Capacitor failure detection
AssigneeNeuronetics, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Testani, Mark Edward Riehl, Frank C. Klingshirn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The inventive technique includes methods, devices and computer-readable media for monitoring a magnetic device. One such device includes a magnetic core for generating a magnetic field, a power supply and a capacitor bank that is charged by the power supply and is for pulsing the magnetic core. The device also includes a processor that measures a charging response of the capacitor bank during charging and determines whether the measured charging response is within a predetermined tolerance of a predetermined charging response.
Claims46
A method for monitoring a magnetic device, the method comprising:
- detecting a charging of a capacitor bank in a magnetic device, wherein the capacitor bank is adapted to pulse a magnetic core to generate a magnetic field;
- measuring a charging response of the capacitor bank during said detected charging;
- comparing the measured charging response to a predetermined charging response;
- determining whether the measured charging response is within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined charging response;
- and
- in response to whether the measured charging response is within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined charging response, starting, modifying, continuing, or stopping operation of the magnetic device.
A magnetic stimulation device, comprising:
- a magnetic core for generating a magnetic field;
- a power supply;
- a capacitor bank for pulsing the magnetic core, wherein the capacitor bank is charged by the power supply;
- and
- a processor that measures a charging response of the capacitor bank during charging and determines whether the measured charging response is within a predetermined tolerance of a predetermined charging response.
A method for monitoring a magnetic device, the method comprising:
- measuring a discharging response of a capacitor bank in a magnetic device during a discharging period, wherein the capacitor bank is adapted to pulse a magnetic core to generate a magnetic field;
- comparing the measured discharging response to a predetermined discharging response;
- determining whether the measured discharging response is within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined discharging response;
- and
- in response to whether the measured discharging response is within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined discharging response, starting, modifying, continuing, or stopping operation of the magnetic device.
A method for monitoring a magnetic device, the method comprising:
- measuring a voltage droop of a capacitor bank in a magnetic device during an inactive period, wherein the capacitor bank is adapted to pulse a magnetic core to generate a magnetic field;
- comparing the measured voltage droop to a predetermined voltage droop;
- determining whether the measured voltage droop is within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined voltage droop;
- and
- in response to whether the measured voltage droop is within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined voltage droop, starting, modifying, continuing, or stopping operation of the magnetic device.
A magnetic stimulation device, comprising:
- a magnetic core for generating a magnetic field;
- a power supply;
- a capacitor bank for pulsing the magnetic core, wherein the capacitor bank is charged by the power supply;
- a test resistor;
- and
- a processor that measures a discharging response of the capacitor bank during discharging of the capacitor bank through the test resistor and determines whether the measured discharging response is within a predetermined tolerance of a predetermined discharging response.
A magnetic stimulation device, comprising:
- a magnetic core for generating a magnetic field;
- a power supply;
- a capacitor bank for pulsing the magnetic core, wherein the capacitor bank is charged by the power supply;
- and
- a processor that measures a voltage droop of the capacitor bank during an inactive period and determines whether the measured voltage droop is within a predetermined tolerance of the predetermined voltage droop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.