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US 11,443,990 B2Granted
Prognostic health management for power devices
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorsSergio De Gasperi, Michael Nelhiebel, Alexander Mayer, Dieter Haerle, Andrea Baschirotto
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Abstract
In some examples, a device includes a power structure and a sensing structure that is electrically isolated from the power structure. The device also includes processing circuitry configured to determine whether the sensing structure includes a prognostic health indicator, wherein the prognostic health indicator is indicative of a health of the power structure.
Claims17
A device comprising:
- a power structure, wherein the power structure defines a first aging mechanism that comprises thermo-mechanical degradation;
- a sensing structure electrically isolated from the power structure, wherein the sensing structure defines a second aging mechanism that is different than the first aging mechanism, wherein the second aging mechanism comprises breakdown of an oxide in the sensing structure;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to determine whether the sensing structure includes a prognostic health indicator by measuring the second aging mechanism, wherein the prognostic health indicator is indicative of a health of the power structure.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- measuring a current in a sensing structure that is electrically isolated from a power structure wherein the sensing structure includes an oxide;
- determining whether the sensing structure includes a prognostic health indicator by measuring a breakdown of the oxide, wherein the determining includes determining that the current in the sensing structure is greater than a threshold level;
- and
- setting a bit indicating a prognostic health issue in response to determining that the current in the sensing structure is greater than the threshold level,
- wherein the sensing structure and the power structure experience correlated thermo-mechanical stress over a period of time, and
- wherein the breakdown of the oxide becomes evident before a thermo-mechanical degradation of the power structure becomes evident.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a power substrate comprising a power structure and a sensing structure, wherein the sensing structure is electrically isolated from the power structure;
- processing circuitry configured to:
- control a driver to generate driver signals to control the power structure;
- measure a current in a sensing structure that is electrically isolated from a power structure;
- determine whether the current in the sensing structure is greater than a threshold level;
- and
- set a bit indicating a prognostic health issue in response to determining that the current in the sensing structure is greater than the threshold level,
- wherein the sensing structure includes an oxide,
- wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the sensing structure includes the prognostic health indicator by measuring a breakdown of the oxide,
- wherein the sensing structure and the power structure experience correlated thermo-mechanical stress over a period of time, and
- wherein the breakdown of the oxide becomes evident before a thermo-mechanical degradation of the power structure becomes evident.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.