Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080284449 | Power converters with component stress monitoring for fault prediction - A power converter includes a controller and at least one circuit component. The controller is configured for monitoring stress on the circuit component during operation of the power converter and estimating a remaining life of the circuit component based on the monitored stress. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285184 | Power converters with operating efficiency monitoring for fault detection - A power converter includes a controller and at least one output terminal for providing an output voltage and an output current to a load. The controller is configured for monitoring the output voltage and the output current and calculating an efficiency of the power converter based on the monitored output voltage and output current. The controller is also configured to generate a fault signal after detecting a degradation in the power converter efficiency. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285192 | Power converters with rate of change monitoring for fault prediction and/or detection - 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. | 11-20-2008 |
20090073731 | Health monitoring of power converter fans and electric motors - A method for detecting a performance degradation of a fan in a power converter is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a speed of the fan and detecting the performance degradation of the fan based, at least in part, on the monitored speed. The method further includes generating a warning signal after detecting the performance degradation of the fan. According to another aspect, a power converter includes a fan and a processor operably coupled to the fan for monitoring a speed of the fan. The processor is configured for detecting a performance degradation of the fan based, at least in part, on the monitored fan speed. The processor generates a warning signal after detecting the performance degradation of the fan. | 03-19-2009 |
20090085543 | Variable Output Voltage Power Converter - A method of generating at least a first voltage and a second voltage in a power converter including at least one DC-DC converter is disclosed. The method includes operating the DC-DC converter as a full-bridge converter to generate the first voltage and operating the DC-DC converter as a half-bridge converter to generate the second voltage. Power supplies including a DC-DC converter selectively configurable as a full bridge converter to provide a first DC voltage and as a half bridge converter to produce a second DC voltage and controller circuits for such configuration are also disclosed. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086518 | Switching mode power supplies with digital electromagnetic interference control - A method of programming a switching mode power supply before or after the power supply is installed in a system to control electromagnetic interference. The switching mode power supply includes at least one switching device and a digital controller. The digital controller adjusts a switching frequency of the at least one switching device based on one or more programmable parameters. The method includes programming the digital controller with the one or more programmable parameters via a user interface. The programmable parameter(s) define a switching frequency adjustment to control electromagnetic interference. | 04-02-2009 |
20110075458 | AC-DC Switching Power Converters With Frequency Variation in Response to Load Changes - A method of operating a switching power converter having at least one power switch controlled by a drive signal having a switching frequency is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an output power of the switching power converter, determining whether the output power has decreased below a threshold level and, in response to the output power decreasing below the threshold level, changing the switching frequency of the drive signal from a first switching frequency to a second switching frequency when an operating condition of the switching power converter is satisfied. Also disclosed are controllers and switching power converters (including PFC converters). | 03-31-2011 |
20120074237 | Delayed Execution and Automated Model Detection for Air Moving Devices - Various methods related to air moving devices in electronic systems are disclosed. Various electronic systems including controlled air moving devices are also disclosed. Thus, one example electronic system includes an air moving device, a sensor for monitoring an operating parameter of the electronic system and generating a signal representative of the operating parameter, and a controller for controlling the air moving device. The controller is configured to selectively control a rotational speed of the air moving device, to receive the signal representative of the operating parameter, and to delay changing the rotational speed of the air moving device in response to the signal representative of the operating parameter. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076636 | Controlled Angular Acceleration for Air Moving Devices - Various methods related to air moving devices in electronic systems are disclosed. Various electronic systems including controlled air moving devices are also disclosed. Thus, in one method of controlling an air moving device in an electronic system, the air moving device is operable to accelerate between rotational speeds at a maximum angular acceleration. The method includes limiting an angular acceleration of the air moving device to a first acceleration limit less than the maximum angular acceleration when changing the air moving device from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed. | 03-29-2012 |
20120083925 | Jitter Control and Operating Profiles for Air Moving Devices - Various methods related to air moving devices in electronic systems are disclosed. Various electronic systems including controlled air moving devices are also disclosed. Thus, one example electronic system includes an air moving device and a controller for controlling the air moving device. The controller is configured to selectively control a rotational speed of the air moving device. The controller is configured to vary the rotational speed within a range bounded by and including a first rotational speed and a second rotational speed during a time that a target rotational speed is within the range. | 04-05-2012 |