Method of estimating an operating state of a drive system and drive system

{
  "publication_number": "US10978978B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method of estimating an operating state of a drive system and drive system",
  "abstract": "A method of estimating an operating state of a drive system is presented. The drive system comprises an electric motor and a mechanical unit being moved by the electric motor. The method comprises a) operating the electric motor using electrical properties, b) determining movement properties regarding the movement of the mechanical unit using the electrical properties, repeating steps a) and b) for a number of times using changed electrical properties, and generating a distribution function. The distribution function allocates electrical properties to the resulting movement properties. The method also comprises estimating the operating state in response to the generated distribution function.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of estimating an operating state of a drive system, wherein the drive system comprises an electric motor and a mechanical unit being moved by the electric motor, the method comprises: a) operating the electric motor using electrical properties; b) determining movement properties regarding the movement of the mechanical unit using the electrical properties; c) repeating steps a) and b) for a number of times using changed electrical properties; d) generating a distribution function, wherein the distribution function allocates the electrical properties used to the resulting movement properties; and e) estimating the operating state in response to the generated distribution function.",
    "2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical properties comprise a torque provided by the electric motor.",
    "3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical properties comprise a current applied to the electric motor.",
    "4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement properties comprise a duration needed to move the mechanical unit for a given distance.",
    "5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement properties comprise a distance covered by the mechanical unit for a given duration.",
    "6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement properties comprise a maximum speed of the mechanical unit.",
    "7. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps a) and b) are repeated between 5 to 100 times using changed electrical properties.",
    "8. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps a) to d) are repeated for different points in time, wherein, for each point in time, a corresponding distribution function is stored, and wherein the operating state is estimated based on the stored distribution functions.",
    "9. The method according to claim 8, wherein if a difference between the stored distribution functions is larger than a threshold value, the operating state is estimated such that a maintenance is requested.",
    "10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating state comprises at least one of the group comprising: wear level state, need for maintenance state, frictional resistance state, mechanical malfunction of components comprised in the mechanical unit, and misalignment of components comprised in the mechanical unit.",
    "11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical properties are chosen between an upper limit which depends on a maximum run-time power of the electric motor and a lower limit which depends on a minimum power of the electric motor required for a movement of the mechanical unit.",
    "12. A drive system, the drive system comprises: an electric motor; and a mechanical unit being moved by the electric motor, wherein the drive system is configured to perform the method according to claim 1."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure generally relates to a method of estimating an operating state of a drive system and to a drive system. There is a need for a method of estimating an operating state of a drive system and to a drive system allowing a reliable estimating of the operating state of the drive system.\n\nAccording to the present disclosure, a method of estimating an operating state of a drive system is presented. The drive system can comprise an electric motor and a mechanical unit being moved by the electric motor. The method can comprise a) operating the electric motor using electrical properties, b) determining movement properties regarding the movement of the mechanical unit using the electrical properties, repeating steps a) and b) for a number of times using changed electrical properties, and generating a distribution function. The distribution function can allocate the electrical properties used to the resulting movement properties. The method can also comprise estimating the operating state in response to the generated distribution function. Accordingly, it is a feature of the embodiments of the present disclosure to provide for a method of estimating an operating state of a drive system and to a drive system allowing a reliable estimating of the operating state of the drive system. Other features of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent in light of the description of the disclosure embodied herein.",
  "cpc": [
    "H02P 21/20",
    "B65G 15/30",
    "B65G 23/04",
    "B65G 23/22",
    "B65G 43/00",
    "F16H 7/02",
    "G05B 23/0283",
    "H02P 2203/07",
    "H02P 2203/11",
    "H02P 29/00",
    "H02P 29/40"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G05B 23/02",
    "H02P 21/20",
    "H02P 29/40"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "BALTASAR BADAYA RAUL"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-10-16",
  "publication_date": "2021-04-13",
  "grant_date": "2021-04-13",
  "priority_date": "2018-10-30",
  "application_number": "US-201916654491-A",
  "family_id": "64183847",
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}