Diagnostic method and diagnostic device for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load, and computer program product and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a diagnostic method for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in an electrical circuit with a flexible or dynamic current change process in as simple and reliable a manner as possible. One embodiment variant of the diagnostic method comprises here: operating the electromechanical load using an operating signal (2), detecting a first actual value of the operating signal (2). A value of a predefined threshold value (4) is then compared with a value of the first actual value, wherein the detection and comparison are repeated at predefined time intervals (△t1, △t2) as long as the operating is being carried out. A confirmation value is then only generated if the value of the first actual value is at least as large as the value of the threshold value (4) at least twice during the detection and comparison, the confirmation value representing the functionality of the electromechanical load.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a diagnostic method and diagnostic device for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in an electrical circuit and to a computer program product and a vehicle according to the preamble of the independent patent claim. BACKGROUND

[0002] In order to ensure the correct functionality of an electromechanical load, in the following also referred to as consumer, in an electrical circuit, the electrical properties, such as the current intensity and the voltage, of the electromechanical load are usually monitored during operation.

[0003] For this purpose, a method and a device for monitoring the power of a plurality of consumers from a single source are known from US 6,430,518 B1. For this purpose, a data detection system detects the current and the voltage from a common circuit, which supplies energy to load branch circuits. These load branch circuits comprise consumers, which change their load state, for example during start-up or shutdown. Transmitters connected to these load branch circuits identify those consumers, whose load state changes. A data processor receives information not only from the sensors, but also from the transmitters, in order to correlate the measured current and voltage information from the common circuit with the respective consumers, whose load state changes.

[0004] Furthermore, a method for determining the supply voltage of a load and a load are known from US 2016 / 0313381 A1. In order to reliably determine the supply voltage of individual phases of a load in a multiphase supply network, in particular a three-phase network, a measurement module is provided, with which the supply voltage is determined by means of a matrix operation from the measured voltages. The matrix operation is used in particular to compensate for potential differences or potential drifts between the measurement system and the supply network without the need for hardware measures such as voltage transformers.

[0005] Furthermore, a fault prediction system for electrical distribution systems and monitored loads is known from US 9,453,869 B1. For this purpose, the voltage quality of an electrical system is monitored on the basis of a series of system parameters. The system parameter data is aggregated and analyzed in order to determine a load factor for the system during that time and to evaluate the respective system with the derived standard deviation factor. The standard deviation is used to determine an alarm threshold. The continuous monitoring enables the system to inform a worker of a possible fault in one or more system components. In this way, maintenance can be performed before a component fails and the system experiences a fault condition.

[0006] The disadvantage of the prior art disclosed is that the characteristics of the consumer, such as the current consumption, must first be analyzed. This means that the electrical characteristics of the consumer must be preprocessed in order to monitor the power of the consumer in the correct manner or to diagnose a fault correctly. Moreover, only incorrect operation of the consumer is recorded in the prior art. However, the correct operation of the electromechanical load is not diagnosed. SUMMARY

[0007] The invention is based on the task of proving the functionality of an electromechanical load with flexible or dynamic current consumption as simply and reliably as possible.

[0008] This task is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Advantageous refinements of the invention are disclosed by the dependent patent claims, the following description and the figures.

[0009] The invention is based on the recognition that in the prior art, in particular in the case of low load currents in electromechanical loads, a functional fault is often diagnosed despite the fact that the electromechanical load is working faultlessly. Furthermore, it is not necessary to monitor the current consumption of the electromechanical load during the total operating time of the load. In order to verify the functionality of an electromechanical load, it is sufficient to evaluate the dynamic current change process statistically. The invention is based on the idea of analyzing the current consumption of an electromechanical load during the operation of the electromechanical load in a sample or in a defined time period. If the current exceeds a threshold value in the sample or in the defined time period, the functionality of the electromechanical load can be verified in a simple manner.

[0010] A diagnostic method for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in an electrical circuit is provided by the invention. In one embodiment variant, the diagnostic method comprises, for this purpose, operating the electromechanical load using an operating signal in step a), detecting an actual value of the operating signal in step b), and comparing a value of a predefined threshold value with a value of the first actual value in step c). Furthermore, the diagnostic method comprises repeating steps b) and c) at a predefined time interval as long as the operation according to step a) is carried out in step d). In step e), the diagnostic method further comprises generating a confirmation value, which represents the functionality of the electromechanical load, only if the value of the first actual value is at least as large as the value of the threshold value at least twice, preferably three times, when step c) is experienced.

