Inspection apparatus, inspection method, and inverter apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019288596-A1
Application number	US-201816112580-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2018
Priority date	Mar 19, 2018
Publication date	Sep 19, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an inspection apparatus inspects an inverter circuit including three pairs of arms. The apparatus includes a current controller and a control signal generator. The current controller generates a control output for controlling a current to be output by the inverter circuit. The control output enables the current to approach a target value of the current. The control signal generator generates a first control signal for controlling ON/OFF of a first arm as one of the three pairs of arms based on the control output, a second control signal for fixing a second arm paired with the first arm, in an OFF-state, and a third control signal for fixing at least part of arms other than the first arm and the second arm in an ON-state.

First claim

1 . An inspection apparatus that inspects an inverter circuit including three pairs of arms, the apparatus comprising:
a current controller that generates a control output for controlling a current to be output by the inverter circuit, wherein the control output enables the current to approach a target value of the current; and a control signal generator that generates a first control signal for controlling ON/OFF of a first arm as one of the three pairs of arms based on the control output, a second control signal for fixing a second arm paired with the first arm, in an OFF-state, and a third control signal for fixing at least part of arms other than the first arm and the second arm in an ON-state.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an inspector that inspects the second arm based on at least one of the current and the control output.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the third control signal is supplied to a third arm; the second control signal is further supplied to a fourth, fifth, and sixth arms; the third and fourth arms are connected to a first common power supply terminal shared with the second arm; the fifth and sixth arms are connected to a second common power supply terminal shared with the first arm; and the inspector inspects the second arm based on the control output.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the inspector inspects abnormal heating of the second arm based on a comparison between a value based on the control output and a reference value.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a memory that records a history of the control output, wherein:
the inverter circuit is operable in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a normal mode for rotatably driving an electric motor, and an inspection mode for inspecting abnormal heating in part or all of the three pairs of arms; the current controller and the control signal generator drive the three pairs of arms according to a given pattern after the normal mode is initiated and before the electric motor is rotatably driven; and the reference value is set based on the control output that is recorded in the memory when the three pairs of arms are driven according to the given pattern after the normal mode is initiated and before the electric motor is rotatably driven.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a memory that records a history of the control output, wherein:
the inverter circuit is operable in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including an inspection mode for inspecting abnormal heating in part or all of the three pairs of arms; the inspection mode includes a first phase, a second phase subsequent to the first phase, and a third phase subsequent to the second phase; the current controller and the control signal generator drive the three pairs of arms according to a given pattern in the first phase; the reference value is set based on the control output recorded in the memory, in the first phase; the three pairs of arms are warmed up in the second phase; and the inspection apparatus inspects abnormal heating of the second arm in the third phase.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first control signal is supplied to a third arm as one of two arms that are connected to a common power supply terminal shared with the first arm; the second control signal is supplied to a fourth arm paired with the third arm; and the inspector inspects abnormal heating of the second arm and the fourth arm based on a relation between a first current output from a first node between the first arm and the second arm, and a second current output from a second node between the third arm and the fourth arm.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the third control signal is supplied to a fifth arm that is connected to a common power supply terminal shared with the second arm and the fourth arm; and the second control signal is supplied to a sixth arm paired with the fifth arm.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the inspector inspects abnormal heating of the second arm and the fourth arm based on a comparison of a value based on at least one of a difference between the first current and the second current or a ratio between the first current and the second current, and a reference value.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a memory that records a history of the current, wherein:
the inverter circuit is operable in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a normal mode for rotatably driving an electric motor, and an inspection mode for inspecting abnormal heating in part or all of the three pairs of arms; the current controller and the control signal generator drive the three pairs of arms according to a given pattern after the normal mode is initiated and before the electric motor is rotatably driven; and the reference value is set based on the current that is recorded in the memory when the three pairs of arms are driven according to the given pattern after the normal mode is initiated and before the electric motor is rotatably driven.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a memory that records a history of the current, wherein:
the inverter circuit is operable in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including an inspection mode for inspecting abnormal heating in part or all of the three pairs of arms; the inspection mode includes a first phase, a second phase subsequent to the first phase, and a third phase subsequent to the second phase; the current controller and the control signal generator drive the three pairs of arms according to a given pattern in the first phase; the reference value is set based on the current recorded in the memory, in the first phase; the three pairs of arms are warmed up in the second phase; and the inspection apparatus inspects abnormal heating in the second arm and the fourth arm in the third phase.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a command value generator that changes at least one of a magnitude or a sign of a current command value indicative of the target value, in accordance with switching of a drive pattern for setting an arm as a target for inspection by the inspector.

13 . An inverter apparatus comprising:
the apparatus according to claim 1 ; and
the inverter circuit.

14 . An inspection method that inspects an inverter circuit including three pairs of arms, the inspection method comprising:
generating a control output for controlling a current to be output by the inverter circuit, wherein the control output enables the current to approach a target value of the current; and generating a first control signal for controlling ON/OFF of a first arm as one of the three pairs of arms based on the control output, a second control signal for fixing a second arm paired with the first arm, in an OFF-state, and a third control signal for fixing at least part of arms other than the first arm and the second arm in an ON-state.

15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions of a computer program which when executed by a computer results in performance of steps comprising:
generating a control output for controlling a current to be output by the inverter circuit, wherein the control output enables the current to approach a target value of the current; and generating a first control signal for controlling ON/OFF of a first arm as one of the three pairs of arms based on the control output, a second control signal for fixin

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Yasunaka Shigen
• Takakura Shinji

Classifications

• G01R31/27

  Testing of devices without physical removal from the circuit of which they form part, e.g. compensating for effects surrounding elements {(testing printed circuit boards G01R31/2801)} · CPC title

• G01R19/16571

  comparing AC or DC current with one threshold, e.g. load current, over-current, surge current or fault current (G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533, G01R19/1659 take precedence; measuring currents by using elements sensitive to the magnetic field generated G01R15/14; measuring earth resistance G01R27/18; testing for leakage or short circuits in electrical apparatus G01R31/52) · CPC title

• H02P29/68

  based on the temperature of a drive component or a semiconductor component · CPC title

• H02M7/5387 Primary

  in a bridge configuration · CPC title

• H02M1/32 Primary

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title