Power Electronic Component Health-State Control for Service Life

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Power electronic components, such as semiconductors, are often oversized to meet service life requirements, leading to high costs and a trade-off between service life and cost, with existing methods failing to effectively manage their aging process.

Innovation Solution

A method and arrangement that determine the actual and target health states of power electronic components based on operating and component parameters, using a service life model to control the components, allowing for controlled aging and coordination of service life and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If power electronic components are oversized to meet service life requirements, then service life is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidcomponent size
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static oversizing to dynamic adaptation. The control unit continuously monitors operating parameters (temperature, current, voltage, switching frequency) and adjusts control parameters in real-time based on the component's actual health state and remaining service life, allowing the system to optimize component utilization dynamically rather than relying on fixed oversized design margins

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through a closed-loop control system. The control unit receives operating parameters from sensors, calculates the component's health state and remaining service life using a lifetime model, compares this with target values, and adjusts control parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables precise management of component aging and prevents both premature failure and unnecessary oversizing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 3:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting control parameters (gate voltage, switching frequency, current limits) based on the component's actual operating conditions and health state. The lifetime model uses operating parameters to predict aging, and the control unit modifies operational parameters to optimize the balance between performance and service life, avoiding fixed oversized design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If power electronic components are oversized to meet service life requirements, then service life is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidcomponent size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static oversizing to dynamic adaptation. The control unit continuously monitors operating parameters (temperature, current, voltage, switching frequency) and adjusts control parameters in real-time based on the component's actual health state and remaining service life, allowing the system to optimize component utilization dynamically rather than relying on fixed oversized design margins

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through a closed-loop control system. The control unit receives operating parameters from sensors, calculates the component's health state and remaining service life using a lifetime model, compares this with target values, and adjusts control parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables precise management of component aging and prevents both premature failure and unnecessary oversizing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 3:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting control parameters (gate voltage, switching frequency, current limits) based on the component's actual operating conditions and health state. The lifetime model uses operating parameters to predict aging, and the control unit modifies operational parameters to optimize the balance between performance and service life, avoiding fixed oversized design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If power electronic components are controlled without considering individual behavior and operating parameters, then control simplicity is maintained, but service life management is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life managementVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the power electronic component to monitor its own operating parameters and health state through integrated sensors and a lifetime model. The control unit automatically calculates the component's actual health state, compares it with target values, and adjusts control parameters without external intervention, allowing the system to self-manage its aging process while maintaining relatively simple control architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through a closed-loop control system. The control unit receives operating parameters from sensors, calculates the component's health state and remaining service life using a lifetime model, compares this with target values, and adjusts control parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables precise management of component aging and prevents both premature failure and unnecessary oversizing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4480743A1Method for operating at least one power electronic component and power electronic arrangement
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4480743A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4480743A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4480743A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating at least one power electronic component (2), wherein, starting from operating parameters (10, 10-x) and/or component parameters (11) and a lifetime model (20) of the at least one power electronic component (2), an actual health state (30) of the at least one power electronic component (2) is determined, wherein, starting from an operating duration (12) and/or a mileage (13) of the at least one power electronic component (2), a target health state (31) of the at least one power electronic component (2) is determined, wherein the determined actual health state (30) is compared with the determined target health state (31), and wherein the at least one power electronic component (2) is controlled taking into account a comparison result (32). The invention further relates to a power electronic component (2).