Pin Electronics Monitoring with Non-Volatile Failure Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test apparatuses lack efficient mechanisms to identify and record power supply abnormalities in pin electronics apparatuses, leading to potential damage and difficulty in diagnosing intermittent or temporary power issues, which affects repairability and maintenance efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pin electronics apparatus with a monitoring circuit that detects power supply abnormalities, records power identification information on a non-volatile recording medium, and uses near-field communication to store and retrieve failure information even after power loss, enabling easy identification of faulty power sources and components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a monitoring circuit is added to detect power supply abnormalities, then reliability of power supply monitoring is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring circuit is segmented into three independent functional modules: voltage detection circuit (235) for detecting voltage abnormalities, temperature detection circuit (240) for detecting temperature abnormalities, and microcontroller (245) for coordinating monitoring and storage operations. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, improving reliability while keeping the overall complexity manageable through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller (245) serves multiple functions: it controls the voltage detection circuit, controls the temperature detection circuit, manages the storage battery, and controls the recording medium. By making the microcontroller multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate control circuits for each function, thereby improving reliability through centralized control while actually reducing overall device complexity.
2Loss of information
If failure information is stored on a non-volatile recording medium, then loss of information is prevented during power loss, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring power supply status and preparing failure information for storage before actual power loss occurs. The microcontroller detects abnormality states and proactively writes failure information to the recording medium while power is still available, ensuring information is preserved before the power failure that would otherwise cause data loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring circuit operates autonomously to detect failures and store information without external intervention. The microcontroller automatically determines when to write to the recording medium based on detected abnormalities, and the storage battery automatically provides power to maintain operation during power failures, eliminating the need for complex external control systems.
3Loss of energy
If power supply to the monitoring circuit is cut off during abnormality, then energy consumption is reduced, but loss of information occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The storage battery (250) provides beforehand cushioning by storing energy in advance to supply power to the monitoring circuit during power failures. When the power circuit cuts off power due to abnormality, the storage battery automatically activates to maintain power supply to the monitoring circuit and recording medium, preventing information loss without requiring continuous high power consumption from the main power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring circuit maintains continuous operation through the storage battery during power failures, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring and information storage. The system transitions from main power supply to storage battery power seamlessly, maintaining the useful action of failure detection and recording without interruption, thereby preventing information loss while managing energy consumption efficiently.
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
Facilitates easy specification and repair of faulty power sources and components, improving repairability and maintenance efficiency by maintaining failure information despite power loss, and allowing remote access to failure data without reactivating the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a storage battery 250 connected to the power circuit 200. The storage battery 250 receives power supply from the power circuit 200 and supplies power to the monitoring circuit 230 when the power circuit 200 stops power supply to each circuit
Implementation Method 2
an antenna 270. The antenna 270 enables the recording medium 260 to be read by near field communication in a state where the recording medium 260 is not supplied with power from the power circuit 200
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a pin electronics apparatus including: a test circuit which is connected to a device under test and tests the device under test; a power circuit which includes a plurality of power sources; and a monitoring circuit which records, in response to detecting an abnormality in power supply from the power circuit, power identification information for identifying a power source, for which an abnormality in power supply is detected, among the plurality of power sources on a non-volatile recording medium.