[0011] In other words, the operating signal of an electromechanical load can be sampled at a predefined time interval as long as the operation is carried out until the end of the operation. Then, the functionality of the electromechanical load can be confirmed only if at least two, preferably three, sampling values, in particular at least two, preferably three, absolute sampling values, are greater than or equal to a defined limit value, in particular a defined absolute limit value.

[0012] The following advantages result therefrom: the diagnostic method can be carried out independently of the type of the electromechanical load. This means that it is not necessary to assess the electrical characteristics of the electromechanical load in advance, for example the current consumption or the power consumption during switching on or off of the electromechanical load. Thereby, the diagnostic method can be used universally and can be implemented in an existing circuit in a simple manner. Additionally, the following advantages also result: by waiting for at least two actual values which are greater than or equal to the threshold value, it is prevented that the functionality of the electromechanical load is determined by chance on the basis of a single value, for example due to line disturbances in the circuit. The functionality of the electromechanical load is therefore reliably confirmed.

[0013] The mentioned circuit can here in particular be configured as an on-board power supply of a vehicle. It is also conceivable that the circuit can be part of a facility, production plant or electromechanical device. The electromechanical load can in particular be implemented as a so-called "safe motor", that is to say as a servo motor of a motor vehicle lock. The control signal can preferably be configured as a current signal or a voltage signal. Correspondingly, the first actual value can be detected as a current intensity or voltage amplitude, and likewise the threshold value can be predefined as a current intensity or voltage amplitude. The predefined time interval can preferably be shorter than the time interval in which the electromechanical load is controlled.

[0014] One embodiment of the diagnostic method provides that a fault value is generated in step f) only if the control of the electromechanical load according to step a) is ended and only if the values of the first actual values are at least as great as the values of the threshold values less than twice, in particular less than three times, the values of the threshold values are exceeded.

[0015] In other words, a functional failure of the electromechanical load can be determined only if the control of the electromechanical load is not continued and only if less than two, in particular less than three, of these absolute actual values are greater than or equal to the absolute threshold value.

[0016] The following advantages result therefrom: it can be determined in a traceable manner by means of the fault value whether the electromechanical load has a functional failure. Additionally, it is therefore also excluded that a fault measurement occurs by chance, for example during switching on or off of the electromechanical load.

[0017] The fault value can here for example exist as a binary or hexadecimal fault code in one or more bits and can for example be stored in a fault memory of the motor vehicle.

[0018] The advantages and embodiments of the embodiments of the diagnostic method also apply at least partially in the sense mentioned below to the other embodiments of the diagnostic method mentioned below.

[0019] In another embodiment variant, the diagnostic method comprises manipulating the electromechanical load using the manipulation signal in step g) and detecting a first actual value of the manipulation signal in step h). Furthermore, this embodiment variant comprises generating a confirmation value in step i) which represents the functionality of the electromechanical load, wherein the numerical value of the first actual value is at most the numerical value of the predefined threshold value for a predefined period of time.

[0020] In other words, the manipulation of the electromechanical load can be carried out using the manipulation signal over a manipulation period of time. Here, the functionality of the electromechanical load is only confirmed if the absolute actual value is greater than or equal to the absolute threshold value for a defined period of time. Here, the defined period of time can preferably be less than or equal to the manipulation period of time. The first actual value can in particular be detected as a temporal course of the manipulation signal. The first actual value can therefore also be referred to as an actual signal. It is particularly preferred that the first actual value can only be detected after a specific transient oscillation period of time. The transient oscillation period of time can be determined here in accordance with the properties of the electromechanical load.

[0021] The following advantages result therefrom: it is possible to reliably determine whether the electromechanical load has been correctly manipulated using the manipulation signal. A further advantage is that the described diagnostic method can be implemented in a simple manner in existing circuits. Only the logic has to be implemented in existing circuits which confirms the functionality of the electromechanical load if the limit value is exceeded in direct association with the defined period of time.

[0022] In another embodiment variant, the diagnostic method comprises manipulating the electromechanical load using the manipulation signal in step j), detecting an actual value of the manipulation signal in step k) and setting a second actual value of the manipulation signal in step 1) which depends on the first actual value. The diagnostic method further comprises repeating steps k) and 1) at a predefined time interval as long as the manipulation in step j) is carried out in step m) and generating a confirmation value in step n) which represents the functionality of the electromechanical load if the sum of the numerical values of the respective second actual values is at least as great as the numerical value of a predefined threshold value.

[0023] In other words, the manipulation signal can be sampled at a defined time interval, wherein the resulting sampling values correspond to the respective first actual values. The second actual value can then be formed from the sampling values, that is to say that the second actual value is related to the first actual value. If the manipulation of the electromechanical load is ended, the functionality of the electromechanical load is only confirmed if the sum of all absolute second actual values is greater than or equal to a predefined absolute reference value.

[0024] The following advantages result therefrom: the corresponding diagnostic method is implemented in the existing circuit in a simple manner. Furthermore, it is also possible to reliably determine the functionality of the electromechanical load, for example, as a result of a line disturbance trigger in the circuit.

[0025] If the first actual value is present, in particular as a current strength, the second actual value can be determined, for example, as the work done or the power. This is particularly advantageous in the case of an electromechanical load which, for example, drives a mechanical component, such as a Bowden cable.

[0026] One embodiment provides that the electromechanical load is actuated using an electric current. That is to say, the actuation signal can be configured as an electric current. The following advantages result therefrom: in the case of a known operating voltage of the circuit, the temporal dynamics of the actuation current can be determined in a simple manner.

[0027] A further embodiment provides that the first actual value is a current strength. In other words, the first actual value can be detected as a current strength. The following advantages result therefrom: the first actual value can be detected in a simple manner as the amplitude of a current change process which changes over time at a specific point in time or over a specific time period.

[0028] A further embodiment provides that the second actual value is an electric work. In other words, the second actual value can thus be formed from the first actual value as an electric work. The following advantages result therefrom: it is also possible to indirectly check a mechanical component coupled to the electromechanical load in terms of the functionality of this mechanical component.

[0029] The application also relates to a computer program product comprising a series of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause a diagnostic device to perform the method for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in a circuit according to any of the preceding claims.

[0030] This means that the circuit can also have a processor configured to execute a series of instructions. With these instructions, the processor can actuate a diagnostic device which can then perform the diagnostic method for verifying the functionality of the electromechanical load.

[0031] The following advantages result therefrom: a computer program product configured in this way can be integrated into an existing circuit in a simple manner, whereby the functionality of an electromechanical load in a circuit can be reliably proven.

[0032] The application also relates to a diagnostic device for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in a circuit, the diagnostic device being configured to perform the diagnostic method according to any of claims 1 to 7.

[0033] In other words, a diagnostic device can be provided which enables a check of the functionality of an electromechanical load in an electrical circuit. Here, the diagnostic device can carry out at least one of the aforementioned diagnostic methods.

[0034] The diagnostic device can be configured, for example, as a microcontroller in the electrical circuit. In particular, the microcontroller can be electrically connected with the electromechanical load and be configured to actuate the electromechanical load or to evaluate an actuation signal of the electromechanical load.

[0035] By the present application, a vehicle having a diagnostic device according to claim 9 is also provided. The vehicle can be configured, in particular, as a motor vehicle, passenger car or lorry. The vehicle can also be, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0036] The present application also comprises combinations of features of the described embodiments. The present application also comprises extensions of the computer program product according to the present application, the diagnostic device according to the present application and the vehicle according to the present application, which have the features described in connection with the extensions of the embodiments of the diagnostic method according to the present application. For this reason, the corresponding extensions of the embodiments of the diagnostic method are not described here again. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] Embodiments of the present application are described below. To this end:

[0038] Figure 1 A current profile signal of a servo motor in a motor vehicle over time is shown during unlocking at constant voltage, wherein the functionality of the unlocking motor is determined by sampling the current profile signal;

[0039] Figure 2 A flow chart of the method steps of an embodiment of a diagnostic method for verifying the functionality of an unlocking motor in a motor vehicle is shown;

[0040] Figure 3 A current profile signal of a servo motor in a motor vehicle over time is shown during unlocking at constant voltage, wherein the functionality of the unlocking motor is determined by checking the time constant of the current profile signal.

