Power converters with rate of change monitoring for fault prediction and/or detection
First Claim
1. A power converter comprising a controller having at least one input for monitoring a rate of change of an operating parameter of the power converter, the controller configured for comparing the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter with an allowable rate of change for the operating parameter, and generating a fault signal when the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter deviates from the allowable rate of change for the operating parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power converter includes a controller having at least one input for monitoring a rate of change of an operating parameter of the power converter. The controller is configured for comparing the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter with an allowable rate of change for the operating parameter, and for generating a fault signal when the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter deviates from the allowable rate of change for the operating parameter. The operating parameter for which the rate of change is monitored may be, for example, a temperature, a current and/or a voltage in the power converter.
43 Citations
26 Claims
- 1. A power converter comprising a controller having at least one input for monitoring a rate of change of an operating parameter of the power converter, the controller configured for comparing the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter with an allowable rate of change for the operating parameter, and generating a fault signal when the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter deviates from the allowable rate of change for the operating parameter.
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5. The power converter of 4 wherein the controller is configured for shutting down the power converter in response to a command from the system hosting the power converter.
- 11. A power converter comprising a controller having at least one input for monitoring a rate of change of a temperature in the power converter, the controller configured for comparing the monitored rate of temperature change with an allowable rate of temperature change, and generating a fault signal when the monitored rate of temperature change deviates from the allowable rate of temperature change.
- 16. A power converter comprising a controller having at least one input for monitoring a rate of current change in the power converter, the controller configured for determining whether the monitored rate of current change is abnormal, and generating a fault signal after determining the monitored rate of current change is abnormal.
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23. A method of predicting a fault in a power converter, the method comprising:
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monitoring a rate of change of an operating parameter of the power converter; determining whether the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter is abnormal; and providing a fault signal after determining the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter is abnormal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification