Deterioration determination device and deterioration determination method

Abstract

This deterioration determination device (1) determines the presence or absence of deterioration in a constant voltage power source (32) that outputs, to an electronic apparatus having a switching element, an operation voltage for performing a switching operation of a switching element. The deterioration determination device (1) comprises: a signal processing unit (11); and a deterioration determination unit (12). The signal processing unit (11) generates voltage data based on the amplitude of an output voltage (V1) from the output voltage (V1) of the constant voltage power source (32). The deterioration determination unit (12) calculates the activation time of the constant voltage power source (32) from an activation instruction (S1) for the electronic apparatus and the voltage data, and determines the presence or absence of deterioration in the constant voltage power source (32) from the activation time.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a deterioration determination device and a deterioration determination method. [Background technology]

[0002] Railway vehicles are equipped with electronic devices and constant-voltage power supplies that output to the electronic devices operating voltages that enable switching elements in the electronic devices to perform switching operations. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a degradation determination device that determines whether a constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated in order to ensure stable operation of the electronic devices. The degradation detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 detects degradation of a low-voltage power supply device based on the timing when the input voltage of the low-voltage power supply device to be detected rises, the timing when the charging voltage of a smoothing capacitor provided in the low-voltage power supply device rises to a predetermined voltage, and the timing when the output voltage of the low-voltage power supply device rises. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-201934 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The deterioration detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 needs to detect and analyze the voltage of the smoothing capacitor inside the low-voltage power supply device to be detected in addition to the input and output of the low-voltage power supply device to be detected, which makes the method of determining deterioration complicated and the structure of the deterioration detection device complex.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a deterioration determination device and a deterioration determination method that can determine whether or not a constant voltage power supply has deteriorated with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a deterioration determination device according to the present disclosure is a deterioration determination device that determines whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage for performing a switching operation of an electronic device having a switching element has deteriorated, and includes a signal processing unit and a deterioration determination unit. Outputs an operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for performing the switching operation of a switching element, to an electronic device. Output voltage of constant voltage power supply By filtering the waveform data based on a low-pass filter, envelope data in the analog domain that indicates the envelope of the waveform data is generated, and by analog / digital converting the envelope data, The deterioration determination unit generates voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage. against The start-up time of the constant voltage power supply is calculated from the start-up command and voltage data, and the presence or absence of degradation of the constant voltage power supply is determined from the start-up time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The degradation determination device according to the present disclosure calculates the startup time of a constant-voltage power supply from a startup command to an electronic device and voltage data indicating the amplitude of the output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated from the startup time. Because the degradation determination device does not need to acquire electrical physical quantities of elements inside the electronic device, a degradation determination device that can determine whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated can be obtained with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Block diagram of a deterioration determination device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a deterioration determination device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a deterioration determination process performed by the deterioration determination device according to the first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between a start-up command, an output voltage, and a start-up time of a constant-voltage power supply that is a deterioration determination target of the deterioration determination device according to the first embodiment; [Figure 5] Block diagram of a deterioration determination device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] Block diagram of a deterioration determination device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a modification of a deterioration determination device according to an embodiment; [Figure 8]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modification of the hardware configuration of the deterioration determination device according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A deterioration determination device and a deterioration determination method according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) An example of an electronic device having a switching element is a power conversion device mounted on a railway vehicle. A deterioration determination device according to a first embodiment will be described below using as an example a deterioration determination device that determines whether or not a constant-voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage for performing a switching operation of a switching element in a power conversion device has deteriorated. The deterioration determination device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 determines whether or not a constant-voltage power supply 32 that outputs an operating voltage to a power conversion device 20 has deteriorated.

[0011] The power conversion device 20 starts operating in response to the start-up command S1, converts the power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 33, and supplies the converted power to the load device 33. The power conversion device 20 includes a power conversion control circuit 21 that generates a plurality of gate signals to control a plurality of switching elements, respectively, and a power conversion circuit 22 that has a plurality of switching elements and converts the power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 33.

