Power converter with degraded component alarm

• US 7,817,051 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Jiang, Huai Gang, Cheng, Wing Ling, Wang, Zhe, Wang, Lin Guo
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/901,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20090072983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/653, 340/654, 340/657, 340/660, 340/3.34, 363/74, 363/76, 324/519, 324/522, 324/548
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/64 Testing of capacitors

Abstract

A power converter including a processor, at least one component whose health in the power converter will degrade over time, and at least one alarm is disclosed. The processor is configured for monitoring the health of the component over time, and for activating the alarm when the monitored health of the component reaches a threshold level.

Claims

1. A power converter comprising a processor, a first component whose health in the power converter will degrade over time, a second component whose health in the power converter will degrade over time, a first alarm, and a second alarm, the processor configured for monitoring the health of the first component over time and activating the first alarm when the monitored health of the first component reaches a first threshold level, and for monitoring the health of the second component over time and for activating the second alarm when the monitored health of the second component reaches a second threshold level.

2. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured for monitoring the health of the first component by monitoring at least one performance characteristic of the power converter that represents the health of the first component, and wherein the processor is configured for monitoring the health of the second component by monitoring at least one performance characteristic of the power converter that represents the health of the second component.

3. The power converter of claim 2 wherein the power converter is configured for activating the first alarm only when the monitored health of the first component reaches the first threshold level, and wherein the processor is configured for activating the second alarm only when the monitored health of the second component reaches the second threshold level.

4. The power converter of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first alarm and the second alarm is a visual alarm.

5. The power converter of claim 4 wherein the visual alarm includes an LED.

6. The power converter of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first alarm and the second alarm is an audible alarm.

7. The power converter of claim 3 wherein the first component is a capacitor.

8. The power converter of claim 7 wherein the at least one performance characteristic of the power converter that represents the health of the capacitor includes a ripple voltage across the capacitor and wherein the processor is configured for activating the first alarm when the monitored ripple voltage reaches a predetermined threshold level.

9. The power converter of claim 8 wherein the second component is a fan.

10. The power converter of claim 9 wherein the at least one performance characteristic of the power converter that represents the health of the fan includes a control signal provided to the fan and a speed of the fan, and wherein the processor is configured for activating the second alarm when the monitored speed of the fan is less than a fan speed corresponding to said control signal.

11. The power converter of claim 9 wherein the at least one performance characteristic of the power converter that represents the health of the fan includes a speed of the fan and a temperature, and wherein the processor is configured for activating the second alarm when the monitored speed of the fan is less than a predetermined fan speed corresponding to said temperature.

12. The power converter of claim 3 wherein the power converter comprises a third component whose performance in the power converter will degrade over time, and a third alarm, the processor configured for monitoring the health of the third component over time and activating the third alarm when the monitored health of the third component reaches a third threshold level.

13. The power converter of claim 12 wherein the first, second and third alarms each include an LED.

14. The power converter of claim 13 wherein each LED has a different color.

15. The power converter of claim 13 wherein the first component is a bulk capacitor, the second component is an output capacitor and the third component is a fan.

16. The power converter of claim 3 wherein the first alarm and the second alarm are audible alarms.

17. The power converter of claim 3 wherein the first alarm and the second alarm are visual alarms.

18. The power converter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first alarm and the second alarm is an audible alarm.

19. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the first alarm and the second alarm are audible alarms.

20. The power converter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first alarm and the second alarm is a visual alarm.

21. The power converter of claim 1 wherein the first alarm and the second alarm are visual alarms.