Abnormality detection method and protection apparatus

Abstract

A general abnormal heating detection method in an electronic device is limited to an object to be monitored, and cannot cope with heating of an object of which overheating is unexpected. To correct this problem, temperature data are acquired from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device to be protected, the parameter indicating temperature distribution pattern in the device is calculated on the basis of the acquired temperature data, and an alarm signal is output when the calculated parameter indicating temperature distribution pattern deviates from a predetermined reference.

1 . A method of detecting temperature abnormality of a device, comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring temperature data from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device;    acquiring a parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern in the device on the basis of the acquired temperature data; and    outputting, when the acquired parameter deviates from a predetermined parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern, a signal indicating temperature abnormality of the device.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter is calculated based on the temperature data acquired from the plurality of temperature sensors when the device operates in a reference state.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each temperature sensor uses a semiconductor junction.  
   
   
       4 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the parameter indicating the temperature distribution pattern is calculated based on difference values between temperature data obtained from an arbitrary temperature sensor and temperature data obtained from other temperature sensors, or difference values of temperature data between neighboring temperature sensors.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein when the acquired parameter and the predetermined parameter have a predetermined difference, a signal indicating temperature abnormality of the device is output.  
   
   
       7 . A protection apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in a device to be protected;    an acquisition section, arranged to acquire temperature data from said plurality of temperature sensors, and acquire a parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern in the device on the basis of the acquired temperature data; and    a determiner, arranged to output, when the acquired parameter deviates from a predetermined parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern, a signal indicating temperature abnormality of the device.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined parameter is calculated based on the temperature data acquired from the plurality of temperature sensors when the device operates in a reference state.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein each temperature sensor uses a semiconductor junction.  
   
   
       10 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the parameter indicating the temperature distribution pattern is calculated based on difference values between temperature data obtained from an arbitrary temperature sensor and temperature data obtained from other temperature sensors, or difference values of temperature data between neighboring temperature sensors.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein when the acquired parameter and the predetermined parameter have a predetermined difference, a signal indicating temperature abnormality of the device is output.  
   
   
       13 . A computer program product storing stored on a computer readable medium comprising a computer program code, for a method of detecting temperature abnormality of a device, comprising process procedure code for: 
 acquiring temperature data from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device;    acquiring a parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern in the device on the basis of the acquired temperature data; and    outputting, when the acquired parameter deviates from a predetermined parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern, a signal indicating temperature abnormality of the device.    
   
   
       14 . The computer program product according to  claim 13 , wherein when the acquired parameter and the predetermined parameter have a predetermined difference, a signal indicating temperature abnormality of the device is output.  
   
   
       15 . A method of estimating temperature of a device, comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring temperature data from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device;    calculating a parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern in the device on the basis of the acquired temperature data; and    estimating temperature at a location other than locations of the plurality of temperature sensors on the basis of a second parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern acquired in advance when heating is simulated in the device, and the calculated parameter.    
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for estimating temperature of a device, comprising: 
 an acquisition section, arrange to acquire temperature data from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device;    a calculator, arranged to a parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern in the device on the basis of the acquired temperature data; and    an estimator, arranged to estimate temperature at a location other than locations of the plurality of temperature sensors on the basis of a second parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern acquired in advance when heating is simulated in the device, and the calculated parameter.    
   
   
       17 . A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium comprising a computer program code, for a method of estimating temperature of a device, comprising process procedure code for: 
 acquiring temperature data from a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the device;    acquiring a parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern in the device on the basis of the acquired temperature data; and    estimating temperature at a location other than locations of the plurality of temperature sensors on the basis of a parameter indicating a temperature distribution pattern acquired in advance when heating is simulated in the device, and the acquired parameter.    
   
   
       18 . A method of detecting temperature abnormality of a device, comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring temperature data from plural temperature sensors distributed in the device; and    outputting, if the acquired temperature data deviates from predetermined reference data, a signal to indicate the temperature abnormality based on arrangement of the temperature sensors, each of which provides the temperature data deviating from the predetermined reference data, and a degree of difference between the temperature data and the predetermined reference data.    
   
   
       19 . A protection apparatus comprising: 
 plural temperature sensors distributed in the device;    an acquisition section, arranged to acquire temperature data from said plural temperature sensors;    a determiner, arranged to output, if the acquired temperature data deviates from predetermined reference data, a signal to indicate the temperature abnormality based on arrangement of the temperature sensors, each of which provides the temperature data deviating from the predetermined reference data, and a degree of difference between the temperature data and the predetermined reference data.    
   
   
       20 . A computer program product storing stored on a computer readable medium comprising a computer program code, for a method of detecting temperature abnormality of a device, comprising process procedure code for: 
 acquiring temperature data from plural temperature sensors distributed in the device; and    outputting, if the acquired temperature data deviates from predetermined reference data, a signal to indicate the temperature abnormality based on arrangement of the temperature sensors, each of which provides the temperature data deviating the from predetermined reference data, and a degree of difference between the temperature data and the predetermined reference data.