[0041] The embodiments set forth below are preferred embodiments of the present application. In the embodiments, the components of the described embodiments are each a respective feature of the application which, independently of other features of the application, is viewed as a part of the present application. These features of the application each extend the application independently of other features of the application and are therefore also viewed as a part of the present application individually or in different combinations than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by other features of the application which have already been described.

[0042] In the accompanying drawings, elements with the same function are given the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Figure 1 Graph 1 shows the change in current over time. In this graph, the horizontal axis represents time t [ms] in milliseconds, and the vertical axis represents current I [A] in amperes. Specifically, Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the current change process of control signal 2, which is the electromechanical load, for example, a servo motor used in a lock in a motor vehicle. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the lock should be unlocked using an unlock command. Here, unlocking is achieved by manipulating the servo motor with a negative current under constant voltage of 9.5V and constant temperature of 70°C. These framework conditions define the most critical application scenarios for manipulating the servo motor, as the current change is minimal under these conditions.

[0044] In different Figure 1 In one embodiment of the shown example, the servo motor can be operated, for example, with a positive current to lock the vehicle. Here, a microcontroller can be used, for example, to operate the servo motor for locking or unlocking the lock, and this microcontroller can be part of the vehicle's onboard electrical system.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, the control signal can be within the control time period Δt S It exhibits transient oscillations in the range of approximately 0A. For example, if the motor is now controlled by the microcontroller, then... Figure 1 As can be seen from this, the current change process can be controlled within the time period Δt. S Internal dynamic changes. Here, the dynamic changes of the control signal 2 can particularly depend on the characteristics of the servo motor. For example, in Figure 1 It can be seen from this that during the control time period △t S The start, for example, due to the servo motor being turned on, during the transient oscillation time period Δt E The transient response of the current can be determined within approximately 60 ms. Then, the response continues until the control time period Δt. S End of instruction. Control signal 2 oscillates transiently at an approximately constant value of -0.7A.

[0046] To determine the control time period Δt S To determine whether the electromechanical load, i.e., the servo motor, is being correctly controlled, the control signal can be sampled. Sampling steps 3.1 and 3.2 can preferably be performed at predetermined time intervals Δt1 and Δt2. Here, the predetermined time intervals Δt1 and Δt2 are preferably constant. Figure 1The predefined time intervals Ati, At2are set to 20 ms. By means of the samples 3.1, 3.2, it is now possible to determine sample values which reproduce the current strength of the control signal 2 at the particular point in time.

[0047] These sample values can then be compared to the threshold value, respectively. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the threshold value is set to -150 mA. This threshold value can in particular be predefined by the sensitivity of the current measurement circuit which detects the current strength. In this embodiment, therefore, the current measurement circuit can only detect the current if it is outside the limit range of + / - 150 mA. Within this limit range, the current measurement circuit cannot measure the current correctly, that is to say the detected current corresponds to 0 A. It is also conceivable to provide a less sensitive current measurement circuit, for example, which can only detect the current if it is outside the limit range of + / - 300 mA.

[0048] According to an implementation variant of the diagnostic method, it can be particularly preferred to stipulate that at least two sample values, that is to say, for example, three sample values, more precisely three sample values, have a value which is greater than or equal to the value of the predefined threshold value 4 within the control period At S . Only if this condition is met can a confirmation value be generated by the microcontroller which indicates that the servo motor has been correctly controlled. As is shown in Figure 1 , in this embodiment this condition has already been met after the fifth sample 3.1, 3.2 within the control period At S .

[0049] If, for example, in an embodiment which differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , this condition is not met and the absolute sample value is less than the absolute threshold value 4 within the control period At S , a fault value can be generated by the microcontroller which confirms that the servo motor has not been correctly controlled.

[0050] By checking the functionality of the servo motor in this way, it is possible to prevent the functionality of the electromechanical load from being assumed as a result of the absolute sample value accidentally exceeding the absolute threshold value. This is the case, for example, in the case of the sample at 20 ms in Figure 1 . At this point in time, the servo motor is still in the on phase and the control signal 2 is therefore still in the transient oscillation. If only the at least absolute sample value is checked at this point in time to see whether it is at least equal to the absolute threshold value 4, the functionality of the servo motor is confirmed in this case, although the lock of the motor vehicle has not yet been unlocked at this point in time.

