The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 18, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 06, 2000
Jason A. Dean, Erie, PA (US);
Ajith K. Kumar, Erie, PA (US);
Kristopher L. Redinger, Erie, PA (US);
Bret D. Worden, Union City, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and system for predicting malfunctions in a power inverter having one or more legs connected between first and second voltage buses is provided. Each leg has respective first and second controllable switches coupled in series to one another. The method allows for applying predetermined respective voltages at the first and second buses. The method further allows for selectively actuating the first and second switches between respective conductive or non-conductive states. A monitoring step allows for monitoring predetermined electrical parameters generated in the inverter in response to the applied voltages as the first and second switches are respectively actuated, and an adjusting step allows for adjusting the respective values of the monitored electrical parameters for deviations from respective estimated nominal values due to predetermined external variables to generate adjusted electrical parameters that in turn may be used to determine the performance of the power inverter, including detection of incipient failures.