Method for determining faulty components in a system

• US 20100017167A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Duc, Nghia Dang, Engel, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/185
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0251 Abstraction hierarchy, e.g. "complex systems", i.e. system is divided in subsystems, subsystems are monitored and results are combined to decide on status of whole system

Abstract

In a method for determining faulty components in a system having a plurality of interacting components, lists of potentially faulty components are prepared as a function of different diagnosis algorithms implemented independently of each other, and an error value is assigned to each potentially faulty component. The error values for at least one selection of components of the system are linked to form an error score value for a particular potentially faulty component.

Claims

1. A method for determining a faulty component in a system having a plurality of interacting components, comprising:

generating a plurality of lists of potentially faulty components using a corresponding plurality of different diagnosis algorithms implemented independently of each other;

assigning, for each potentially faulty component, an error value; and

for at least one set of components of the system, linking the error values to form an error score value for each potentially faulty component as a function of the plurality of lists.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein one of (i) a deviation from specified system data, or (ii) a deviation of sensor data from setpoint data, is used as symptom for a faulty component of the system.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the different diagnosis algorithms determine the potentially faulty components as a function of at least one of:

(a) a fault tree for the system;

(b) a failure mode and effects analysis;

(c) a score table supplying an error value for each component as the sum of partial error values;

(d) a functional model of the system;

(e) a symptom-cause matrix; and

(f) an error case database.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein each error value corresponds to a probability of a defective function of a component.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the error score value is determined by adding up the error values of a particular component.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the components are devices of a motor vehicle.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein system data are considered in generating the lists of potentially faulty components, wherein the system data include at least one of sensor data of the components, externally input symptom data, and data output by a control device of the system.

8. A device for determining faulty components in a system having a plurality of interacting components, comprising:

a plurality of diagnosis devices configured to generate a plurality of lists of potentially faulty components using a corresponding plurality of different diagnosis algorithms implemented independently of each other, wherein the lists each include an associated error value for each potentially faulty component; and

an evaluation device configured to perform, for at least one set of components of the system, linking the error values to form an error score value for each potentially faulty component as a function of the plurality of lists.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the different diagnosis algorithms determine the potentially faulty components as a function of at least one of:

(a) a fault tree for the system;

(b) a failure mode and effects analysis;

(c) a score table supplying an error value for each component as the sum of partial error values;

(d) a functional model of the system;

(e) a symptom-cause matrix; and

(f) an error case database.

10. A computer-readable data storage medium storing a computer program including a plurality of program codes which, when executed on a computer, implements a method for determining a faulty component in a system having a plurality of interacting components, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of lists of potentially faulty components using a corresponding plurality of different diagnosis algorithms implemented independently of each other;

assigning, for each potentially faulty component, an error value; and

for at least one set of components of the system, linking the error values to form an error score value for each potentially faulty component as a function of the plurality of lists.