Circuit for monitoring the voltage stress of a capacitor

摘要

A circuit for monitoring the voltage stress of a capacitor which produces an over-stress indicator signal responsive to the over-voltage history of the capacitor. If the measured voltage stress of the capacitor exceeds a predetermined over-voltage value, a characteristic-curve generator, having a predetermined transfer function, produces an output signal which is responsive to the measured voltage stress of the capacitor and the transfer function of the characteristic-curve generator. This signal is combined with a further signal which is responsive to a predetermined permissible continuous operation voltage value. The combined signals are conducted to an integrator having a predetermined integration time constant for producing an overload signal. The overload signal at the output of the integrator is a measure of the state of stress of the capacitor. Circuitry may be provided for disconnecting the capacitor from a transmission line in response to the output signal of the integrator. Also, plural capacitor voltage stress monitoring stages may be combined to monitor the capacitor voltage stress in a plurality of over-voltage ranges.