Heating Control Failure Detection via System Gain Change

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting failures in heating devices fail to account for changes in heat-retaining properties of the item being heated, which are crucial for maintaining accurate temperature control.

Innovation Solution

A heating device equipped with a system gain change rate calculation unit, heater resistance value change rate calculation unit, and heater voltage change rate calculation unit, along with a heat-retaining property change rate calculation unit, to detect changes in heat-retaining properties and potential failures by analyzing the system gain, resistance value, and voltage changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a method for determining a state of a control target on the basis of a behavior of a feedback system when a transient state is caused to occur is used, then the state of the control target can be determined, but it is not possible to detect how much the respective changes related to heat-retaining properties of an item to be heated have occurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of heat-retaining properties changesVSAvoidaccuracy of temperature control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter being monitored from general system behavior to specific parameter changes in system gain over time. By calculating the system gain at different time points during transient states and determining the rate of change, the method can detect changes in heat-retaining properties that would otherwise be invisible in standard feedback control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the detected heat-retaining properties changes are used to determine whether maintenance is needed. The system continuously monitors system gain changes and compares them against thresholds to trigger maintenance alerts, creating a closed-loop feedback system for predictive maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If existing failure detection methods are used, then failures can be detected, but changes in heat-retaining properties of the item being heated cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure detection capabilityVSAvoidinformation about heat-retaining properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary detection of heat-retaining properties changes before actual failures occur. By monitoring system gain changes during normal operation and comparing them to baseline values, the system can identify degradation trends and schedule maintenance before catastrophic failure happens, preventing information loss about the item's thermal characteristics

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 the detection of changes and failures related to heat-retaining properties, allowing for timely maintenance and preservation of temperature control performance.

Implementation Method 1

a heater (10) configured to heat an item (1) to be heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a temperature detection unit (20) configured to detect a temperature of the item (1) to be heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3761757B1Heating device and method for detecting failure of heating device
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 OMRON CORP
  • EP3761757B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3761757B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(C)
  • EP3761757B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~4(B)

AI summary

A heating device (100) comprises: a heater (10) for heating an item (1) to be heated; a temperature detection unit (20) for detecting the temperature of the item (1); and a temperature adjustment unit (30) for controlling the heater (10) on the basis of a target temperature and the detected value of the temperature detection unit (20) so that the temperature of the item (1) reaches the target temperature. The heating device (100) determines, as a system gain change rate, the rate of change from the initial value of a system gain determined as a ratio of a temperature increase value of the item (1) with respect to electric power inputted to the heater (10), and determines the rate of change in the heat-retaining properties of the item (1) using the system gain change rate.