Design failure mode effect analysis (DFMEA)

• US 20060149506A1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Marchese, Mario, Imperiale, Francesco, Cutuli, Giuseppe, Lissoni, Roberto
• Application Number:
  US11/294,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149506A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A Design Failure Mode Effect Analysis (DFMEA) method analyzes faults and failures in the design phase of electronic devices. A data-entry mask is used for recording some information concerning the performed analysis and a portion of the recording form is displayed to a user in an electronic display format. The method detects and records past design problems and their corresponding solutions, by a DFMEA method using the data-entry mask form; associates keywords in a database with each problem; associates data concerning each of the design problems, in the same database, including information concerning past fails occurred in similar applications; detects major changes and/or innovations, as well as any improved block or part of a new device with respect to other devices, thereby postulating possible new problems introduced by the new device; and records the new problems and their possible solutions, by the DFMEA method and using the form.

Claims

1. A design failure mode effect analysis (DFMEA) device for analysis of faults and failures in the design of electronic apparatuses and devices, comprising:

a data-entry mask to record some information concerning the analysis and in which at least a portion of said data-entry mask is displayed to a user in an electronic display format; and

wherein said portion includes at least one link button; and

a file-associating tool structured to attach to said data-entry mask electronic format files concerning the information to be entered through said data-entry mask, the link button enabling connection to the file-associating tool.

2. A DFMEA device according to claim 1, wherein the data-entry mask includes a portion that enables entry of text descriptions of a plurality of recommended actions for correction of the faults and failures.

3. A DFMEA device according to claim 1, wherein the data-entry mask enables the following information items to be introduced:

personal information;

a revision date for revising electronic apparatus and devices;

a status of the design of the electronic apparatus and devices; and

protection levels for controlling access to the information concerning the analysis.

4. A DFMEA device according to claim 1, further comprising a search engine that allows searching any field of said data-entry mask.

5. A DFMEA device according to claim 1 wherein the data-entry mask includes a portion for recording past design problems, the DFMEA device further comprising:

means for recording keywords in a database associating each of said past design problems to a corresponding keyword.

6. A DFMEA device according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for associating data in the database concerning each of said past design problems, including information concerning past failures that occurred in similar applications.

7. A DFMEA device according to claim 1, further comprising means for entry of at least three revisions of the data-entry mask corresponding to maturity stages of said designed device.

8. A DFMEA device according to claim 7, wherein said at least three revisions are performed at the following stages:

design of the designed device;

qualification of the designed device; and

production of the designed device—

post-qualification.

9. A design failure mode effect analysis (DFMEA) method for analysis of faults and failures in the design of electronic devices, comprising:

displaying in an electronic display format at least a portion of a data-entry mask to record some information concerning the analysis, wherein the portion includes a link button;

in response to selection of the link button, enabling a user to indicate an electronic format file desired to be attached to the data-entry mask; and

attaching to the data-entry mask the electronic format file indicated by the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data-entry mask includes a portion that enables entry of text descriptions of a plurality of recommended actions for correction of the faults and failures.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the data-entry mask enables the following information items to be introduced:

personal information;

a revision date for revising electronic apparatus and devices;

a status of the design of the electronic apparatus and devices; and

protection levels for controlling access to the information concerning the analysis.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising searching any field of the data-entry mask.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting and recording, using the data-entry mask, past design problems.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

recording keywords in a database associating each of said past design problems to a corresponding keyword.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

associating data in the same database concerning each of said past design problems, including information concerning past failures that occurred in similar applications.

16. The method of claim 9, comprising at least three revisions of the data-entry mask corresponding to maturity stages of said designed apparatus or device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said at least three revisions are performed at the following stages:

design of the designed apparatus or device;

qualification of the designed apparatus or device; and

production of the designed apparatus or device—

post-qualification.

18. An electronic design failure mode effect analysis (DFMEA) form for analysis of faults and failures in the design of electronic devices, comprising:

means for causing display in an electronic display format of at least a portion of a data-entry mask to record some information concerning the analysis, wherein the portion includes a link button;

means for responding to selection of the link button by enabling a user to indicate an electronic format file desired to be attached to the data-entry mask; and

means for causing the electronic format file indicated by the user to be attached to the data-entry mask.

19. The electronic DFMEA form of claim 18, wherein the data-entry mask includes a portion that enables entry of text descriptions of a plurality of recommended actions for correction of the faults and failures.

20. The electronic DFMEA form of claim 18, further comprising means for searching any field of the data-entry mask.