[0051] In other words, as is shown in Figure 1As shown in Fig. 1, the diagnostic concept can be implemented on the installed hardware of the on-board power supply of a motor vehicle, for example in a microcontroller. Here, for example, the current profile of an electromechanical load, for example a servo motor, can be sampled every 20 ms. In addition, a statistical evaluation of the sample values can also be carried out. To this end Figure 1 The current profile of a servo motor of a motor vehicle lock, also referred to as safety motor, at 70°C and 9.5 V is shown, wherein the lock is operated with an unlock command. In this diagnostic concept it can be provided that at least two samples, that is to say at least two sample values, for example three sample values, reach or exceed a threshold, that is to say threshold value, of -150 mA, so that a correct operation of the lock motor has taken place. With the condition: at least two, that is to say for example three, measurements are positive, that is to say the absolute sample value is greater than or equal to the absolute threshold value, it should be prevented that an occasional positive measurement, for example due to interference on the line from the microcontroller to the electromechanical load, leads to a false diagnosis.

[0052] In another embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the work done by the servo motor can also be calculated on the basis of the determined sample values. To this end, in addition to the sample values, that is to say the corresponding current intensity, the work can also be calculated in the following way: Figure 1

[0053]

[0054] where U denotes the constant voltage in the on-board power supply, for example 9.5 V, At X A predetermined time interval, for example At1 and At2, is described, while I denotes the current intensity of the operating signal at a specific point in time. Thus, if for example 3.1, 3.2 is sampled regularly at the predetermined time interval At1, At2 of 20 ms, the work can be calculated every 20 ms. Then, after the end of the operation, that is to say within the operating period At S , a total sum of all work within the operating period At S can be formed and compared with a set limit value. Thus, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the limit value can be calculated here as: Figure 1

[0055] W grenz = -150 mA 9.5 V 20 ms = -28.5 J.

[0056] This means that in this case only if the absolute value of the total sum of all work corresponds to the absolute limit value of 28.5 J or exceeds the limit value, the correct functionality of the servo motor can be confirmed.

[0057] ​​In other words, in this further embodiment, the current profile of the servo motor can also be sampled, for example, once every 20 ms. However, the work performed can then be calculated from these sample values. To this end, the individual works per predefined time interval Ati, At2may be added and compared to a reference value, i.e. a limit value. If the sum of the works is below the reference value, a correct manipulation of the lock has not occurred. The lock is therefore not correctly unlocked. If the load current of the electromechanical load, i.e. the manipulation signal 2, is below the threshold value 4, as shown in Figure 2 for example at 40 ms, it follows that the work is 0 J, since in this case the current is detected as 0 A due to the sensitivity of the microcontroller.

[0058] Figure 2 A flow chart of the method steps of an embodiment of the described diagnostic method is shown. If an electromechanical load, for example a servo motor, is manipulated for unlocking or locking a motor vehicle lock with a manipulation signal, the diagnostic method can be started in a first step 20. After the start, a counter can be zeroed in step 21 and a sampling time can be set, for example, to 20 ms. In step 22, the current value of the manipulation signal 2 of the electromechanical load, i.e. the current intensity, can then be detected and compared to a defined threshold value 4. If the current value of the manipulation signal, i.e. the absolute sample value, exceeds the absolute threshold value 4, which can be set, for example, to 150 mA, the counter can be incremented in step 22. In step 24, it can then be checked whether the manipulation of the electromechanical load has ended. If the sample value does not exceed the threshold value in step 22, the counter cannot be incremented and step 24 follows directly. In step 24, there are now two possibilities. If the manipulation has not ended, a new point in time for detecting a new sample value can be set in step 25 according to the set time interval. At the new sampling point in time, the sample value can be determined anew in step 22 and compared to the threshold value 4. Thus, steps 22 to 25 can be gone through here until it is determined in step 24 that the manipulation has ended. If the manipulation has ended, the counter reading can be checked in step 26. If the counter reading is, for example, greater than or equal to 3, i.e. at least three absolute sample values exceeding the absolute threshold value 4 have been detected in step 22, the method can end in step 28. If this condition is not met, an entry can be made in a fault memory in step 27 before the method can end in step 28. Figure 1

[0059] Analogous to Figure 3 , Figure 3 ​The control signal 2 for a servo motor of a motor vehicle lock during unlocking is shown. However, an embodiment of a further implementation variant of the diagnostic method is shown here. Here, a predetermined time period At can be selected, for example, according to the transient response during switching on of the servo motor. In particular, the predetermined time period At is shorter than the control time period At S In the embodiment in S Figure 3 a predetermined time period At of approximately 300 ms and a control time period At S of approximately 550 ms are shown.

