Transistor Resonant Characteristic Sensor for Non-Invasive Health Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current prognostic health management technologies face challenges in accurately assessing the health state and predicting the remaining useful life of electronic systems, particularly in detecting degradation and failure in electronic equipment used in military and commercial applications.
Innovation Solution
The Transistor Resonant Characteristic Sensor (TReCS) employs a sensing element with a coil electromagnetically coupled to electronic equipment to detect magnetic oscillations, using a measurement circuit to scan electromagnetic frequencies and extract baseband information, which is then processed to diagnose the health state of the equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electromagnetic sensing is used to detect magnetic oscillations from electronic equipment, then measurement precision of health indicators is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for electromagnetic coupling and frequency scanning circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic field as an intermediary between the electronic equipment under test and the measurement system. The sensing element detects magnetic oscillations through electromagnetic coupling rather than direct electrical contact, allowing non-invasive measurement of internal transistor resonance characteristics while isolating the measurement system from the complex electrical environment of the DUT
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical measurement methods with electromagnetic sensing. Instead of probing electrical signals directly from the transistor, the system uses a coil-based sensing element that detects magnetic field oscillations generated by the transistor's resonance, substituting electromagnetic field interaction for direct electrical measurement
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If frequency scanning is performed to identify resonance characteristics, then diagnostic capability is improved, but measurement time increases due to the need to scan across a band of electromagnetic frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary frequency scanning to identify the resonance frequency of the transistor before conducting detailed health assessments. By pre-characterizing the resonance frequency and Q-factor of the device under test, the system establishes baseline parameters that enable faster subsequent measurements without requiring repeated full-band scans
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic frequency scanning at intervals to monitor changes in resonance characteristics over time. Rather than continuous scanning, the system performs discrete periodic measurements of the resonance frequency and Q-factor, enabling trend analysis for prognostic health management while minimizing measurement time
3Reliability
If electromagnetic coupling is used for non-contact sensing, then reliability of measurement is improved, but sensitivity to external electromagnetic interference worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the susceptibility to electromagnetic interference into a beneficial feature by using the magnetic field oscillations generated by the transistor's own operation as the measurement signal. The sensing system detects the weak magnetic oscillations produced by the transistor's resonance against the background of the device's normal electromagnetic environment, turning potential interference into the measurement mechanism itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the measurement of Q-factor (quality factor) changes in the resonance characteristics. By continuously monitoring shifts in resonance frequency and Q-factor caused by transistor degradation, the system provides feedback on device health status, enabling early detection of failures while the electromagnetic coupling naturally filters out high-frequency noise through the resonant filtering effect
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
TReCS effectively monitors the health state of electronic equipment by tracking key prognostic features, providing valuable insights into system degradation and predicting remaining useful life, thus enabling condition-based maintenance and improving reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing element including a coil and positioned along electronic equipment so that the sensing element is electromagnetically coupled to the electronic equipment
Implementation Method 2
The sensing element has a substantially fixed inductance and is configured to detect magnetic oscillations associated with a characteristic signal generated by the electronic equipment
Data Source
AI summary
A Transistor Resonant Characteristic Sensor (TReCS) includes a sensing element positioned along electronic equipment so that the sensing element is electromagnetically coupled to the electronic equipment. The sensing element includes a coil. The sensing element is configured to detect magnetic oscillations associated with a characteristic signal generated by the electronic equipment. The TReCS sensor further includes an evaluation circuit connected to the sensing element for monitoring health state of the electronic equipment. The evaluation circuit includes one or more processing elements configured to diagnose health state of the electronic equipment based on extracted baseband information associated with the characteristic signal.