Method, computer program and device for monitoring an inductive component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023288269-A1
Application number	US-202117996351-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2021
Priority date	Apr 17, 2020
Publication date	Sep 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method ( 100 ) in particular for checking a mechanical stress acting on an inductive component ( 210 ). The method ( 100 ) comprises sensing ( 110 ) one or more measured quantities dependent on the mechanical stress when an electrical excitation signal is applied to the inductive component ( 210 ). Further, the method ( 100 ) comprises determining ( 120 ) the mechanical stress acting on the inductive component ( 210 ) based on the one or more sensed measured quantities.

First claim

1 . A method in particular for checking a mechanical stress acting on an inductive component, the method comprising:
sensing one or more measured quantities dependent on the mechanical stress when an electrical excitation signal is applied to the inductive component; and determining the mechanical stress acting on the inductive component based on the one or more sensed measured quantities.

2 . The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more measured quantities comprise vibration information about mechanical vibrations of the inductive component when the electrical excitation signal is applied; wherein determining the mechanical stress comprises determining the mechanical stress based on the vibration information.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the vibration information comprises at least a frequency, a frequency spectrum, an amplitude or fundamental, an overtone or undertone of the mechanical vibration.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method comprises sensing the vibration information based on an airborne sound generated by the inductive component.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method comprises sensing the vibration information based on a structure-borne sound generated by the inductive component.

6 . The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more measured quantities dependent on the mechanical stress comprise an electrical impedance of the inductive component; and wherein determining the mechanical stress comprises determining the mechanical stress based on the electrical impedance.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the mechanical stress based on the one or more measured quantities comprises determining the mechanical stress based on a comparison of the electrical excitation signal to the one or more measured quantities.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising identifying one or more influencing quantities that influence the one or more measured quantities when the electrical excitation signal is applied, wherein determining the mechanical stress comprises determining the mechanical stress based on the one or more influencing quantities and the one or more measured quantities.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:
configuring a data processing structure for determining the mechanical stress acting on the inductive component based on the one or more measured quantities by means of machine learning using the one or more measured quantities and one or more reference values for the mechanical stress of the inductive component as input quantities for the machine learning.

10 . The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the inductive component comprises at least one coil on which the mechanical stress acts, the method comprising:
sensing the one or more measured quantities dependent on the mechanical stress when the electrical excitation signal is applied to the at least one coil; and
determining the mechanical stress acting on the at least one coil based on the one or more sensed measured quantities.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one coil is configured to inductively heat a molten material arranged within the at least one coil when the electrical excitation signal is applied to the at least one coil.

12 . The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein sensing the one or more measured quantities comprises sensing one or more first measured values of the one or more measured quantities at a first time and sensing one or more second measured values of the one or more measured quantities at a second time; and wherein determining the mechanical stress comprises determining the mechanical stress based on a comparison of the one or more first measured values to the one or more second measured values.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising identifying a maintenance requirement of the inductive component and/or one or more elements coupled to the inductive component based on the one or more measured quantities.

14 . A computer program adapted to execute the method according to claim 1 when executed on a processor.

15 . An apparatus for checking a mechanical stress of an inductive component, the apparatus comprising:
one or more sensors for sensing one or more measured quantities dependent on the mechanical stress when an electrical excitation signal is applied to the inductive component; and at least one processor for determining the mechanical stress acting on the inductive component based on the one or more sensed measured quantities.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 15 ,
wherein the one or more measured quantities comprise vibration information about mechanical vibrations of the inductive component when the electrical excitation signal is applied; and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the mechanical stress based on the vibration information.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 15 ,
wherein the one or more measured quantities dependent on the mechanical stress comprise an electrical impedance of the inductive component; and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the mechanical stress based on the electrical impedance.

Assignees

• Fraunhofer Ges Forschung

Inventors

• Kaal William
• Friedmann Andreas

Classifications

• G01L1/255 Primary

  using acoustic waves, or acoustic emission (G01L1/10 and G01L1/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01M5/0041

  by determining deflection or stress · CPC title

• G01M5/0066

  by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration (vibration testing of structures G01M7/00) · CPC title

• G01L5/0076

  Force sensors associated with manufacturing machines (G01L5/0066, G01L5/0071 and B23Q17/09 take precedence; for the specific machine or operation involved see relevant class, e.g. B21 - B42) · CPC title

• G01L1/14

  by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators · CPC title