Patent ID: 6424930
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A lifetime-prediction system for responding to a request from a remote interrogating agent to provide, to said remote interrogating agent, a predicted remaining-lifetime of a system component, said lifetime-prediction system comprisinga measuring element in local communication with said system component for generating a measured-variable signal indicative of stress experienced by said system component, a local processor in local communication with said measuring element for generating a predicted remaining-lifetime on the basis of at least said measured-variable signal, the local processor comprising means for evaluating a cumulative stress, the means for evaluating said cumulative stress comprising, means for evaluating an extent to which said measured-variable signal exceeds a stress threshold, means for evaluating an exposure time during which said measured-variable signal exceeds said stress threshold, and, means for evaluating said cumulative stress on the basis of said extent and said exposure time, and, a network interface in communication with said local processor for enabling communication of said predicted remaining-lifetime between said local processor and said remote interrogating agent.