Detecting a failure in a thermocouple array
AssigneesROLLS-ROYCE plc, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorsJohn Costello, Robert C. Dalley, Douglas Schetzel
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Abstract
A method of monitoring a health of a temperature system may comprise selecting a temperature sensor of a plurality of temperature sensors arranged in an array, where each temperature sensor corresponds to an address within the array. The method may comprise identifying the address corresponding to the single temperature sensor, sending the address to a multiplexer, and selecting the single temperature sensor using the identified address. The method may comprise testing the selected single temperature sensor calculating an average temperature detected by the plurality of temperatures sensors.
Claims20
A method of monitoring a health of a temperature system location, the method comprising:
- choosing a single temperature sensor of a plurality of temperature sensors to test, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in an array, each of the plurality of temperature sensors corresponding to an address within the array;
- identifying, via a controller, the address within the array corresponding to the single temperature sensor;
- sending the identified address to a multiplexer connected to the plurality of temperature sensors;
- selecting, via the multiplexer, the single temperature sensor using the identified address;
- testing, with the controller and a testing circuitry comprising an impedance determination circuit, for a closed-circuit failure mode of the selected single temperature sensor by at least detecting for a shift in impedance of the selected single temperature sensor;
- cycling through each one of the plurality of temperature sensors, repeating the choosing, identifying, sending, selecting, and testing for each of the plurality of temperature sensors;
- and
- calculating an average temperature of a location containing the plurality of temperature sensors using individual temperature measurements of the plurality of temperature sensors.
A temperature measurement system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of temperature sensors arranged in an array, wherein each of the temperature sensors has a corresponding respective address;
- a multiplexer in selective communication with each one of the plurality of temperature sensors to select a single temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors;
- test circuitry configured to test for a closed-circuit failure mode of the single temperature sensor, wherein the test circuitry comprises an impedance determination circuit configured to connect to the single temperature sensor and detect for an impedance shift of the single temperature sensor;
- and
- a controller in communication with the multiplexer and the test circuitry, wherein the controller is configured to, responsive to the test circuitry detecting the impedance shift, isolate the single temperature sensor from the plurality of temperature sensors.
A method of monitoring a health of a temperature system, the method comprising:
- choosing a single temperature sensor of a plurality of temperature sensors to test, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors arranged in an array, each of the plurality of temperature sensors corresponding to an address within the array;
- identifying the address within the array corresponding to the single temperature sensor;
- sending the identified address to a multiplexer connected to the plurality of temperature sensors;
- selecting, via the multiplexer, the single temperature sensor using the identified address;
- testing the selected single temperature sensor for a closed-circuit failure mode by at least detecting for a shift in an impedance of the selected single temperature sensor with testing circuitry;
- detecting a closed-circuit failure mode of the tested temperature sensor based on the shift in the impedance and identifying the selected single temperature sensor to a controller;
- and
- cycling through, using the controller and multiplexer, each one of the plurality of temperature sensors, repeating the testing for each sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.