Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Electromechanical Device Performance and Reliability
AssigneeMaxim Integrated Products, Inc.
InventorsDewight L. Warren, Neil D. Longgood, Kerry D. Lacanette
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for monitoring air cooling fans including, by way of non-limiting examples, the determination of an upper and lower boundary limit of acceptable fan operation, sends a control signal to a fan being monitored, measures the fan rotation rate or fan power consumption subsequent to sending the control signal; and issues an alarm if the measured fan rotation rate is above the upper boundary limit or below the lower boundary limit.
Claims12
A method for monitoring air cooling fans comprising:
- determining a first upper boundary limit of acceptable operation;
- determining a first lower boundary limit of acceptable operation;
- sending a control signal to a fan;
- measuring a fan rotation rate subsequent to sending said control signal;
- and
- issuing a first alarm if said measured fan rotation rate is above said upper boundary limit or below said lower boundary limit.
A method for monitoring air cooling fans comprising:
- determining a first upper boundary limit of acceptable operation;
- determining a first lower boundary limit of acceptable operation;
- sending a control signal to a fan;
- measuring a fan power consumption subsequent to sending said control signal;
- and
- issuing a first alarm if said measured fan power consumption is above said upper boundary limit or below said lower boundary limit.
An apparatus for monitoring electromechanical devices comprising:
- a microcontroller;
- an output module coupled to the microcontroller;
- a measurement module coupled to the microcontroller;
- and
- digital memory coupled to the microcontroller including:
- a) a first upper boundary limit of acceptable operation;
- b) a first lower boundary limit of acceptable operation;
- c) code segments for sending a control signal to an electromechanical device via said output module;
- d) code segments measuring a response variable subsequent to sending said control signal;
- and
- e) code segments issuing a first alarm if said measured response variable is above said upper boundary limit or below said lower boundary limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.