Electronic apparatus, a method for deciding a failure, and a method for estimating a fatigue life

A method for deciding a failure in an electronic apparatus, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises

• a first pair of electrodes having a first electrode and a second electrode,
• a second pair of electrodes disposed in parallel with the first pair, the second pair having a third electrode and a fourth electrode,
• a third pair of electrodes disposed between the first pair and the second pair in parallel with the first pair and the second pair, the third pair having a fifth electrode and a sixth electrode,
• a first wire electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode,
• a second wire electrically connecting the third electrode and the fourth electrode,
• a third wire electrically connecting the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode,
• a storage storing parameters representing a fatigue characteristic of the first wire and the second wire, and an estimated fatigue damage value of the first wire and the second wire when the first wire and the second wire are respectively broken,
• a load detection unit detecting a load applied to the first wire and the second wire,
• and
• a gel covering the first wire, the second wire, and the third wire;
• the method comprising:
• determining a break or an impending break of the third wire by detecting a break of at least one of the first wire and the second wire;
• deciding that the electronic apparatus is under a failure status or an impending status of failure when the break status is detected;
• when the break status of one of the first wire and the second wire is detected, calculating a fatigue damage value of the one by using the fatigue characteristic parameters and the load of the one;
• calculating an error between the fatigue damage value and the estimated fatigue damage value of the one;
• and
• correcting the fatigue damage value of the third wire by using the error.

A method for estimating a fatigue life in an electronic apparatus, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises

• a first pair of electrodes having a first electrode and a second electrode,
• a second pair of electrodes disposed in parallel with the first pair, the second pair having a third electrode and a fourth electrode,
• a third pair of electrodes disposed between the first pair and the second pair in parallel with the first pair and the second pair, the third pair having a fifth electrode and a sixth electrode,
• a first wire electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode,
• a second wire electrically connecting the third electrode and the fourth electrode,
• a third wire electrically connecting the fifth electrode and the sixth electrode,
• a gel covering the first wire, the second wire, and the third wire,
• a storage storing a parameter representing a fatigue characteristic of the third wire, parameters representing a fatigue characteristic of the first wire and the second wire, and an estimated fatigue damage value of the first wire and the second wire when the first wire and the second wire are respectively broken,
• and
• a load detection unit configured to detect a load applied to the third wire and to detect a load applied to the first wire and the second wire;
• the method comprising:
• determining a break or an impending break of the third wire by detecting a break of at least one of the first wire and the second wire;
• calculating a fatigue damage value of the third wire by using the fatigue characteristic parameter and the load;
• when the break status of one of the first wire and the second wire is detected, calculating a fatigue damage value of the one by using the fatigue characteristic parameters and the load of the one;
• calculating an error between the fatigue damage value and the estimated fatigue damage value of the one;
• correcting the fatigue damage value of the third wire by using the error;
• and
• estimating a fatigue life of the third wire by using the fatigue damage value.

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• a first pair of electrodes having a first electrode and a second electrode;
• a second pair of electrodes disposed in parallel with the first pair, the second pair having a third electrode and a fourth electrode;
• a first wire electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a second wire electrically connecting the third electrode and the fourth electrode;
• a gel covering the first wire and the second wire;
• a storage that stores a parameter representing a fatigue characteristic of the second wire;
• a first detection unit that detects a break status of the first wire;
• a second detection unit that detects a load applied to the second wire;
• a calculation unit that, when the break status of the first wire is detected, calculates a fatigue damage value of the second wire by using the parameter and the load;
• and
• an estimation unit that estimates a fatigue life of the second wire by using the fatigue damage value, wherein
• the storage stores parameters represent a fatigue characteristic of the first wire, and an estimated fatigue damage value of the first wire when the first wire is broken,
• the second detection unit detects a load applied to the first wire, and
• the calculation unit, when the break status of the first wire is detected:
• calculates a fatigue damage value of the first wire by using the first wire fatigue characteristic parameter and the load of the first wire,
• calculates an error between the calculated fatigue damage value and the estimated fatigue damage value, and
• corrects the fatigue damage value of the second wire by using the error.