Extreme Temperature Response Spectrum for Thermal Inertia Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to accurately account for actual thermal conditions and thermal inertia of equipment, leading to overdesigning for severe thermal conditions, as they require extensive, impractical long-term campaigns to measure real-life temperature variations worldwide.

Innovation Solution

A diagnostic tool using an extreme temperature response spectrum is developed, comprising steps to receive, process, and compare temperature curves to determine thermal conditions, utilizing a first-order filter and characteristic time to generate a representative extreme temperature response spectrum.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If long-term temperature measurement campaigns are conducted at multiple geographical locations to obtain accurate thermal conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conditions measurementVSAvoidcampaign duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the complex thermal environment by using a simplified mathematical model (first-order filter) that replicates the effect of long-term measurements. Instead of conducting actual multi-year campaigns, the invention copies the essential thermal behavior through the filtering operation, which processes available temperature data to produce the extreme temperature response spectrum that would otherwise require extensive field measurements to obtain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the physical measurement system (temperature sensors deployed in field campaigns over years) with a computational system. The mechanical/physical process of long-term monitoring is substituted by mathematical filtering operations applied to temperature curves, where the first-order filter with characteristic time constant Tau computationally extracts the extreme temperature values that would otherwise require prolonged physical measurement to capture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If long-term temperature measurement campaigns are conducted at multiple geographical locations to obtain accurate thermal conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conditions measurementVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex physical measurement infrastructure (multiple sensors, deployment logistics, long-term monitoring systems) with a simple computational filter. The first-order filter with characteristic time constant Tau provides a mathematically elegant solution that eliminates the need for complex measurement campaigns, reducing device complexity from a multi-component field measurement system to a single mathematical operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from measuring physical temperature over time to computing extreme temperature values through parameter transformation. By introducing the characteristic time constant Tau as a filtering parameter, the invention transforms the temperature time-series data into an extreme temperature response spectrum, changing the measurement paradigm from direct physical observation to computational parameter extraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If equipment is designed to withstand severe thermal conditions without accurate thermal data, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and weight increase due to overdesign

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment thermal reliabilityVSAvoidequipment weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary thermal analysis by computing the extreme temperature response spectrum before the equipment design phase. By applying the first-order filter to temperature curves in advance, the invention provides the extreme temperature values needed for accurate thermal design specifications, allowing equipment to be designed with appropriate (not excessive) thermal protection, thereby avoiding unnecessary weight while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves from excessive thermal protection (designed for worst-case scenarios) to partial but sufficient protection (designed for actual extreme conditions). By using the filtering method to identify the true extreme temperatures, the invention enables equipment to be designed with just enough thermal capacity to handle actual extremes, eliminating the excessive weight that would result from designing for hypothetical worst-case conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If equipment is designed to withstand severe thermal conditions without accurate thermal data, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment thermal reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary thermal characterization by computing the extreme temperature response spectrum before equipment design and manufacturing. This advance calculation provides accurate thermal loading data, allowing manufacturers to produce equipment with optimized thermal protection systems that meet actual requirements, thereby reducing manufacturing costs by avoiding over-engineering while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate determination of thermal conditions, allowing for equipment customization and stress evaluation, reducing overdesign and enabling early adaptation to real thermal constraints at low cost.

Implementation Method 1

the lack of knowledge of the thermal inertia of the equipment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal inertia: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentEP4636640A1Method and device for determining and using a diagnostic tool comprising an extreme temperature response spectrum
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 MBDA FRANCE
  • EP4636640A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4636640A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4636640A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

- Method and device for determining and using a diagnostic tool comprising an extreme temperature response spectrum. - The method comprises a step (E1) of receiving at least one temperature curve representing a variation in temperature as a function of time at a given geographical location, a processing step (E2) comprising a series of successive sub-steps (E2A, E2B, E2C), implemented iteratively for different values ​​of a characteristic time associated with a type of material, comprising a sub-step (E2A) for filtering the temperature curve using a first-order filter having said characteristic time as a time constant, a sub-step (E2B) for extracting a temperature value corresponding to a specific temperature parameter and a sub-step (E2C) for associating this extracted temperature value with the characteristic time,the pairs of values ​​obtained at the end of the iterations allowing the formation of an extreme temperature response spectrum, and a step (E3) to carry out, from at least this spectrum, comparisons to make a diagnosis.,