# US 12,111,709 B2 · Detection of a failure of a power module based on operating conditions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,709 B2 - Document ID: US12111709B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/937,760 - Filed: 2020-07-24 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-02 - Assignees: Schneider Electric Industries SAS - Applicants: Schneider Electric Industries SAS - Inventors: Radoslava Mitova; Alain Dentella; Pierre-Yves Boyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111709B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/28: Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision - H02M 7/003: {Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections} - H03K 17/08: Modifications for protecting switching circuit against overcurrent or overvoltage - H02M 1/327: {against abnormal temperatures} - H03K 2017/0806: {against excessive temperature} - H10W 40/00: Arrangements for thermal protection or thermal control (integrated devices comprising arrangements for thermal protection H10D89/60) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract A method for detecting a failure of a power module, the method comprising the following operations: storing at least one model comprising regular temperature values associated with different operating conditions of the power module; acquiring at least a first temperature value from a first temperature sensor located in the vicinity of the power module; determining current operating conditions of the power module; comparing the current operating conditions and at least the first temperature value with the at least one stored model; based on the comparison, determining a failure of the power module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting a failure of a power module, the method comprising the following operations: storing at least one model comprising regular temperature values associated with different operating conditions of the power module, the regular temperature values of the at least one model represented by at least one first predetermined curve and at least one second predetermined curve that is different from the at least one first predetermined curve; checking whether the at least one stored model is up to date, determining that the at least one stored model is not up to date, and replacing the at least one stored model with an updated version thereof after determining that the at least one stored model is not up to date; acquiring at least a first temperature value from a first temperature sensor located in the vicinity of the power module; determining current operating conditions of the power module; comparing the current operating conditions and at least the first temperature value with the at least one stored model; based on the comparison, determining a failure of the power module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor is a Negative Temperature Coefficient, NTC, sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the first temperature sensor is arranged for measuring the temperature on a die of the power module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising acquiring at least one second temperature value from a second temperature sensor located in the vicinity of a heatsink associated with the power module, and wherein the current operating conditions and the first and second temperature values are compared with the at least one stored model. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the method comprises: acquiring first temperature values at different instants, from a first temperature sensor located in the vicinity of the power module; acquiring second temperature values at the different instants, from a second temperature sensor located in the vicinity of the heatsink; comparing the evolution of the first temperature values with the at least one first predetermined curve of the at least one model and comparing the evolution of the second temperature values with the at least one second predetermined curve of the at least one model; based on both comparisons, determining a failure of the power module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, comprising determining a type of failure of the power module based on the comparison of the current operating conditions and the first and second temperature values with the at least one stored model. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising acquiring at least one ambient temperature value and wherein the current operating conditions, the first temperature value and the ambient temperature are compared with the at least one stored model. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating conditions comprise any combination of the following elements: output current of the power module; input voltage of the power module; output voltage of the power module; input current of the power module speed of a motor comprising the power module; torque of a motor comprising the power module and/or an ambient temperature value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one model is determined during a preliminary phase comprising: acquiring regular temperature values of the power module for respective operating conditions; determining the at least one model based on the regular temperature values corresponding to the respective operating conditions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the operating conditions of the power module are controlled to acquire respective regular temperature values during the preliminary phase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, an alarm is generated when the failure of the power module is determined. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, before acquiring the first temperature value, detecting that the power module is in stable operating conditions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, with a computer program stored thereon, said computer program comprising instructions for, when executed by a processor, carrying out the steps of a method according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 A device configured for detecting a failure of a power module, the device comprising: a memory storing at least one model comprising regular temperature values associated with different operating conditions of the power module, the regular temperature values of the at least one model represented by at least one first predetermined curve and at least one second predetermined curve that is different from the at least one first predetermined curve; a module for acquiring at least a first temperature value from a first temperature sensor located in the vicinity of the power module; a processor configured for: checking whether the at least one stored model is up to date, determining that the at least one stored model is not up to date, and replacing the at least one stored model with an updated version thereof after determining that the at least one stored model is not up to date; determining current operating conditions of the power module; comparing the current operating conditions and at least the first temperature value with the at least one stored model; based on the comparison, determining a failure of the power module.