[0012] The power conversion control circuit 21 starts operation and generates a gate signal in response to a start command S1 supplied from the cab. The start command S1 is a signal that instructs the start of the power conversion device 20. The start of the power conversion device 20 includes restarting it. The start command S1 is, for example, a signal that becomes H (High) level a certain time after a switch that instructs the start of railcar operation is operated, and becomes L (Low) level when the railcar operation ends. The switch that instructs the start of railcar operation is, for example, a start switch provided in the cab that raises a pantograph, which is a type of current collector 31, and brings the pantograph into contact with an overhead wire, which is a type of power supply line.

[0013] Each switching element of the power conversion circuit 22 performs a switching operation by being controlled to be on or off by a gate signal output from the power conversion control circuit 21. Each switching element of the power conversion circuit 22 can perform a switching operation by an operating voltage output from the constant voltage power supply 32. Through the switching operation of each switching element, the power conversion circuit 22 converts the power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 33, and supplies the converted power to the load device 33.

[0014] The power conversion circuit 22 has, for example, an inverter circuit that converts DC power supplied from the current collector 31 into AC power and supplies the AC power to the load device 33 .

[0015] The current collector 31 is, for example, a pantograph, a current collector shoe, or the like, and acquires power supplied from a substation via a power supply line. The current collector 31 supplies the acquired power to the power conversion circuit 22 included in the power conversion device 20.

[0016] The load device 33 is an electronic device that consumes power, such as a lighting device, an air conditioner, or an electric motor mounted on a railway vehicle.

[0017] The constant voltage power supply 32 starts operating in response to the start-up of the power conversion device 20. In particular, when a start-up command S1 to the power conversion device 20 becomes an H level, the constant voltage power supply 32 starts operating and outputs an operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for performing a switching operation of a switching element, to the power conversion circuit 22 included in the power conversion device 20.

[0018] The deterioration determination device 1 determines whether or not there is deterioration in the constant-voltage power supply 32. The deterioration determination device 1 includes a signal processing unit 11 that generates voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage V1 from the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply 32, and a deterioration determination unit 12 that calculates the startup time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 from the startup command S1 and the voltage data and determines whether or not there is deterioration in the constant-voltage power supply 32 from the startup time.

[0019] The signal processing unit 11 performs signal processing on the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply to generate voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage. In the first embodiment, the signal processing unit 11 performs filtering on waveform data indicating the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply using an LPF (Low Pass Filter) to generate analog domain envelope data indicating the envelope of the waveform data. The signal processing unit 11 performs A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion on the analog domain envelope data to generate digital domain voltage data. The signal processing unit 11 sends the generated voltage data to the deterioration determination unit 12.

[0020] The deterioration determiner 12 acquires a start-up command S1 for the power conversion device 20 and acquires voltage data from the signal processor 11. The deterioration determiner 12 determines the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 from the start-up command S1 for the power conversion device 20 and the voltage data. In detail, the deterioration determiner 12 determines the start-up time as the period from when the start-up command S1 commands the start-up of the power conversion device 20 until the amplitude indicated by the voltage data reaches a threshold value. The threshold value is determined according to the rated operating voltage required for the power conversion device 20 to perform the switching operation of multiple switching elements.

[0021] The deterioration determination unit 12 determines whether the constant-voltage power supply 32 has deteriorated based on the startup time of the constant-voltage power supply 32. The deterioration determination unit 12 outputs the determination result to an output device, external equipment, etc. (not shown). As a result, for example, an output device having a display screen can display the determination result on the screen, thereby making it possible to prompt maintenance work on the constant-voltage power supply 32.

[0022] The hardware configuration of the deterioration determination device 1 having the above-described configuration is shown in FIG. 2. The deterioration determination device 1 includes a processor 91, a memory 92, and an interface 93. The processor 91, the memory 92, and the interface 93 are connected to one another via a bus 90. The functions of each unit of the deterioration determination device 1 are realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and firmware are written as programs and stored in the memory 92. The processor 91 reads and executes the programs stored in the memory 92, thereby realizing the functions of each unit described above. That is, the memory 92 stores programs for executing the processing of each unit of the deterioration determination device 1.

[0023] The memory 92 includes, for example, non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read-Only Memory), magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, mini disk, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc.

[0024] The deterioration determination device 1 is connected to the constant voltage power supply 32 via an interface 93, and receives a start-up command S1. The interface 93 has an interface module that complies with one or more standards depending on the connected device.

