Reconfiguring redundancy management
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selecting a primary control signal for redundancy management in a system having a plurality of sensors providing input signals in parallel to a control computer to provide the computer with a primary control signal representing an output from a properly operating sensor, comprising:
- (a) selector means for receiving and comparing input signals in groups of three from the sensors and detecting the median value signal of the three input signals;
(b) comparator means for comparing the detected median value signals to detemine if any one of the detected median value signals exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor;
(c) said comparator means further including means for transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal a detector median value signal which exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor and means for transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal the least of the detected median value signals when no detected median value so exceeds the others.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Input signals from sensor (S) in a redundancy management system are provided redundantly in parallel so that a primary control signal may be selected. Median value signals for groups of three sensors are detected in median value selectors (30, 32, 34, 36, 40) of selection filters (F). The detected median value signals are then also compared in a subtractor/comparator (38) to determine whether any of them exceed the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor. If so, the exceeding detected medium value signal is sent to a control computer (10) as the primary control signal. If not, the lowest level detected medium value signal is sent as the primary control signal.
90 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selecting a primary control signal for redundancy management in a system having a plurality of sensors providing input signals in parallel to a control computer to provide the computer with a primary control signal representing an output from a properly operating sensor, comprising:
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(a) selector means for receiving and comparing input signals in groups of three from the sensors and detecting the median value signal of the three input signals; (b) comparator means for comparing the detected median value signals to detemine if any one of the detected median value signals exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor; (c) said comparator means further including means for transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal a detector median value signal which exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor and means for transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal the least of the detected median value signals when no detected median value so exceeds the others. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for selecting a primary control signal for redundancy management in a system having a plurality of groups of sensors, each sensor group providing input signals in parallel to a plurality of control computer to provide the computers with primary control signals representing outputs from properly operating sensors, comprising:
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(a) selector means for receiving and comparing input signals in groups of three from the sensors and detecting the median value signal of the three input signals; (b) comparator means for comparing the detected median value signals to detemine if any one of the detected median value signals exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor; (c) said comparator means further including means for transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal a detected median value signal which exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor and means for transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal the least of the detected median value signals when no detected median value so exceeds the others.
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10. A method of selecting a primary control signal for redundancy management in a system having a plurality of sensors providing input signals in parallel to a control computer to provide the computer with a primary control signal representing an output from a properly operating sensor, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving and comparing input signals in groups of three from the sensors and detecting the median value signal of the three input signals; (b) comparing the detected median value signals to determine if any one of the detected median value signals exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor; (c) transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal as a detector median value signal which exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor; and (d) transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal the least of the detected median value signals when no detected median value so exceeds the others. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of selecting a primary control signal for redundancy management in a system having a plurality of groups of sensors, each sensor group providing input signals in parallel to a plurality of control computers to provide the computers with primary control signals representing outputs from properly operating sensors, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving and comparing input signals in groups of three from the sensors and detecting the median value signal of the three input signals; (b) comparing the detected median value signals to determine if any one of the detected median value signals exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor; (c) transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal a detector median value signal which exceeds the others by an amount greater than the signal level for a failed sensor; and (d) transmitting to the control computer as the primary control signal the least of the detected median value signals when no detected median value so exceeds the others.
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Specification