Method for determining a failure rate, vehicle, system, computer program product, computer-readable medium, and data carrier signal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for determining the failure rate of an electrical component (50) of an on-board electrical system (100). The method comprises, as steps, monitoring (320) at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component (50), providing (340) monitoring data at least based on the monitored, at least one first electrical load parameter, determining (360) several load operating conditions for the at least one electrical component (50) from the provided monitoring data by means of a feature extraction method, and determining (380) for each load operating condition of the several load operating conditions a first weighting factor, wherein the first weighting factor is indicative of a magnitude of load on the electrical component (50).a determination (400) for each of the multiple load operating conditions a second weighting factor, wherein the second weighting factor is indicative of a time-dependent load on the electrical component (50), and a determination (420) of the failure rate at least based on the determined first weighting factors of the multiple load operating conditions and based on the determined second weighting factors of the multiple load operating conditions.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining a failure rate, a vehicle with an on-board network, a system consisting of a vehicle and an external data processing system, a computer program product, a computer-readable medium and a data carrier signal.

[0002] Vehicles can have a large number of electrical components, which can increase vehicle complexity, particularly the complexity of the electrical system. There is a constant interest in ensuring that the vehicle can be operated efficiently despite the large number of electrical components. For example, failures of electrical components should be detected early. Furthermore, the vehicle and its electrical system should simultaneously have a simple design.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the failure rate of an electrical component of an on-board electrical system and / or an on-board electrical system and / or a system consisting of a vehicle and an external data processing system, by means of which the failure rate of at least one electrical component of an on-board electrical system can be determined particularly easily and / or particularly reliably and / or in a manner that is particularly responsive to customer behavior. Furthermore, it is a particular object of the invention to provide a vehicle with an on-board electrical system or a system consisting of a vehicle and an external data processing system that can be operated in a particularly reliable manner.

[0004] The foregoing problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle having the features of claim 8, a system having the features of claim 9, and a computer program product, a computer-readable medium, and a data carrier signal having the features of claims 10, 11, and 12, respectively. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the vehicle and / or system and / or computer program product and / or computer-readable medium and / or data carrier signal according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always makes, or can make, reciprocal reference.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the present invention discloses a method, in particular a computer-implemented method, for determining the failure rate of at least one electrical component of a vehicle's electrical system. The method comprises, as a step, monitoring at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component. Furthermore, the method comprises, as a step, providing monitoring data, in particular raw monitoring data, at least based on the monitored, at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component. The method further comprises, as a step, determining several load operating conditions for the at least one electrical component from the provided monitoring data, in particular raw monitoring data, using a feature extraction method.Furthermore, the method comprises, as a step, determining for each of the multiple load operating conditions a first weighting factor for at least one first electrical load parameter, wherein the first weighting factor is indicative of a magnitude-based load on the electrical component. Furthermore, the method comprises, as a step, determining for each of the multiple load operating conditions a second weighting factor for at least one first electrical load parameter, wherein the second weighting factor is indicative of a time-based load on the electrical component.Furthermore, the procedure includes, as one step, determining the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system, at least based on the first weighting factors of the several load operating conditions determined for at least one first electrical load parameter, and based on the second weighting factors of the several load operating conditions determined for at least one first electrical load parameter.

[0006] The process steps described above and below can be carried out individually, together, simply, multiple times, in parallel and / or sequentially in any order, provided it is technically feasible.

[0007] In particular, the inventive method can be used to determine the respective failure rate of several electrical components of the vehicle's electrical system. In other words, the inventive method for determining the failure rate described for (at least one) electrical component can also be applied to other electrical components of the vehicle's electrical system.

[0008] The electrical component can be, for example, an electrical consumer and / or an electrical generator of the vehicle's electrical system.

[0009] Monitoring the first electrical load parameter of the electrical component can be achieved through direct or indirect measurement, in particular continuous or essentially continuous direct or indirect measurement. For example, the electrical load voltage or current of the electrical component can be measured using a sensing unit, such as a voltmeter or an ammeter. Multiple electrical load parameters of the electrical component and / or thermal load parameters, such as the load temperature, of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system can also be measured and monitored.It is conceivable that a quantity indicative of the electrical load current of the electrical component is recorded, in particular by means of a current recording unit of the vehicle electrical system, and / or a quantity indicative of the electrical load voltage of the electrical component is recorded, in particular by means of a voltage recording unit of the vehicle electrical system, and / or a quantity indicative of the thermal load temperature of the electrical component is recorded, in particular by means of a temperature recording unit of the vehicle electrical system.

[0010] Data obtained by monitoring at least one electrical load parameter of the electrical component can be stored as monitoring data, in particular raw monitoring data, on a storage unit, e.g., a storage unit of the vehicle or the vehicle's electrical system, and / or on a storage unit of an external data processing system of a system according to the invention, and thus made available. It is also conceivable that data obtained, in particular by monitoring several electrical load parameters, e.g., an electrical load voltage and an electrical load current, and / or a thermal load parameter, e.g., a load temperature, of the electrical component can be stored as monitoring data, in particular raw monitoring data, on a storage unit, e.g., a storage unit of the vehicle or the vehicle's electrical system.of the vehicle's on-board network and / or on a storage unit of an external data processing system of a system according to the invention, are stored and thus made available in particular.

[0011] Determining the multiple operating conditions for at least one electrical component from the provided monitoring data using the feature extraction method can be understood as determining or calculating multiple operating conditions for at least one electrical component from the provided monitoring data using the feature extraction method. This determination or calculation can be performed, for example, using a control device of the vehicle's electrical system or system.

[0012] Under a load operating condition, or under the load operating conditions of the multiple load operating conditions, a specific state or state range of the electrical component in the vehicle's electrical system can be understood, which is characterized in particular by at least certain values ​​of the monitored, at least one first electrical load parameter or several electrical load parameters and / or a thermal load parameter of the electrical component. In particular, the multiple load operating conditions differ from one another.

[0013] The well-known feature extraction method is used and implemented to determine the multiple operating conditions for at least one electrical component from the provided monitoring data, particularly raw monitoring data. This feature extraction method allows for the advantageous determination and transformation of these operating conditions from the provided monitoring data. Graphically, the individual operating conditions can be represented by a frequency distribution in the form of bars (histogram), where the bars correspond to the frequencies of the operating conditions. For example...The feature extraction method uses an information entropy (H) to determine the multiple load operating conditions, in particular the total number (N) of load operating conditions, for the electrical component from the provided monitoring data for a specified basis (b), e.g. for b=2:. H=−∑i=1Npilogbpi

[0014] Thus, the total number (N) of load operating conditions can be determined using information entropy, and each bar subsequently contains the highest information content. p i describes the probability of occurrence of a respective load operating condition (i) of the several load operating conditions (N).

[0015] The respective determination of the first weighting factor can be understood as a calculation of the first weighting factor, e.g. by means of a control device, and / or the respective determination of the second weighting factor can be understood as a calculation of the second weighting factor, e.g. by means of a control device.

[0016] The dimensional load on the electrical component (= first weighting factor) encompasses, in particular, the magnitude of the load on the electrical component. For example, for each load operating condition (i) of the several load operating conditions (N), at least one first electrical load parameter, e.g., an electrical load voltage (U), can be assigned a dimensional load or a dimensional load factor (π). U,i The electrical component can be determined, in particular calculated, using the following equation: πU,i=exp{C3⋅[(Uoperation,iUmax)C2−(UrefUmax)C2]}orπU,i(Uoperation)=exp{C1⋅(Uoperation,iC2−(UrefC2))} where C1 Constant 1 1 / Volt C2 Constant 2 - C3 Constant 3 - U operation,i Operating voltage of the electrical component for the respective load operating condition (i) volt U max maximum permissible voltage of the electrical component volt U ref Reference voltage of the electrical component volt

[0017] C1, C2, C3, U max and / or U ref They can be determined and saved in advance, e.g., on a storage unit. For example, C1, C2, C3, U max and / or U ref The specifications can be found in Siemens standard 29500 or data sheets.

[0018] The temporal load on the electrical component (= second weighting factor) includes, in particular, the duration and / or frequency of the load on the electrical component. For example, for each load operating condition (i) of the several load operating conditions (N), at least one first electrical load parameter, e.g., an electrical load voltage (U), can have a respective temporal load or a respective temporal load factor (τ). U,iThe electrical component can be determined, in particular calculated, using the following equation: τU,i=NU,iNtotal where N U,i Number of data points for each load operating condition (i) - N total Total number of data points -

[0019] Similarly (cf. or see Formula 1), alternatively or additionally, for an electrical load current, a respective dimensional load or a respective dimensional load factor (π) can be used as the first electrical load parameter or as the second electrical load parameter of the electrical component for a respective load operating condition (i) of the several load operating conditions (N). I,i ) of the electrical component are determined, in particular calculated (cf. or see Formula 1) and / or a respective time-related load or a respective time-related load factor (τ) can be determined. l,i) of the electrical component are determined, in particular calculated (cf. or see Formula 2) and / or alternatively or additionally analogously (cf. or see Formula 1) for a thermal load parameter of the electrical component for a respective load operating condition (i) of the several load operating conditions (N) a respective dimensional load or a respective dimensional load factor (π) can be determined. T,i ) of the electrical component are determined, in particular calculated (cf. or see Formula 1) and / or a respective time-related load or a respective time-related load factor (τ) T,i ) of the electrical component are determined, in particular calculated (cf. or see formula 2).

[0020] The failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system is determined, and in particular calculated, based on at least the first weighting factors determined for the at least one electrical load parameter for the various operating conditions, and based on the second weighting factors determined for the same electrical load parameter. Determining, and in particular calculating, the failure rate of the electrical component can be carried out, for example, by means of a control device of the vehicle electrical system, vehicle, or system.It is also conceivable that the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system is determined, in particular calculated, at least on the basis of the first respective weighting factors of the several load operating conditions, for which at least one first electrical load parameter and for a second electrical load parameter and / or for a thermal load parameter, and on the basis of the second respective weighting factors of the several load operating conditions, for which at least one first electrical load parameter and for a second electrical load parameter and / or for a thermal load parameter.

[0021] For example, the failure rate (λ) operation , new) of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system for at least one first electrical load parameter (see formula 3) or for several electrical load parameters and one thermal load parameter (see formula 4) is determined, in particular calculated, as follows: λoperation,new=λref⋅[∑i−1N(πU,i⋅τU,i)]. λoperation,new=λref⋅[∑i−1N(πU,i⋅τU,i)]. where l ref Failure rate under reference conditions FIT N Total number of load operating conditions - i considered load operating condition - π U,i respective dimensional load factor of the first electrical load quantity (load voltage) - t U,i respective time-dependent load factor of the first electrical load quantity (load voltage) - π l,i respective size-related load factor of the second electrical load quantity (load current) - t l,i respective time-dependent load factor of the second electrical load quantity (load current) - π T,i respective size-related load factor of the thermal load quantity (load temperature) - TT,i respective time-related load factor of the thermal load quantity (load temperature) -

[0022] λ ref can be determined and stored in advance, e.g., on a storage unit. For example, λ ref The specifications can be found in Siemens standard 29500 or data sheets.

[0023] By determining the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system based on at least the first weighting factors of the multiple operating conditions (determined for at least one electrical load parameter) and the second weighting factors of the multiple operating conditions (determined for at least one electrical load parameter) (see, for example, Formula 3), the failure rate can be determined particularly easily, reliably, and / or in a manner that is particularly relevant to customer behavior. If the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system is determined, and in particular calculated, for multiple electrical load parameters and one thermal load parameter (see Formula 4), the failure rate can be determined in a manner particularly relevant to customer behavior. Thus, a vehicle with a vehicle electrical system or...A system consisting of a vehicle and an external data processing system will be provided, which can be operated in a particularly secure manner.

[0024] In a method according to the invention, it can be advantageous to further monitor at least a second electrical load parameter of the electrical component and / or a thermal load parameter of the electrical component, wherein the failure rate of the electrical component is additionally determined based on the at least one monitored second electrical load parameter and / or on the monitored thermal load parameter. Thus, the failure rate can be determined with particular accuracy. The data obtained by monitoring several electrical load parameters, e.g., an electrical load voltage and an electrical load current, and / or a thermal load parameter, e.g., a load temperature, of the electrical component, as monitoring data, in particular raw monitoring data, can be stored on a storage unit, e.g., a storage unit of the vehicle or...of the vehicle's electrical system and / or on a storage unit of an external data processing system of a system according to the invention, and are thus made available in particular. From the monitoring data thus made available, the several load operating conditions for the at least one electrical component can be determined using the feature extraction method, and for the several electrical load parameters and / or the thermal load parameter, respective first and second weighting factors can be determined, and the failure rate can be calculated according to Formula 4.

[0025] In a method according to the invention, it can be advantageous that the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system is determined in response to the detection of the fulfillment of an event criterion. The event criterion can be an event such as a vehicle event, e.g., a vehicle start and / or the occurrence of a particularly high load on the vehicle electrical system. For example, when the vehicle is started, the method according to the invention and stored monitoring data can be used to check whether the electrical component (and / or other electrical components of the vehicle electrical system) can still be operated safely or could fail soon, whereby, in particular, a warning signal is issued in response to the detection that the electrical component (and / or the other electrical components) could fail soon.Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system is determined in response to the detection of a fulfillment of a time criterion. For example, the failure rate of the electrical component and / or other electrical components of the vehicle electrical system could be determined monthly.

[0026] In a method according to the invention, it can be advantageous that at least one failure rate criterion with a failure rate threshold is defined for the electrical component, wherein a control signal is output as a reaction when it is detected that the determined failure rate of the electrical component meets the failure rate criterion with the failure rate threshold. For example, the determined failure rate of the electrical component can be compared with the failure rate threshold, and based on the comparison result, it can be determined whether the failure rate criterion is met, and if so, the control signal can be output as a reaction. The failure rate threshold can be determined or set in advance. The failure rate threshold can be stored on a memory unit, e.g., a memory unit of the vehicle or...The control signal can be stored in the vehicle's electrical system and / or on a storage unit of an external data processing system of a system according to the invention, and thus made available in particular. The control signal can contain warning information, with which, for example, a vehicle occupant can be alerted to the increased failure rate of the electrical component. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that the control signal causes the electrical system, in particular at least the electrical component of the electrical system, to operate in a safe state, e.g., in a state with reduced power.

[0027] In a method according to the invention, it can be advantageous to determine the failure rate as the first failure rate for a first operating period of the electrical component and as the second failure rate for a second operating period of the electrical component that differs at least partially from the first operating period. Based on at least the first and second failure rates, a new failure rate of the electrical component is then determined. This allows a storage unit for storing the monitoring data, e.g., a storage unit of the vehicle or the vehicle's electrical system and / or a storage unit of an external data processing system of a system according to the invention, to be kept relatively small. Furthermore, this allows the failure rate of the electrical component to be determined and monitored over its lifetime.In particular, initial monitoring data is collected for the first operating period of the electrical component, and for the second operating period of the electrical component, different second monitoring data is collected and stored.

[0028] According to a second aspect, the present invention shows a vehicle with an on-board electrical system, wherein the vehicle is configured to carry out a method according to the invention, in particular to carry it out at least independently.

[0029] The vehicle can be a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car or a truck or a motorcycle.

[0030] The vehicle can have a control device for carrying out, in particular co-carrying out, the functions of the method according to the invention, wherein the control device is in particular configured at least to monitor the at least one first electrical load parameter and / or further load parameters, and / or to provide monitoring data, and / or to determine the multiple load operating conditions by means of the feature extraction method, and / or to determine the first weighting factors, and / or to determine the second weighting factors, and / or to determine the failure rate of the electrical component and / or a respective failure rate of further electrical components of the vehicle's electrical system, and / or to output a control signal. Furthermore, the control device can have at least one storage unit.

[0031] The vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention thus has the same advantages as those already described for the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0032] According to a third aspect, the present invention discloses a system comprising a vehicle, in particular a vehicle configured according to the invention, and a vehicle-external data processing system, wherein the system comprising the vehicle and the vehicle-external data processing system is configured to carry out a method according to the invention. Thus, first sub-functions of the method according to the invention can be carried out by and / or on the vehicle, and second sub-functions of the method according to the invention can be carried out by and / or on the vehicle-external data processing system. For example,The monitoring of at least one initial electrical load parameter of the electrical component can be carried out on the vehicle side, and the monitoring data based thereon can be transmitted to the vehicle-external data processing system, in particular by radio transmission, and the vehicle-external data processing system is configured at least to determine the multiple load operating conditions using the feature extraction method, and / or to determine the first weighting factors, and / or to determine the second weighting factors, and / or to determine the failure rate of the electrical component and / or a respective failure rate of other electrical components of the vehicle's electrical system, and / or to recognize that the determined failure rate of the electrical component meets the failure rate criterion with the failure rate threshold and then output a control signal as a reaction, in particular to the vehicle.This allows the failure rate of the electrical component to be determined and monitored particularly effectively over its lifetime. Furthermore, this enables the vehicle's storage unit, for example for storing monitoring data, to be kept significantly smaller.

