Robust evaluation of a temperature measurement signal by using a dynamic adaptation of a computational model

• US 8,188,872 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Fischer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/372,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20090207030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 340/577, 340/584, 340/587, 340/588, 340/589, 340/501, 340/511, 219/494, 219/486, 219/483, 219/485, 700/117, 700/210, 621/80, 621/86, 702/132
• US Class Current: 340/588
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds

Abstract

A device for evaluating a temperature measurement signal of a temperature measurement facility has a modeling unit with a first input for picking up an input signal which is indicative for the temperature measurement signal, a second input for picking up a feedback signal, and an output for outputting an output signal. The output signal can be generated in dependence on the input signal and the feedback signal by using a computational model stored in the modeling unit. The feedback signal (slope) is directly or indirectly dependent on the output signal. Furthermore, an alarm indicator with an evaluation device of this type and a method for evaluating a temperature measurement signal are provided. Alongside this, a computer-readable storage medium and also a program element are described, which contain instructions for carrying out the evaluation method.

Claims

1. A device for evaluating a temperature measurement signal of a temperature sensor, the device comprising:

a modeling unit having a first input for picking up an input signal being indicative of the temperature measurement signal, a second input for picking up a feedback signal, and an output for outputting an output signal, wherein the output signal is generated in dependence on the input signal and the feedback signal by using a computational model stored in said modeling unit, and wherein the feedback signal is one of directly and indirectly dependent on the output signal;

wherein the computational model has a thermal model for the temperature sensor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the computational model has at least one model parameter having a value determined by the feedback signal.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the computational model represents an inversion of a thermal model of the temperature sensor.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a gradient calculation unit having at least one input for one of directly and indirectly picking up the output signal of said modeling unit and an output for providing the feedback signal, wherein said gradient calculation unit is set up such that the feedback signal provided is indicative for a change over time of the output signal.

5. The device according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one input of said gradient calculation unit includes a first input and a second input;

and

further comprising an output filter unit having an input for picking up the output signal of said modeling unit and an output for outputting an evaluation signal, wherein said input of said output filter unit is connected to said first input of said gradient calculation unit and said output of said output filter unit is connected to said second input of said gradient calculation unit.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a first summation unit connected between said output of said modeling unit and said input of said output filter unit.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a second summation unit and a multiplication unit, which are connected between said output of said first summation unit and said input of said output filter unit.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device evaluates the temperature measurement signal being variable over time of the temperature sensor of an alarm indicator.

9. An alarm indicator for outputting an alarm indication in dependence on a captured temperature within a monitoring range, the alarm indicator comprising:

a temperature sensor for capturing the temperature within the monitoring range; and

a device for evaluating a temperature measurement signal of said temperature sensor, said device including a modeling unit having a first input for picking up an input signal being indicative of the temperature measurement signal, a second input for picking up a feedback signal, and an output for outputting an output signal, wherein the output signal being generated in dependence on the input signal and the feedback signal by using a computational model stored in said modeling unit, and wherein the feedback signal is one of directly and indirectly dependent on the output signal;

wherein the computational model has a thermal model for the temperature sensor.

10. A method for evaluating a temperature measurement signal that is variable over time of a temperature sensor, the method which comprises the steps of:

picking up an input signal being indicative of the temperature measurement signal, by a first input of a modeling unit;

picking up a feedback signal by a second input of the modeling unit;

generating an output signal being dependent on the input signal and the feedback signal by using a computational model stored in the modeling unit, wherein the feedback signal is one of directly and indirectly dependent on the output signal, and wherein the computational model has a thermal model for the temperature sensor; and

outputting the output signal at an output of the modeling unit.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method evaluates the temperature measurement signal being variable over time of the temperature sensor of an alarm indicator.

12. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for evaluating a temperature measurement signal being variable over time of a temperature sensor, including evaluating the temperature measurement signal being variable over time of the temperature sensor of an alarm indicator, the computer-executable instructions performing the method steps of:

picking up an input signal being indicative for the temperature measurement signal, by a first input of a modeling unit;

picking up a feedback signal by a second input of the modeling unit;

generating an output signal being dependent on the input signal and the feedback signal by using a computational model stored in the modeling unit, wherein the feedback signal is one of directly and indirectly dependent on the output signal, and wherein the computational model has a thermal model for the temperature sensor; and

outputting the output signal at an output of the modeling unit.

13. A program element for evaluating a temperature measurement signal being variable over time of a temperature measurement facility, including for evaluating a temperature measurement signal being variable over time of the temperature sensor of an alarm indicator, which, when the program element is executed by a processor, is set up for carrying out the steps of:

picking up an input signal being indicative of the temperature measurement signal, by a first input of a modeling unit;

picking up a feedback signal by a second input of the modeling unit;

generating an output signal being dependent on the input signal and the feedback signal by using a computational model stored in the modeling unit, wherein the feedback signal is one of directly and indirectly dependent on the output signal, and wherein the computational model has a thermal model for the temperature sensor; and

outputting the output signal at an output of the modeling unit.