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 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.
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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.
34 Citations
30 Claims
- 1. 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.
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8. The power converter of 7 wherein the controller is configured for shutting down the power converter in response to a command from the system hosting the power converter.
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12. A method of predicting a fault in a power converter, the method comprising:
- 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, wherein determining includes determining whether the monitored rate of change of the operating parameter is substantially linear.
- monitoring a rate of change of an operating parameter of the power converter;
- 13. A power converter comprising an output stage and 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 by comparing the monitored rate of current change with an allowable rate of current change, and generating a fault signal after determining the monitored rate of current change is abnormal, wherein the output stage includes a sense resistor and said current is a current in the sense resistor.
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17. The power converter of 16 wherein the controller is configured for shutting down the power converter in response to a command from the system hosting the power converter.
- 21. A power converter comprising a coil, and a controller having at least one input for monitoring a rate of current change in the coil, and the controller is configured for determining whether the monitored rate of current change in the coil is abnormal by determining whether the monitored rate of current change in the coil is substantially linear, and generating a fault signal after determining the monitored rate of current change is abnormal.
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27. The power converter of 26 wherein the controller is configured for shutting down the power converter in response to a command from the system hosting the power converter.
Specification