[0060] In addition to the predetermined time period At, a transient oscillation time period At1 can also be set, by which the start of the diagnostic method can be delayed. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 , a transient oscillation time period At1 of approximately 20 ms is derived.

[0061] In order to determine whether the servo motor has been correctly controlled according to this implementation of the implementation variant of the diagnostic method, the control signal 2 can be detected here within the predetermined time period At. It can then be determined whether the absolute control signal 2 exceeds the absolute threshold value 4 at least once within the predetermined time period At. This threshold value is set to -150 mA in Figure 1 , as in Figure 3 .

[0062] In the embodiment in Figure 3 , the control signal 2 within the predetermined time period At exceeds the threshold value 4 within an actual time period At3 of approximately 250 ms. Since the servo motor is controlled with a negative current in Figure 3 , it is rather the case that the value of the control signal does not exceed the value of the threshold value within the actual time period At3 of approximately 250 ms. Since the actual time period At3 is less than the predetermined time period At, and the absolute control signal exceeds the absolute threshold value within the predetermined time period At, but outside the actual time period At3, it can be determined that the servo motor is correctly controlled in this case. The microcontroller can then generate a confirmation value, which represents the correct functionality of the servo motor.

[0063] In other words, ​ ​The diagnostic approach shown in the middle can likewise be implemented in the installed hardware of the on-board power supply system of a motor vehicle, for example in a microcontroller. For this purpose, a logic can be implemented in the microcontroller which recognizes a fault only in the case of a defined current threshold, i.e. an absolute threshold value 4, not being reached in direct association with a specific time period, i.e. a predefined time period At. For the current threshold, a value of 150 mA can be assumed, for example, which is thus in each case a value which enables a correct diagnosis. The time period belonging thereto can be set to 300 ms, for example. This specifically means in this connection that a fault exists only when the current does not exceed the threshold of 150 mA for more than 300 ms, i.e. the servo motor is not being operated correctly.

[0064] Overall, the examples show how a diagnostic approach for a load current can be provided by means of the application.

[0065] List of reference signs

[0066] 1 Current profile diagram over time

[0067] 2 Operating signal

[0068] 3.1 Sampling

[0069] 3.2 Sampling

[0070] 4 Threshold value

[0071] 20 First step

[0072] 21 Second step

[0073] 22 Third step

[0074] 23 Fourth step

[0075] 24 Fifth step

[0076] 25 Sixth step

[0077] 26 Seventh step

[0078] 27 Eighth step

[0079] 28 Ninth step

[0080] I Current

[0081] t Time

[0082] At Predefined time period

[0083] Ati Predefined time interval

[0084] At2 Predefined time interval

[0085] At3 Actual time period

[0086] Δt E transient oscillation period

[0087] Δt S manipulation period

Claims

1. Diagnostic method for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in an electrical circuit, which diagnostic method comprises: j) manipulating the electromechanical load using a manipulation signal (2), k) detecting a first actual value of the manipulation signal (2), and 1) determining a second actual value of the manipulation signal (2) that depends on the first actual value, characterized by the steps m) repeating steps k) and 1) for a given time interval as long as the manipulation according to step j) has not ended, wherein the time interval is shorter than the time interval for manipulating the electromechanical load, and n) generating a confirmation value only if the sum of the values of the respective second actual values is at least as large as the value of a predefined threshold value, wherein the confirmation value represents the functionality of the electromechanical load.

2. Diagnostic method according to claim 1, characterized in that o) the electromechanical load is manipulated using an electrical current.

3. Diagnostic method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that p) the first actual value is the electrical current strength.

4. Diagnostic method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that q) the second actual value is the electrical power.

5. Computer program product comprising a series of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause a diagnostic device to perform a diagnostic method for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in an electrical circuit according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. Diagnostic device for verifying the functionality of an electromechanical load in an electrical circuit, which diagnostic device has a computing means which is configured to perform a diagnostic method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4.

7. Vehicle having a diagnostic device according to claim 6. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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