[0033] The system according to the third aspect of the invention thus has the same advantages as those already described for the method according to the first aspect of the invention or the vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0034] According to further aspects, the present invention discloses a computer program product, a computer-readable medium and a data carrier signal, wherein the computer program product, the computer-readable medium and the data carrier signal have the same advantages as have already been described for the method according to the first aspect of the invention, the vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention, the system according to the third aspect of the invention, the computer program product, the computer-readable medium and the data carrier signal according to the further aspects of the invention.

[0035] The computer program product comprises commands, in particular instructions, wherein the commands, in particular instructions, cause a vehicle or system according to the invention to execute a method according to the invention. The computer program product can be implemented as computer-readable instruction code in any suitable programming language, such as Java, C++, etc., wherein, in particular, the instruction code of the computer program product can program a computer or other programmable devices, such as a control device of a vehicle or system according to the invention, in such a way that the desired functions are executed.

[0036] The control device can be or include at least one control unit. Furthermore, the control device can be understood or configured as a (single) control unit of the vehicle or as a plurality or multitude of control units of the vehicle or of the system consisting of the vehicle and the external data processing system, interconnected by communication technology.

[0037] The computer program product can be realized either by means of instruction code, i.e., software (computer program), or by means of one or more special electronic circuits, i.e., in hardware, or in any hybrid form, i.e., by means of software components and hardware components.

[0038] The computer program product can be stored on a computer-readable storage medium, e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory and / or a processor of the control device.

[0039] Furthermore, the computer program product can be provided in a network such as the Internet, from which it can be downloaded by a user when needed, wherein, in particular, the data carrier signal transmits the computer program product according to the invention when downloading the computer program product.

[0040] Further improvements to the invention will become apparent from the following description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are schematically illustrated in the figures. All features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description, or the drawings, including design details, spatial arrangements, and process steps, can be essential to the invention, both individually and in various combinations. It should be noted that the figures are for descriptive purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

[0041] They show schematically: Fig. 1. an on-board electrical system, Fig. 2 a vehicle or system, Fig. 3 a procedure, and Fig. 4 a procedure.

[0042] In the following figures, identical reference numerals are used for the same technical features even for different embodiments.

[0043] Fig. Figure 1 schematically reveals an on-board electrical system (100) for a vehicle (200), such as that used, for example, in a vehicle. Fig. 2 is disclosed. The vehicle electrical system (100) comprises an energy source (10), e.g., a battery, for providing electrical energy. Furthermore, the vehicle electrical system (100) comprises an electrical component (50), e.g., an electrical consumer and / or energy generator. The vehicle electrical system (100) also comprises a control device (90), wherein the control device (90) is used in particular for carrying out, and especially for co-carrying out, the functions of a method according to the invention, such as, for example, Fig. 3 and / or Fig.4 is designed. In particular, the control device (90) can be configured at least to monitor the at least one first electrical load parameter and / or further load parameters, and / or to provide monitoring data, and / or to determine the multiple load operating conditions using the feature extraction method, and / or to determine the first weighting factors, and / or to determine the second weighting factors, and / or to determine the failure rate of the electrical component (50) and / or a respective failure rate of further electrical components (not shown) of the vehicle's electrical system (100) (see dashed-dotted line). Furthermore, the vehicle's electrical system (100) comprises a first current path (30), wherein the first current path (30) electrically couples or connects the power source (10) and the electrical component (50).Furthermore, a switching unit (40), e.g., a controllable electronic switch such as a semiconductor switch, is electrically arranged in the first current path (30). The switching unit (40) can be switched from a closed state to an open state, whereby in the open state the switching unit (40) interrupts the first current path (30) and thus a current flow in the first current path (30). Furthermore, the vehicle electrical system (100) can have a first detection unit (41) for directly or indirectly detecting at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component (50). For example, the first detection unit (41) can be an ammeter electrically arranged in the first current path (30) for detecting an electrical load current of the electrical component (50) as the first electrical load parameter. The detected electrical load current or...The data for this can be transmitted to the control device (90) (see dashed-dotted line). It is also conceivable that the first detection unit (41) detects a value indicative of the electrical load current of the electrical component (50). Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle electrical system (100) can detect a value indicative of the electrical load voltage of the electrical component (50) and / or a value indicative of the thermal load temperature of the electrical component (50). In particular, the vehicle electrical system (100) can be configured to carry out a method according to the invention, as disclosed, for example, in the further figures.