[0025] The deterioration determination device 1 having the above configuration starts the process of determining whether or not there is deterioration shown in Figure 3 when the railway vehicle begins operation, specifically when an activation switch is operated to raise the pantograph, which is a type of current collector 31, and bring the pantograph into contact with the overhead wire, which is a type of power supply line.

[0026] The deterioration determining unit 12 determines whether the start-up command is at H level (step S11). While the start-up command is at L level (step S11; No), the deterioration determining unit 12 repeats the process of step S11.

[0027] When the start-up command becomes H level (step S11; Yes), the deterioration determiner 12 stores the timing when the start-up command became H level (step S12). As shown in graph A of FIG. 4, when the start-up command S1 becomes H level at time T1, the deterioration determiner 12 stores the time T1 at that time. As shown in graph B of FIG. 4, when the start-up command S1 becomes H level, the constant-voltage power supply 32 starts outputting an operating voltage to the power conversion circuit 22. The amplitude of the AC voltage output by the constant-voltage power supply 32 gradually increases.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, after the startup command becomes H level, the signal processing unit 11 measures the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply 32 (step S13). The signal processing unit 11 performs LPF-based filtering on analog domain waveform data indicating the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply 32 (step S14). By performing LPF-based filtering and digital conversion, voltage data indicating the envelope of the waveform data of the output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply 32 shown in graph B is obtained, as shown in graph C of Fig. 4. The signal processing unit 11 sends the voltage data to the deterioration determination unit 12.

[0029] 3, the deterioration determination unit 12 determines whether the amplitude of the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply 32 indicated by the voltage data has reached a threshold value (step S15). While the amplitude of the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply 32 has not reached the threshold value (step S15; No), the deterioration determination device 1 repeats the above-described process from step S13.

[0030] When the amplitude of the output voltage V1 of the constant voltage power supply 32 reaches the threshold value (step S15; Yes), the deterioration determination unit 12 calculates the start-up time as the time from the start-up timing stored in step S12 to the timing at which the amplitude of the output voltage of the constant voltage power supply 32 reaches the threshold value (step S16).

[0031] As shown in graph C of Figure 4, at time T2, when the amplitude of the output voltage V1 of the constant voltage power supply 32 indicated by the voltage data reaches the threshold value Th, the deterioration determination unit 12 determines the length of time τ1 from time T1 to time T2 as the startup time.

[0032] 3, the deterioration determination unit 12 determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply 32 has deteriorated from the start-up time calculated in step S16 (step S17). Specifically, the deterioration determination unit 12 determines whether or not the start-up time calculated in step S17 is equal to or greater than a reference time. The reference time is determined according to the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 without deterioration, measured, for example, immediately after the start of operation of the railway vehicle or during a test run before operation of the railway vehicle. Specifically, the reference time may be a value obtained by multiplying the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 without deterioration by a coefficient greater than 1, for example, a coefficient greater than 1 and less than 1.5.

[0033] When the process of step S17 is completed, the deterioration determination device 1 terminates the deterioration determination process. The deterioration determination device 1 performs the above-described process when the start command S1 changes from L level to H level, for example, when the railcar starts operating, when the constant-voltage power supply 32 is restarted in conjunction with the restart of the power conversion device 20, etc.

[0034] As described above, the deterioration determination device 1 according to the first embodiment determines the start-up time as the time from when the start-up command S1 changes from L level to H level to when the amplitude of the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply 32 reaches a threshold, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply 32 has deteriorated based on the start-up time. The deterioration determination device 1 can determine the start-up time based on whether or not voltage data representing the envelope of waveform data obtained by performing LPF-based filtering on waveform data representing the output voltage V1 of the constant-voltage power supply 32 and digitally converting the waveform data reaches a threshold. The deterioration determination device 1 does not need to measure the electrical physical quantities of the internal elements of the constant-voltage power supply 32 or analyze the waveform data. This simplifies the configuration of the deterioration determination device 1.

[0035] As described above, the deterioration determination device 1 does not need to acquire electrical physical quantities of elements inside the constant-voltage power supply 32. This makes it possible to newly install in a railway vehicle the deterioration determination device 1 that determines whether or not an existing constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated, without making any changes to the existing constant-voltage power supply.

