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The Technology Behind VPS-MICRO® Software

The VEXTEC Learning Center contains a wealth of information about the technology behind VPS-MICRO Software including white papers, journal articles, and tutorials.
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Since our founding, seven patents have been issued to VEXTEC. These advancements represent significant contributions towards improving the processes of product development, research and testing, and manufacturing, with the end results being more reliable, better designed products, at lower costs. A summary of VEXTEC’s patents with links to the full documents are listed below.

Materials-Based Failure Analysis In Design of Electronic Devices and Prediction of Operating Life
PATENT NUMBER ISSUED INVENTORS
8,290,753 October 16, 2012 Robert Tryon, Animesh Dey, Loren Nasser & Ganapathi Krishnan

Abstract: The technology includes methods, a system, and a computer readable medium for predicting the time to failure of an electronic component, by generating a finite element model of the component, developing a microstructure-based failure model for each representative volume element associated with each node in the finite element model, and calculating a time to failure of the component from the shortest predicted time to failure of any node when a value of a stress variable is applied to the microstructure-based failure model of each node. The technology further includes methods, system, and a medium programmed to predict failure of a system that includes an electronic component, based on predicting time to failure of the component.  Click Here to view full patent.

Materials-Based Failure Analysis In Design of Electronic Devices
PATENT NUMBER ISSUED INVENTORS
8,285,522 October 9, 2012 Robert Tryon, Animesh Dey, Loren Nasser & Ganapathi Krishnan

Abstract: The technology includes methods, a system, and a computer readable medium for predicting the failure of an electronic device during design of the device, by receiving data associated with the device, the data including data indicative of a device response to a specific load on the system while the device is in operation, and predicting potential failure of the device using a probabilistic model and the data, wherein the probabilistic model utilizes at least one of fast probability methods and simulation techniques. Click Here to view full patent.

Method and Apparatus for Predicting the Failure of a Component
PATENT NUMBER ISSUED INVENTORS
8,027,820 September 27, 2011 Robert Tryon

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for predicting the failure of a component using a probabilistic model of a material’s microstructural-based response to fatigue. The method predicts the component failure by a computer simulation of multiple incarnations of real material behavior, or virtual prototyping. The virtual prototyping simulates the effects of characteristics that include grain size, grain orientation, micro-applied stress and micro-yield strength that are difficult to simulate with real specimens. The invention provides an apparatus for predicting the response of a component to fatigue using the method. Click Here to view full patent.

Apparatus and Methods for Testing Performance of a Material for Use in a Jet Engine
PATENT NUMBER ISSUED INVENTORS
8,006,544 August 30, 2011 Rich Holmes, Robert Tryon, Ed Pope, Dan Nasser, Mike Oja,
Animesh Dey, Jesse Hamler, Thomas Brooks, Jim Tryon

Abstract: An apparatus for testing failure of a material used in a jet engine, and more particularly to an apparatus that uses one or more model jet engine components made from a material used in a full-size jet engine and desired to be tested. The apparatus permits easy removal and disassembly of a jet engine mounted thereon as well as real-time measurements of run-time parameters. The methods and apparatus provide for predicting and analyzing failure by a number of fatigue-related mechanisms including creep, fatigue, crack growth, foreign object damage, fretting, erosion, and stress corrosion. Click Here to view full patent.

Methods and Apparatus for Predicting the Failure of a Component, and for Determining a Grain Orientation Factor for a Material
PATENT NUMBER ISSUED INVENTORS
7,480,601 January 20, 2009 Robert Tryon

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for predicting the failure of a component using a probabilistic model of a material’s microstructural-based response to fatigue. The method predicts the component failure by a computer simulation of multiple incarnations of real material behavior, or virtual prototyping. The virtual prototyping simulates the effects of characteristics that include grain size, grain orientation, micro-applied stress and micro-yield strength that are difficult to simulate with real specimens. The invention provides an apparatus for predicting the response of a component to fatigue using the method. Click Here to view full patent.

Method and Apparatus for Predicting the Failure of a Component
PATENT NUMBER ISSUED INVENTORS
7,016,825 March 21, 2006 Robert Tryon

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for predicting the failure of a component using a probabilistic model of a material’s microstructural-based response to fatigue. The method predicts the component failure by a computer simulation of multiple incarnations of real material behavior, or virtual prototyping. The virtual prototyping simulates the effects of characteristics that include grain size, grain orientation, micro-applied stress and micro-yield strength that are difficult to simulate with real specimens. The invention provides an apparatus for predicting the response of a component to fatigue using the method. Click Here to view full patent.

Method and Apparatus for Predicting the Failure of a System
PATENT NUMBER ISSUED INVENTORS
7,006,947 February 28, 2006 Bob Tryon, Animesh Dey, Loren Nasser

Abstract: The invention regards a system reliability or failure predicting apparatus and method that incorporates known information about system component failure into a system model and uses the model with or without other acquired system data to predict the probability of system failure. An embodiment of the method includes using probabilistic methods to create a system failure model from the failure models of individual system components, predicting the failure of the system based on the component models and system data, ranking the sensitivity of the system to the system variables, and communicating a failure prediction. Click Here to view full patent.

USPTO