[0044] Fig. Figure 2 schematically discloses a vehicle (200) or a system (600) consisting of a vehicle (200) and a vehicle-external data processing system (500). The vehicle (200) may have an on-board network (100), such as that found, for example, in a vehicle. Fig.Figure 1 discloses the vehicle (200) as being configured to carry out a method according to the invention, as disclosed, for example, with respect to further figures, in particular independently, preferably also independently of the vehicle-external data processing system (500). Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that the vehicle and the vehicle-external data processing system (500) are configured to jointly carry out a method according to the invention, as disclosed, for example, with respect to further figures, wherein, in particular, for the joint execution of the method, the vehicle (200) and the vehicle-external data processing system (500) are configured to communicate with each other wirelessly.

[0045] Fig.Figure 3 schematically discloses a method for determining the failure rate of an electrical component (50) of an electrical system (100) of a vehicle (200). The method comprises, as a step, monitoring (320) at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component (50). Furthermore, it is conceivable that at least one second electrical load parameter of the electrical component (50) and / or a thermal load parameter of the electrical component is / are monitored (321). The method further comprises, as a step, providing (340) monitoring data based at least on the monitored, at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component (50). The method further comprises, as a step, determining (360) several load operating conditions for the at least one electrical component (50) from the provided monitoring data using a feature extraction method.Furthermore, it is conceivable that the feature extraction method uses information entropy to determine the multiple load operating conditions for the electrical component (50) from the provided monitoring data (361). The method further comprises, as a step, determining (380) for each load operating condition of the multiple load operating conditions a first weighting factor, at least for the at least one first electrical load quantity, wherein the first weighting factor is indicative of a magnitude-based load on the electrical component (50). The method further comprises, as a step, determining (400) for each load operating condition of the multiple load operating conditions a second weighting factor, at least for the at least one first electrical load quantity, wherein the second weighting factor is indicative of a time-based load on the electrical component (50).The method further comprises, as a step (420), determining the failure rate of the electrical component (50) of the vehicle electrical system (100) at least based on the first weighting factors of the multiple operating conditions determined for at least one electrical load parameter and based on the second weighting factors of the multiple operating conditions determined for at least one electrical load parameter. In a method according to the invention, it may also be advantageous for the failure rate of the electrical component (50) to be additionally determined based on the at least one monitored second electrical load parameter and / or on the monitored thermal load parameter (429).

[0046] In a method according to the invention, it can further be advantageous that at least one failure rate criterion with a failure rate threshold is defined for the electrical component (50), wherein when it is detected (440) that the determined failure rate of the electrical component (50) meets the failure rate criterion with the failure rate threshold, a control signal is then output as a reaction (460). For example, the control signal can be output from a control unit (90) to the electrical component (50), wherein the control signal causes the electrical component (50) to change its performance, in particular to reduce it, in order to prevent a potentially imminent failure.

[0047] In a method according to the invention, it may also be advantageous to determine the failure rate of the electrical component (50) of the vehicle electrical system (100) as a reaction to the detection (301) of a fulfillment of an event criterion and / or to determine the failure rate of the electrical component (50) of the vehicle electrical system (100) as a reaction to the detection (302) of a fulfillment of a time criterion.

[0048] Fig. Figure 4 schematically discloses a method according to the invention, as already used, for example, in Fig.3 is described, wherein for a first operating period of the electrical component (50) the failure rate is determined as the first failure rate (421) and for a second operating period of the electrical component (50) which differs at least partially from the first operating period of the electrical component (50) the failure rate is determined as the second failure rate (422), wherein a new failure rate of the electrical component is determined based at least on the first failure rate and the second failure rate (423). Reference symbol list 10 Energy source 30 first current path 40 switching unit 41 first recording unit 50 electrical components 90 Control device 100 On-board power supply 200 vehicles 301 Detecting the Fulfillment of an Event Criterion 302 Recognizing the fulfillment of a time criterion 320 Monitoring at least one initial electrical load parameter 321 Monitoring a second electrical load parameter and / or a thermal load parameter 340 Providing monitoring data 360 Determining multiple load operating conditions 361 Determining multiple load operating conditions 380 Determine a first weighting factor for each of the multiple load operating conditions. 400 Determine a second weighting factor for each of the multiple load operating conditions. 420 Determining the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system 421 Determine first failure rate 422 Determine second failure rate 423 Determine new failure rate 429 Determining the failure rate of the electrical component of the vehicle electrical system 440 Detecting compliance with a failure rate criterion 460 Output control signal 500 vehicle-external data processing systems 600 System

Claims

[1] Method for determining a failure rate of an electrical component (50) of an on-board electrical system (100) of a vehicle (200), the method comprising: - Monitoring (320) at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component (50), - Providing (340) monitoring data at least based on the monitored, at least one first electrical load parameter of the electrical component (50), - Determining (360) several load operating conditions for the at least one electrical component (50) from the provided monitoring data using a feature extraction method, - Determine (380) for each of the several load operating conditions a first weighting factor at least for the at least one first electrical load quantity, wherein the first weighting factor is indicative of a dimensional load of the electrical component (50), - Determine (400) for each of the multiple load operating conditions a second weighting factor at least for the at least one first electrical load quantity, wherein the second weighting factor is indicative of a time load of the electrical component (50), - Determine (420) the failure rate of the electrical component (50) of the vehicle electrical system (100) at least on the basis of the first weighting factors of the multiple load operating conditions determined at least for the at least one first electrical load quantity and on the basis of the second weighting factors of the multiple load operating conditions determined at least for the at least one first electrical load quantity. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by, that the feature extraction method uses information entropy to determine the multiple load operating conditions for the electrical component (50) from the provided monitoring data (361). [3] Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that furthermore at least a second electrical stress parameter of the electrical component (50) and / or a thermal stress parameter of the electrical component is monitored (321), wherein the failure rate of the electrical component (50) is additionally determined based on the at least one monitored second electrical stress parameter and / or on the monitored thermal stress parameter (429). [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized by, that the monitored, at least one first electrical load quantity is an electrical load voltage or an electrical load current of the electrical component (50) and the monitored, second electrical load quantity of the electrical component (50) is an electrical load quantity different from the at least one first electrical load quantity. [5] Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the failure rate of the electrical component (50) of the vehicle electrical system (100) is determined in response to a detection (301) of a fulfillment of an event criterion and / or that the failure rate of the electrical component (50) of the vehicle electrical system (100) is determined in response to a detection (302) of a fulfillment of a time criterion. [6] Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that for the electrical component (50) at least one failure rate criterion with a failure rate threshold is defined, wherein if it is detected (440) that the determined failure rate of the electrical component (50) meets the failure rate criterion with the failure rate threshold, then a control signal is output as a reaction (460). [7] Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that for a first operating period of the electrical component (50) the failure rate is determined as the first failure rate and for a second operating period of the electrical component (50) which is at least partially different from the first operating period of the electrical component (50) the failure rate is determined as the second failure rate (421, 422), whereby a new failure rate of the electrical component is determined based at least on the first failure rate and the second failure rate (423). [8] Vehicle (200) with an on-board electrical system (100), wherein the vehicle (200) is configured to perform a method according to any of the preceding claims. [9] System (600) consisting of a vehicle (200) and a vehicle-external data processing system (500), wherein the system (600) consisting of the vehicle (200) and the vehicle-external data processing system (500) is configured to jointly perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. [10] Computer program product, wherein the computer program product comprises instructions, the instructions causing a vehicle (200) according to claim 8 or a system (600) according to claim 9 to execute a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. [11] Computer-readable medium, wherein the computer program product according to claim 10 is stored on the computer-readable medium. [12] Data carrier signal, wherein the data carrier signal transmits the computer program product according to claim 10.

Images