[0036] (Embodiment 2) The deterioration determination performed by the deterioration determination device 1 is not limited to determining whether or not there is deterioration, but may also include determining whether or not there are signs of deterioration. The deterioration determination device 2 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 includes, in addition to the configuration of the deterioration determination device 1 according to the first embodiment, a sign determination unit 13 that determines whether or not there are signs of deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32. The hardware configuration of the deterioration determination device 2 is the same as that of the deterioration determination device 1.

[0037] The deterioration determination unit 12 calculates the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 every time the start-up command S1 instructs the start-up of the power conversion device 20. The symptom determination unit 13 acquires the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 and the determination result from the deterioration determination unit 12 every time the deterioration determination unit 12 determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply 32 has deteriorated. The symptom determination unit 13 determines whether or not there is a sign of deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32 according to a change over time in the start-up time. In the second embodiment, the symptom determination unit 13 determines whether or not there is a sign of deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32 according to a change over time in the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 since the start of operation of the railway vehicle. It is assumed that the symptom determination unit 13 previously stores information indicating the start time of operation of the railway vehicle, such as the start date of operation of the railway vehicle and the end date of test running.

[0038] Each time the symptom determination unit 13 obtains the start-up time from the deterioration determination unit 12, it calculates a moving average of the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 and determines whether the moving average of the start-up time is on an increasing trend. If the moving average of the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32 is on an increasing trend, it can be determined that a sign of deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32 is occurring. For example, the symptom determination unit 13 calculates a linear approximation equation from the elapsed time since the start of operation of the railway vehicle and the moving average of the start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply 32, and determines whether the slope of the calculated linear approximation equation is within a target range. The target range may be determined according to the rate of increase in the start-up time when deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32 occurs. For example, half the rate of increase in the start-up time when deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32 occurs may be set as the upper limit of the target range. The rate of increase in the start-up time when deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32 occurs can be determined by accelerated deterioration tests, simulations, etc.

[0039] The symptom determination unit 13 outputs the determination result to an output device, an external device, etc., similarly to the deterioration determination unit 12. As a result, for example, an output device having a display screen can display the determination result on the screen, thereby urging maintenance work on the constant-voltage power supply 32.

[0040] The deterioration determination process performed by the deterioration determination device 2 is similar to the deterioration determination process performed by the deterioration determination device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3. However, in step S17 shown in Fig. 3, the deterioration determination unit 12 determines whether or not there is deterioration, and the symptom determination unit 13 determines whether or not there is a symptom of deterioration.

[0041] As described above, the deterioration determination device 2 according to the second embodiment can determine whether or not there are signs of deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32, based on changes over time in the startup time of the constant-voltage power supply 32. Therefore, for example, by issuing a warning of signs of deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32, it becomes possible to prompt maintenance work on the constant-voltage power supply 32 before deterioration of the constant-voltage power supply 32 actually occurs.

[0042] (Embodiment 3) The deterioration determination device may determine whether or not each of the multiple constant-voltage power supplies has deteriorated based on the startup time of the multiple constant-voltage power supplies. The deterioration determination device 3 shown in Fig. 6 determines whether or not each of the multiple constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 that output operating voltages for performing switching operations of switching elements to the multiple power conversion devices 20, 40, and 60 has deteriorated.

[0043] The power conversion devices 20, 40, and 60 are electronic devices mounted on the same vehicle, specifically the same railway vehicle. Like the power conversion device 20, the power conversion device 40 starts operation in response to a start-up command S2, converts power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 35, and supplies the converted power to the load device 35. The power conversion device 40 includes a power conversion control circuit 41 that generates gate signals to control switching elements, and a power conversion circuit 42 that has a plurality of switching elements and converts power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 35.

[0044] The power conversion control circuit 41 generates a gate signal in response to a start command S2 supplied from the driver's cab. The start command S2 is a signal that instructs the start of the power conversion device 40. The start of the power conversion device 40 includes restarting it. The start command S2 is a signal that goes to H level after a certain time has elapsed since a switch that instructs the start of railcar operation is operated, and goes to L level when the railcar operation ends.

[0045] The multiple switching elements included in the power conversion circuit 42 perform switching operations by being respectively on / off controlled by gate signals output from the power conversion control circuit 41. The switching operations of the switching elements of the power conversion circuit 42 are enabled by the operating voltage output from the constant voltage power supply 34. The power conversion circuit 42 converts the power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 35 through the switching operations of the switching elements, and supplies the converted power to the load device 35.

