On-line processor based diagnostic system
First Claim
1. A method of on-line trouble-shooting failures in a circuit controlled by on-board processing means including memory for providing a failure log and for storing diagnostic information including normal signals and a plurality of known abnormal signals, the method comprising:
- sensing signals at a plurality of points in the circuit and inputting the sensed signals to the processing means;
comparing the sensed signals with the stored normal signals;
comparing the sensed signals with the plurality of stored known abnormal signals when the comparison between the sensed signals and the normal signals indicates a difference which exceeds a certain threshold amount, otherwise returning to the sensing step; and
storing in the failure log an indication of a failure condition and then returning to the sensing step when the comparison between the sensed and a particular one of the known abnormal signals indicates a match, otherwise storing in the failure log a general indication of a failure condition and then returning to the sensing step;
wherein the normal and plurality of known abnormal signals are stored as a plurality of waveforms, and the step of comparing the sensed signals with normal signals includes the steps of;
storing the sensed signals as waveforms; and
sequentially retrieving and comparing the stored sensed signal waveforms with the plurality of normal signal waveforms to determine if a difference greater than a certain threshold exists between them;
and wherein the step of comparing the sensed signals with the plurality of known abnormal signals includes the step of;
sequentially retrieving and comparing stored sensed signal waveforms with the plurality of known abnormal signal waveforms to determine if a difference less than a certain threshold exists between them indicating a match.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for on-line diagnostics, particularly for use in power circuits of a DC-DC converter is described. Signals are sensed at selected strategic test points in a circuit and compared with stored expected signals for those points under normal operating conditions. Whenever the signals sensed at the selected test points do not correlate with the corresponding expected signals, the sensed signal is compared with abnormal signals stored in the memory associated with known failure conditions for that test point. Whenever the sensed signal matches closely with a signal for a known failure condition, an indication of the particular failure is logged into memory. If the sensed signal does not match a known failure condition, an indication of an unknown failure condition is logged into memory. Failure information can later be retrieved by maintenance personnel at a convenient time or can be displayed on an operator'"'"'s display during operation.
63 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of on-line trouble-shooting failures in a circuit controlled by on-board processing means including memory for providing a failure log and for storing diagnostic information including normal signals and a plurality of known abnormal signals, the method comprising:
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sensing signals at a plurality of points in the circuit and inputting the sensed signals to the processing means; comparing the sensed signals with the stored normal signals; comparing the sensed signals with the plurality of stored known abnormal signals when the comparison between the sensed signals and the normal signals indicates a difference which exceeds a certain threshold amount, otherwise returning to the sensing step; and storing in the failure log an indication of a failure condition and then returning to the sensing step when the comparison between the sensed and a particular one of the known abnormal signals indicates a match, otherwise storing in the failure log a general indication of a failure condition and then returning to the sensing step; wherein the normal and plurality of known abnormal signals are stored as a plurality of waveforms, and the step of comparing the sensed signals with normal signals includes the steps of; storing the sensed signals as waveforms; and sequentially retrieving and comparing the stored sensed signal waveforms with the plurality of normal signal waveforms to determine if a difference greater than a certain threshold exists between them; and wherein the step of comparing the sensed signals with the plurality of known abnormal signals includes the step of; sequentially retrieving and comparing stored sensed signal waveforms with the plurality of known abnormal signal waveforms to determine if a difference less than a certain threshold exists between them indicating a match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of on-line trouble-shooting failures in a circuit controlled by on-board processing means including memory for providing a failure log and for storing diagnostic information including normal signals and a plurality of known abnormal signals, the method comprising:
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sensing signals at a plurality of points in the circuit and inputting the sensed signals to the processing means; comparing the sensed signals with the stored normal signals; comparing the sensed signals with the plurality of stored known abnormal signals when the comparison between the sensed signals and the normal signals indicates a difference which exceeds a certain threshold amount, otherwise returning to the sensing step; and storing in the failure log an indication of a failure condition and then returning to the sensing step when the comparison between the sensed and a particular one of the known abnormal signals indicates a match, otherwise storing in the failure log a general indication of a failure condition and then returning to the sensing step; wherein the circuit is a DC-DC converter power circuit having an input voltage, a commutating capacitor, a rectifier, the power circuit providing an output voltage and an output current, and wherein the step of sensing signals at a plurality of points in the circuit comprises at least two of the following sub-steps; sensing a signal representing converter input voltage; sensing a signal representing the rate of charge on a commutating capacitor; sensing a signal representing the voltage on a commutating capacitor; sensing rectifier pulses; sensing converter output voltage and ripple level thereof; and sensing converter output current. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification