Method and apparatus for detecting aging-dictated damage or delamination on components, in particular power modules of power electronic devices, and power electronic device, in particular converter

US12306264B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Robert Baumgartner · Bad Mergentheim, DE
• Martin Honsberg · Munich, DE
• Gerhard Mitic · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 10, 2020
• Grant date: May 20, 2025
• Expiry date: Aug 6, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/3275
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

To facilitate a reliable detection of age-related damage or delamination on components the following is proposed: [i] within the scope of radiofrequency reflectometry, scanning a component by radiofrequency signal irradiation in the micrometer or millimeter wavelength range and by measuring at least one reflection signal, which was reflected at the component, in punctiform, one-dimensional or two-dimensional fashion for the purposes of generating at least one first radiofrequency image representation; [ii] scanning the component in direct time offset fashion with respect to the radiofrequency signal irradiation by a combination of ultrasonic signal irradiation and the radiofrequency signal irradiation in the micrometer or millimeter wavelength range and by measuring at least one further reflection signal, which was reflected at the component; and [iii] comparing the radiofrequency image representations generated based on the reflection signals, wherein determined changes in the radiofrequency image representations indicate damage or delamination on the component.