[0046] Like the power conversion device 20, the power conversion device 60 starts operation in response to the start-up command S3, converts the power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 37, and supplies the converted power to the load device 37. The power conversion device 60 includes a power conversion control circuit 61 that generates a gate signal for controlling a switching element, and a power conversion circuit 62 that has a plurality of switching elements and converts the power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 37.

[0047] The power conversion control circuit 61 generates a gate signal in response to a start command S3 supplied from the cab. The start command S3 is a signal that instructs the start of the power conversion device 60. The start of the power conversion device 60 includes restarting it. The start command S3 is a signal that goes high a certain time after a switch that instructs the start of railcar operation is operated, and goes low when the railcar operation ends, for example.

[0048] The multiple switching elements included in the power conversion circuit 62 perform switching operations by being respectively controlled to be on or off by gate signals output from the power conversion control circuit 61. The switching operations of the switching elements of the power conversion circuit 62 are enabled by the operating voltage output from the constant voltage power supply 36. The power conversion circuit 62 converts the power supplied from the current collector 31 into power to be supplied to the load device 37 through the switching operations of the switching elements, and supplies the converted power to the load device 37.

[0049] Like the load device 33, the load devices 35 and 37 are electronic devices that consume power, such as lighting equipment, air conditioning equipment, and electric motors mounted on a railway vehicle.

[0050] The constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 output operating voltages to the corresponding power conversion devices 20, 40, and 60, respectively. The constant-voltage power supplies 34 and 36 are configured similarly to the constant-voltage power supply 32. The constant-voltage power supply 34 starts operating when the power conversion device 40 is started up. In particular, the constant-voltage power supply 34 starts operating when a start-up command S2 for the power conversion device 40 goes to H level, and outputs an operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for performing the switching operation of the switching element, to the power conversion circuit 42 included in the power conversion device 40.

[0051] The constant voltage power supply 36 starts operating in response to the start-up of the power conversion device 60. In particular, the constant voltage power supply 36 starts operating when a start-up command S3 for the power conversion device 60 goes to H level, and outputs an operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for performing a switching operation of a switching element, to the power conversion circuit 62 included in the power conversion device 60.

[0052] The deterioration determination device 3 determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36 have deteriorated based on the start-up times of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36. The deterioration determination device 3 includes a signal processing unit 14 that generates voltage data based on the amplitudes of the output voltages V1, V2, V3 from the output voltages V1, V2, V3 of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36, respectively. The deterioration determination device 3 further includes a deterioration determination unit 15 that calculates the start-up times of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36 from the start-up commands S1, S2, S3 and the voltage data of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36 have deteriorated based on the start-up times. The hardware configuration of the deterioration determination device 3 is the same as that of the deterioration determination device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0053] The signal processing unit 14 performs LPF-based filtering and A / D conversion on waveform data indicating the output voltages V1, V2, and V3 of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36, respectively, to generate voltage data indicating the envelope of the waveform data of the output voltages of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36. The signal processing unit 14 sends the generated voltage data of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 to the deterioration determination unit 15.

[0054] The deterioration determiner 15 acquires start-up commands S1, S2, S3 for the power conversion devices 20, 40, 60, respectively, and acquires voltage data of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36 from the signal processor 14. The deterioration determiner 15 determines the start-up time of each of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36 from the start-up commands S1, S2, S3 for the power conversion devices 20, 40, 60, respectively, and the voltage data of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, 36. The method for determining the start-up time is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0055] The deterioration determination unit 15 determines whether the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 are deteriorated based on the variation in the start-up time. As an example, the deterioration determination unit 15 determines the deviation of the start-up time of each of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36, and determines whether the deviation is equal to or greater than a reference deviation. The reference deviation is determined, for example, according to the difference in start-up time between a deteriorated constant-voltage power supply and a constant-voltage power supply that is not deteriorated. The start-up time of a deteriorated constant-voltage power supply can be determined by an accelerated deterioration test, a simulation, or the like. If the deviation is equal to or greater than the reference deviation, it can be determined that deterioration has occurred.

