power source to at least one capacitor under electrical test, the test system to be in electrical contact with each capacitor to be tested for measuring at least one voltage value and at least one current value for each capacitor under electrical test, the improvement comprising:

at least one programmable voltage source;

at least one programmable current source;

a controller for programming the voltage and current sources;

random access, non-volatile, memory for storing information and for providing read/write interface capability for the controller; and

at least one digital/analog converter for communicating between the controller and the programmable voltage and current sources.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a field programmable gate array.

3. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

an output voltage sensor for measuring an output voltage value and in communication with the controller for determining if a programmed voltage value has been successfully delivered.

4. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

an output current sensor for measuring an output current value and in communication with the controller for determining if a programmed current value has been successfully delivered.

5. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

a diagnostic program operable through the controller for testing internal integrity of basic input/output functions of at least some subsystems.

6. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

a circuit health monitoring program operable through the controller for periodically testing and determining internal integrity of at least some subsystems.

7. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

a self test program operable through the controller for determining if at least some internal subsystems are working properly on a test/fail basis.

8. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the at least one programmable current source and the at least one programmable voltage source further comprises:

five independently controlled programmable current sources; and

two independently controlled programmable voltage sources.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the controller programs an output of a test voltage waveform.

10. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the controller programs an output of a test current waveform.

11. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor for monitoring the programmable voltage and current sources.

12. The improvement of claim 11, wherein the controller compares a measured temperature value to determine if a threshold value has been exceeded and, if the threshold value has been exceeded, the controller shuts down a corresponding voltage and current source subsystem generating excess heat sensed by the measured temperature value determined to be over the threshold value.

13. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the controller interacts with information stored in random access non-volatile memory.

14. The improvement of claim 13, wherein the information is data selected from a group consisting of cumulative board operating time, maximum board operating temperature, average board operating temperature, maximum board output condition, average board output condition, internal board identification information, electronic board serial number, board manufacturing date, board manufacturing location, board firmware version, board software version, average ambient temperature, maximum ambient temperature, average heat sink temperature, maximum heat sink temperature, average voltage output, maximum voltage output, average current output, maximum current output, last circuit test date, last circuit test result, and any combination thereof.

15. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

a host computer in communication with the controller for running a self test program to set at least one programmable value and to receive back a measured value to test at least one complete subsystem through the controller to determine if the tested complete subsystem is operating properly.

16. A rotary capacitor electrical test system for providing a power source to a capacitor under electrical test comprising:

at least one programmable voltage source;

at least one programmable current source;

a controller for programming the voltage and current sources, wherein the controller includes a field programmable gate array, and the controller programs an output of a test voltage waveform and a test current waveform;

random access, non-volatile, memory for storing information and for providing read/write interface capability for the controller, wherein the controller interacts with information stored in the random access non-volatile memory, and the information is data selected from a group consisting of cumulative board operating time, maximum board operating temperature, average board operating temperature, maximum board output conditions, average board output conditions internal board identification information, electronic board serial number, board manufacturing date, board manufacturing location, board firmware version, board software version, average ambient temperature, maximum ambient temperature, average heat sink temperature, maximum heat sink temperature, average voltage output, maximum voltage output, average current output, maximum current output, last circuit test date, last circuit test results, and any combination thereof;

at least one digital/analog converter for communicating between the controller and the programmable voltage and current sources;

at least one temperature sensor for monitoring the programmable voltage and current sources and in communication with the controller for determining if a threshold temperature value has been exceeded;

an output voltage sensor for measuring an output voltage value and in communication with the controller for determining if a programmed voltage value has been successfully delivered; and

an output current sensor for measuring an output current value and in communication with the controller for determining if a programmed current value has been successfully delivered.

17. The rotary capacitor electrical test system of claim 16 further comprising.

a diagnostic program operable through the controller for testing internal integrity of basic input/output functions of at least some subsystems.

18. The rotary capacitor electrical test system of claim 16 further comprising:

a circuit health monitoring program operable through the controller for periodically testing and determining internal integrity of at least some subsystems.

19. The rotary capacitor electrical test system of claim 16 further comprising:

a self test program operable through the controller for determining if at least some internal subsystems are working properly on a test/fail basis.

20. The rotary capacitor electrical test system of claim 16 further comprising:

a host computer in communication with the controller for running a self test program to set at least one programmable value and to receive back a measured value to test at least one complete subsystem through the controller to determine if the tested complete subsystem is operating properly.