Systems and methods for controlling super capacitor charge voltage to extend super capacitor life
AssigneeJohnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
InventorsChristopher J. Merkl, George John Dietz, Gary A. Romanowich, Kevin Anthony Weiss
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Abstract
A method of determining a lifetime parameter of a capacitor in a failsafe device including measuring an amount of energy required to return the failsafe device to a failsafe position, measuring an effective capacitance of the capacitor, and comparing the amount of energy to the effective capacitance to determine the lifetime parameter of the capacitor.
Claims20
A method of determining a lifetime parameter of a capacitor in a failsafe device, the method comprising:
- measuring an amount of energy required to return the failsafe device to a failsafe position;
- measuring an effective capacitance of the capacitor;
- and
- comparing the amount of energy to the effective capacitance to determine the lifetime parameter of the capacitor.
A method of charging a capacitor in a failsafe device, the method comprising:
- measuring an amount of energy required to return the failsafe device to a failsafe position;
- measuring an effective capacitance of the capacitor;
- determining, based on the effective capacitance and the amount of energy, a charge voltage for the capacitor;
- and
- charging the capacitor using the charge voltage.
A failsafe device assembly, comprising:
- an actuator;
- a capacitor;
- and
- a processing circuit comprising a processor and memory, the memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processing circuit to:
- measure an amount of energy required to return the actuator to a failsafe position;
- measure an effective capacitance of the capacitor;
- compare the amount of energy to the effective capacitance to determine an operational parameter of the actuator;
- and
- operate the actuator according to the operational parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.