[0056] The deterioration determination process performed by the deterioration determination device 3 is similar to the deterioration determination process performed by the deterioration determination device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3. However, the processes of steps S12 to S16 shown in Fig. 3 are performed for each of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36. In step S17, the deterioration determination unit 15 determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 have deteriorated based on the variation in the start-up time, as described above.

[0057] As described above, the deterioration determination device 3 according to the third embodiment can determine whether the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 have deteriorated based on the variation in the startup times of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36.

[0058] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The above-described embodiments can be combined as desired. As an example, the deterioration determination unit 15 included in the deterioration determination device 3 may determine the presence or absence of deterioration of each of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 based on the start-up times of each of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36, similarly to the first embodiment. As another example, the deterioration determination device 3 may further include the symptom determination unit 13 included in the deterioration determination device 2 according to the second embodiment, and the symptom determination unit 13 may determine the presence or absence of a sign of deterioration of each of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36 based on the start-up times of each of the constant-voltage power supplies 32, 34, and 36.

[0059] The above hardware configuration and flowchart are merely examples and can be changed and modified as desired. As an example, the constant-voltage power supply 32 shown in FIG. 7 outputs an operating voltage to the command generation control circuit 23 included in the power conversion device 20. The command generation control circuit 23 receives a gate signal from the power conversion control circuit 21 and receives an operating voltage from the constant-voltage power supply 32. The command generation control circuit 23 outputs the operating voltage to the power conversion circuit 22 based on the operating voltage supplied from the constant-voltage power supply 32. The command generation control circuit 23 sends a gate signal for controlling a switching element to the power conversion circuit 22 based on the gate signal acquired from the power conversion control circuit 21.

[0060] The configuration and implementation of the deterioration determination device 1-3 are not limited to the above-described examples. As one example, the deterioration determination device 1-3 may be implemented as a function of a train information management system mounted on a railway vehicle. As another example, the deterioration determination device 1-3 may be provided as wayside equipment, for example, in a train operation control center. As another example, the signal processing units 11 and 14 provided in the deterioration determination device 1-3 may be mounted on a railway vehicle, and the deterioration determination units 12 and 15 and the symptom determination unit 13 provided in the deterioration determination device 1-3 may be provided as wayside equipment.

[0061] When the power converters 20, 40, 60 are started by a common start command, the deterioration determination device 3 may use the timing when the common start command becomes H level as the start timing of the start time of each constant voltage power supply 32, 34, 36.

[0062] The configuration of the power conversion circuits 22, 42, 62 is not limited to the above example. As an example, the power conversion circuits 22, 42, 62 are not limited to those having an inverter circuit, and may have a converter circuit that converts AC power supplied from the current collector 31 into DC power, and an inverter circuit that converts the DC power output by the converter circuit into AC power. As another example, the power conversion circuits 22, 42, 62 may be DC (Direct Current)-DC converters. The number of switching elements included in the power conversion circuits 22, 42, 62 is arbitrary.

[0063] The core part of the control processing, which has the processor 91, memory 92, and interface 93, can be realized by using an ordinary computer system rather than a dedicated system. For example, a computer program for executing the above-described operations may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium (such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), or a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc-Read Only Memory)), and the deterioration determination device 1-3 that executes the above-described processing may be realized by installing the computer program on a computer. Alternatively, the deterioration determination device 1-3 may be realized by storing the computer program in a storage device of a server device on a communication network and downloading it to an ordinary computer system.

[0064] If the functions of the deterioration determination device 1-3 are realized by sharing the functions between an OS (Operating System) and an application program, or by collaboration between the OS and an application program, only the application program portion may be stored on a recording medium, storage device, etc.

[0065] It is also possible to superimpose a computer program on a carrier wave and distribute it via a communication network. For example, the computer program may be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communication network and distributed via the communication network. The computer program may then be started and executed under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby executing the above-described processing.

[0066] The deterioration determination device 1-3 may be realized by a processing circuit 94 as shown in FIG. 8. The processing circuit 94 is connected to the constant-voltage power supply 32 via an interface circuit 95 and receives the startup command S1. When the processing circuit 94 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuit 94 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. Each unit of the deterioration determination device 1 may be realized by a separate processing circuit 94, or each unit of the deterioration determination device 1 may be realized by a common processing circuit 94.

