Diagnostic fault detection and isolation
First Claim
1. A fault detection and isolation method for detecting and isolating faults in a complex system comprising:
- identifying at least one subsystem of the complex system for testing;
generating a test sequence defining an order of testing of the subsystems identified for testing and an order of individual tests to be performed on each subsystem identified for testing; and
performing a subsystem fault detection and isolation test for each subsystem of the complex system identified for testing using a stand-alone test interface module, wherein the subsystem fault detection and diagnostic test comprises;
checking prerequisite conditions;
requesting periodic built-in-test results if available, if periodic built-in-test results are not available, then requesting periodic built-in-test be performed and requesting the results of the periodic built-in-test;
receiving periodic built-in-test result data;
testing interfaces;
requesting execution of initiated built-in-test;
requesting the results of the initiated built-in-test once it has completed;
receiving initiated built-in-test result data; and
indicating any detected faults and isolating and indicating one or more components that are associated with the detected faults.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for diagnostic fault detection and isolation is provided, wherein COTS/MOTS subsystems of a system under test are evaluated in a hierarchical manner providing improved test coverage and a reduction in ambiguity group size. The diagnostic fault detection and isolation method may proceed from automatic built-in-test to disruptive built-in-test and finally to manual tests. At each stage of the testing, results may be evaluated to determine which, if any, components need replacing. The systems and methods of the present invention are suited to testing systems that incorporate COTS/MOTS subsystem components, and for use with an interactive electronic technical manual (IETM).
123 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A fault detection and isolation method for detecting and isolating faults in a complex system comprising:
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identifying at least one subsystem of the complex system for testing;
generating a test sequence defining an order of testing of the subsystems identified for testing and an order of individual tests to be performed on each subsystem identified for testing; and
performing a subsystem fault detection and isolation test for each subsystem of the complex system identified for testing using a stand-alone test interface module, wherein the subsystem fault detection and diagnostic test comprises;
checking prerequisite conditions;
requesting periodic built-in-test results if available, if periodic built-in-test results are not available, then requesting periodic built-in-test be performed and requesting the results of the periodic built-in-test;
receiving periodic built-in-test result data;
testing interfaces;
requesting execution of initiated built-in-test;
requesting the results of the initiated built-in-test once it has completed;
receiving initiated built-in-test result data; and
indicating any detected faults and isolating and indicating one or more components that are associated with the detected faults. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fault detection and isolation system for detecting and isolating faults in a complex system comprising:
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an interface coupled to a subsystem of the complex system identified for testing, wherein said interface is a stand-alone module and is configured to transfer data bi-directionally between the subsystem and a processor;
a processor coupled to the interface, comprising a memory including software instructions for a test program sequence that cause the processor to perform the steps of;
generating periodic built-in-test commands;
generating interface test commands;
generating initiated built-in-test commands;
generating manual test prompts receiving test result data from the periodic built-in-test, the interface test, the initiated built-in-test and the manual test;
processing the test result data; and
detecting and isolating any faults to one or more candidate components associated with the detected faults;
wherein the processor detects and isolates faults in the complex system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A diagnostic system for detecting and isolating faults in a helicopter comprising:
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an interface coupled to a subsystem of the complex system identified for testing, wherein said interface is a stand-alone module and is configured to transfer data bi-directionally between the subsystem and a processor;
a processor coupled to the interface, comprising a memory including software instructions for a test program sequence that cause the processor to perform the steps of;
generating periodic built-in-test commands;
generating interface test commands;
generating initiated built-in-test commands;
generating manual test prompts receiving test result data from the periodic built-in-test, the interface test, the initiated built-in-test and the manual test;
processing the test result data; and
detecting and isolating any faults to one or more candidate components associated with the detected faults, wherein the processor detects and isolates faults in the complex system; and
a display element coupled to the processor for displaying faults and corrective procedures associated with any detected faults and the one or more candidate components associated with the detected faults, said display element responsive to the processor and test program sequence software. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification