Methods and apparatus for generating maintenance messages

• US 6,314,350 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Butz, Mark G., Schuster, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/451,435
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 701/34, 701/14, 701/35, 701/3, 701/8, 701/9, 340/945, 340/959, 340/960, 340/963, 434/29
• US Class Current: 701/34
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/04 Detection of intermittent failure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/027 Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm

Abstract

Sensor selection status monitoring and maintenance logic for generating messages relating to intermittent and “in-range” faults are described. In one embodiment, a transition count is generated indicating a number of times the selection status number changes during a flight. A time duration table is generated indicating an amount of time a selection status number is recorded in each of its possible states during the flight. The maintenance logic utilizes outputs from the monitoring logic to generate maintenance messages.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a status of a sensor in an aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a transition count indicating a number of times a selection status number changes during a flight; and

generating a time duration value indicating an amount of time the selection status number is in each of its possible states during the flight.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein generating a transition count indicating a number of times a selection status number changes during a flight comprises the step of monitoring the selection status number for the sensor.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein generating a time duration value comprises the step of monitoring the selection status number for the sensor.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a maintenance message utilizing at least one of the transition count and the time duration value.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein generating a maintenance message comprises the steps of:

determining whether the transition counter exceeds a preselected limit; and

if the preselected limited is exceeded, then generating a maintenance message.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein generating a maintenance message comprises the steps of:

executing a post-flight pattern detection algorithm; and

if a fault pattern is detected, then generating a maintenance message.

7. Apparatus for monitoring a status of a sensor in an aircraft, said apparatus comprising a processor programmed to:

generate a transition count indicating a number of times a selection status number changes during a flight; and

generate a time duration value indicating an amount of time the selection status number is in each of its possible states during the flight.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein to generate a transition count indicating a number of times a selection status number changes during a flight, said processor is programmed to monitor the selection status number for the sensor.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein to generate a time duration value, said processor is programmed to monitor the selection status number for the sensor.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said processor is further programmed to generate a maintenance message utilizing at least one of the transition count and the time duration value.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein to generate a maintenance message, said processor is further programmed to:

determine whether the transition counter exceeds a preselected limit; and

if the preselected limited is exceeded, then generate a maintenance message.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein to generate a maintenance message, said processor is further programmed to:

execute a post-flight pattern detection algorithm; and

if a fault pattern is detected, then generate a maintenance message.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said processor is located in at least one of an electronic control unit, an aircraft data acquisition system, a ground-based system, and an aircraft central maintenance system.