[0067] Some of the functions of the deterioration determination device 1 may be realized by dedicated hardware, and other functions may be realized by software or firmware. For example, the signal processing unit 11 may be realized by a processing circuit 94 shown in Fig. 8, and the deterioration determination unit 12 may be realized by a processor 91 shown in Fig. 2 reading and executing a program stored in a memory 92. Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices. (Appendix 1) 1. A deterioration determination device for determining whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage to an electronic device having a switching element for performing a switching operation of the switching element is deteriorated, comprising: a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on an output voltage of the constant voltage power supply to generate voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage; a degradation determination unit that determines a startup time of the constant-voltage power supply from a startup command that instructs the electronic device to start up and the voltage data, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated based on the startup time; A deterioration determination device comprising: (Appendix 2) The deterioration determination unit calculates, as the startup time, a time period from when the startup command instructs startup of the electronic device to when the amplitude indicated by the voltage data reaches a threshold value determined according to a rated operating voltage required for the electronic device to perform a switching operation of the switching element. 2. The deterioration determination device according to claim 1. (Appendix 3) the signal processing unit generates analog domain envelope data indicating an envelope of the waveform data by performing filtering based on a low-pass filter on waveform data indicating an output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply that outputs the operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for performing a switching operation of the switching element to the electronic device, and generates the voltage data in a digital domain by analog-to-digital converting the envelope data; 3. The deterioration determination device according to claim 1 or 2. (Appendix 4) 1. A deterioration determination device for determining whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage to an electronic device having a switching element for performing a switching operation of the switching element is deteriorated, comprising: a signal processing unit that generates analog domain envelope data that indicates an envelope of the waveform data by performing filtering using a low-pass filter on waveform data that indicates an output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply that outputs the operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for performing a switching operation of the switching element to the electronic device, and that generates digital domain voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage by analog-to-digital converting the envelope data; a degradation determination unit that determines a startup time of the constant-voltage power supply from a startup command to the electronic device and the voltage data, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated based on the startup time; A deterioration determination device comprising: (Appendix 5) the signal processing unit generates the voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage of each of the constant voltage power supplies, each of which outputs an operating voltage to a corresponding one of the electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices mounted on the same vehicle, for the corresponding one of the constant voltage power supplies to perform a switching operation of the switching element of the corresponding one of the electronic devices; the deterioration determination unit calculates the start-up time for each constant-voltage power supply from a start-up command to the electronic device and the voltage data of the constant-voltage power supply that outputs the operating voltage to the electronic device, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated based on a variation in the start-up time. 5. A deterioration determination device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4. (Appendix 6) 1. A deterioration determination device for determining whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage to an electronic device having a switching element for performing a switching operation of the switching element is deteriorated, comprising: a signal processing unit that generates voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage of each of the constant voltage power supplies, each of which outputs an operating voltage to a corresponding one of the electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices mounted on the same vehicle, for the electronic device to perform a switching operation of the switching element of the corresponding one of the electronic devices; a degradation determination unit that calculates a startup time of each constant-voltage power supply from a startup command for the electronic device and the voltage data of the constant-voltage power supply that outputs the operating voltage to the electronic device, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated based on variations in the startup time; A deterioration determination device comprising: (Appendix 7) the deterioration determination unit calculates the startup time every time the startup command instructs startup of the electronic device; a symptom determination unit that determines whether or not there is a symptom of deterioration of the constant voltage power supply based on the change over time of the startup time obtained by the deterioration determination unit. 7. A deterioration determination device according to any one of appendices 1 to 6. (Appendix 8) 1. A deterioration determination device for determining whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage to an electronic device having a switching element for performing a switching operation of the switching element is deteriorated, comprising: a signal processing unit that generates voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage of the constant voltage power supply; a degradation determination unit that, every time a startup command for the electronic device instructs startup of the electronic device, calculates a startup time of the constant-voltage power supply from the startup command and the voltage data, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated from the startup time; a symptom determination unit that determines whether or not there is a symptom of deterioration of the constant voltage power supply based on the change over time of the startup time obtained by the deterioration determination unit; A deterioration determination device comprising: (Appendix 9) generating voltage data indicating the amplitude of an output voltage from a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage for performing a switching operation of the switching element to an electronic device having the switching element, by performing signal processing on the output voltage; a start-up command for instructing the electronic device to start up and a start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply are calculated from the voltage data, and the start-up time is used to determine whether the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated; Deterioration determination method.

