Health monitoring for power converter components
First Claim
1. A power converter comprising a processor and a plurality of components whose health in the power converter will degrade over time, the plurality of components including a first capacitor and a fan, the processor configured for monitoring the health of the first capacitor over time by monitoring a first set of one or more performance characteristics of the power converter, the processor configured for monitoring the health of the fan over time by monitoring a second set of one or more performance characteristics of the power converter and the processor configured for generating a warning signal when the monitored health of the first capacitor or the monitored health of the fan reaches a threshold level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power converter including a processor and at least one component whose health in the power converter will degrade over time is disclosed. The processor is configured for monitoring the health of the component over time, and for generating a warning signal when the monitored health of the component reaches a threshold level. A method for monitoring the health of at least one component in a power converter is also disclosed. The method includes monitoring at least one performance characteristic of the power converter. The performance characteristic represents the health of the component. The method further includes comparing the monitored performance characteristic with stored data to determine whether the health of the component has reached a predetermined level, and generating a warning signal after determining the health of the component has reached the predetermined level.
-
Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A power converter comprising a processor and a plurality of components whose health in the power converter will degrade over time, the plurality of components including a first capacitor and a fan, the processor configured for monitoring the health of the first capacitor over time by monitoring a first set of one or more performance characteristics of the power converter, the processor configured for monitoring the health of the fan over time by monitoring a second set of one or more performance characteristics of the power converter and the processor configured for generating a warning signal when the monitored health of the first capacitor or the monitored health of the fan reaches a threshold level.
- 11. A method for monitoring the health of a capacitor and a fan in a power converter, the method comprising monitoring a first set of one or more performance characteristics representing the health of the capacitor, monitoring a second set of one or more performance characteristics representing the health of the fan, comparing the monitored first set of one or more performance characteristics representing the health of the capacitor with stored data to determine whether the health of the capacitor has reached a first predetermined level, comparing the monitored second set of one or more performance characteristics representing the health of the fan with stored data to determine whether the health of the fan has reached a second predetermined level and generating a warning signal after determining the health of the capacitor has reached said first predetermined level or the health of the fan has reached the second predetermined level.
Specification