UV Generator State Monitoring via Phase Shift Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The control and monitoring of UV generators used for curing lacquers and paint are complex due to the difficulty in determining their operating state, particularly the UV output, which depends on active and reactive power ratios that vary with the lamp and ballast circuit, making it challenging to assess whether the generator is ignited or extinguished.
Innovation Solution
A device that generates measurement and reference voltages proportional to the generator's voltage and current, forming differential and sum voltages, which are rectified and analyzed to determine the phase shift between voltage and current, allowing for a simple, reliable, and cost-effective assessment of the generator's state, including ignition and extinction detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex measurement technology is used to determine the operating state and UV output of the light generator, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary voltage transformations (sum voltage and differential voltage) that mediate between the original voltage and current measurements. These intermediary signals simplify the subsequent analysis by encoding phase relationship information in a form that can be directly compared, avoiding the need for complex power calculations while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electrical power measurement systems with a simplified voltage comparison system. Instead of measuring active and reactive power directly using complex instrumentation, the invention uses voltage transformations and rectifier comparisons, substituting a simpler measurement mechanism that achieves the same operational state determination.
2Measurement precision
If active power measurement is used to assess UV output, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to measure both active and reactive power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for UV output assessment from the full power measurement. By taking out just the phase relationship information between voltage and current through the sum and differential voltage comparisons, the system achieves adequate UV output assessment without the complexity of complete active and reactive power measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, inexpensive voltage dividers and rectifiers instead of expensive power measurement instrumentation. These simple components perform the necessary measurements adequately for operational monitoring, accepting that they provide sufficient rather than exhaustive measurement data.
3Device complexity
If simple voltage and current measurement is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates because the phase shift information cannot be reliably determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the phase shift determination problem from a direct angular measurement into a voltage magnitude comparison problem. By creating sum and differential voltage components and comparing their rectified values, the system determines phase information through a different dimensional approach (voltage ratios) rather than direct phase angle measurement, maintaining precision while simplifying the system.
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 and reliable monitoring of the UV generator's state without requiring complex measurement technology at each device, ensuring continuous operation and early detection of malfunctions, thus preventing defective production.
Implementation Method 1
the device for generating a measurement voltage has a measuring coil or a voltage converter transformer at an electrically isolated voltage source. However, it is also possible to provide a voltage divider for direct tapping.
Implementation Method 2
two rectifiers for rectifying the differential voltage and the sum voltage
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for operating a light generator (2) with a voltage source (4) makes possible a simple and reliable determination of the light generator's condition. The apparatus provides (a) a device (5; 13) for generating a measurement voltage the voltage present at ale light generator (2), (b) device (6, 9) for generating a first and a second comparison voltage, each proportional to the current flowing through the light generator (2), (c) a device (9, 8) for forming a difference voltage from the measurement voltage and one comparison voltage and a summation voltage from the measurement voltage and the other comparison voltage, (d) two capacitive rectifiers (7) for rectifying the difference voltage and the summation voltage, and (e) a controller (3), by which the rectified difference voltage and the rectified summation voltage can be evaluated.