[0068] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1,2,3 Deterioration determination device, 11,14 Signal processing unit, 12,15 Deterioration determination unit, 13 Symptom determination unit, 20,40,60 Power conversion device, 21,41,61 Power conversion control circuit, 22,42,62 Power conversion circuit, 23 Command generation control circuit, 31 Current collector, 32,34,36 Constant voltage power supply, 33,35,37 Load device, 90 Bus, 91 Processor, 92 Memory, 93 Interface, 94 Processing circuit, 95 Interface circuit, S1,S2,S3 Start command, V1,V2,V3 Output voltage.

Claims

1. 1. A deterioration determination device for determining whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage to an electronic device having a switching element for performing a switching operation of the switching element is deteriorated, comprising: a signal processing unit that generates analog domain envelope data that indicates an envelope of the waveform data by performing filtering using a low-pass filter on waveform data that indicates an output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply that outputs the operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for performing a switching operation of the switching element to the electronic device, and that generates digital domain voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage by analog-to-digital converting the envelope data; a degradation determination unit that determines a startup time of the constant-voltage power supply from a startup command to the electronic device and the voltage data, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated based on the startup time; A deterioration determination device comprising:

2. The deterioration determination unit calculates, as the startup time, a time period from when the startup command instructs startup of the electronic device to when the amplitude indicated by the voltage data reaches a threshold value determined according to a rated operating voltage required for the electronic device to perform a switching operation of the switching element. The deterioration determination device according to claim 1 .

3. the signal processing unit generates the voltage data based on the amplitude of a waveform of the output voltage from a plurality of the constant voltage power supplies, each of which outputs an operating voltage to a corresponding one of the plurality of electronic devices mounted on the same vehicle for performing a switching operation of the switching element of the corresponding one of the electronic devices; the deterioration determination unit calculates the start-up time for each constant-voltage power supply from a start-up command to the electronic device and the voltage data of the constant-voltage power supply that outputs the operating voltage to the electronic device, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated based on a variation in the start-up time. The deterioration determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 1. A deterioration determination device for determining whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage to an electronic device having a switching element for performing a switching operation of the switching element is deteriorated, comprising: a signal processing unit that generates voltage data based on the amplitude of a waveform of an output voltage of each of the constant voltage power supplies, the constant voltage power supplies outputting operating voltages to the corresponding electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices mounted on the same vehicle, for performing a switching operation of the switching elements of the corresponding electronic devices; a degradation determination unit that calculates a startup time of each constant-voltage power supply from a startup command for the electronic device and the voltage data of the constant-voltage power supply that outputs the operating voltage to the electronic device, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated based on variations in the startup time; A deterioration determination device comprising:

5. the deterioration determination unit calculates the startup time every time the startup command instructs startup of the electronic device; a symptom determination unit that determines whether or not there is a symptom of deterioration of the constant voltage power supply based on the change over time of the startup time obtained by the deterioration determination unit.

5. The deterioration determination device according to claim 1, 2 or 4.

6. 1. A deterioration determination device for determining whether or not a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage to an electronic device having a switching element for performing a switching operation of the switching element is deteriorated, comprising: a signal processing unit that generates voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage of the constant voltage power supply; a degradation determination unit that, every time a startup command for the electronic device instructs startup of the electronic device, calculates a startup time of the constant-voltage power supply from the startup command and the voltage data, and determines whether or not the constant-voltage power supply has deteriorated from the startup time; a symptom determination unit that determines whether or not there is a symptom of deterioration of the constant voltage power supply based on the change over time of the startup time obtained by the deterioration determination unit; A deterioration determination device comprising:

7. a constant voltage power supply that outputs an operating voltage, which is an AC voltage for switching an electronic device having a switching element, to an electronic device by filtering the waveform data using a low-pass filter to generate analog domain envelope data that indicates an envelope of the waveform data, and an analog / digital conversion of the envelope data to generate digital domain voltage data based on the amplitude of the output voltage; a start-up time of the constant-voltage power supply is calculated from the start-up command to the electronic device and the voltage data, and the presence or absence of degradation of the constant-voltage power supply is determined from the start-up time; Deterioration determination method.

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