Engine Control Computer Failure Detection via Electrical Parameter Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine-control systems, such as FADEC, face challenges in detecting failures, particularly external failures, and are limited by their inability to accurately monitor semiconductor switches, which can lead to distorted failure detection and inability to handle cases where one relay fails in dual relay configurations.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising circuits for current, input voltage, and output voltage acquisition, along with an electrical monitoring circuit, discrete state monitoring circuit, deviation monitoring circuit, and an OR gate, which tests current and voltage levels to detect failures, ensuring accurate detection of both internal and external failures in engine-control computers, applicable to both mechanical and semiconductor switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual mechanical relay switches are used with contact monitoring, then internal failures can be detected, but external failures cannot be detected and detection is distorted when one relay fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical relay contact monitoring with electronic monitoring of current and voltage parameters. Instead of monitoring mechanical contact status, the system measures electrical parameters (current through the switch, input voltage, output voltage) to detect both internal and external failures, eliminating the limitations of mechanical relay-based monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces current and voltage measurement circuits as intermediary components between the switch and the monitoring system. These intermediaries provide accurate electrical parameter data that enables comprehensive failure detection, serving as a bridge between the physical switch state and the diagnostic logic.
2Adaptability or versatility
If contact monitoring is used for mechanical relays, then relay operation can be verified, but the solution is not applicable to semiconductor switches like MOSFETs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system that works with both mechanical relays and semiconductor switches (MOSFETs). By measuring electrical parameters (current, voltage) rather than relying on contact-specific mechanisms, the system achieves multi-functionality and can detect failures across different switch types without requiring type-specific monitoring approaches.
3Reliability
If dual relay configuration is used, then redundancy is provided, but failure detection is distorted when one relay fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through continuous measurement of current and voltage parameters. The monitoring system receives real-time electrical parameter data from the dual relay configuration and uses this feedback to accurately determine switch status and detect failures, preventing the distortion that occurs in open-loop contact monitoring systems when relays fail.
Data Source
AI summary
An engine-control computer including switches wherein switch voltage type outputs are configured to control some actuators and a device for detecting internal or external failures with respect to the computer including: a circuit for acquisition of current flowing in such a switch; a circuit for acquisition of an input voltage of the switch; a circuit for acquisition of an output voltage of the switch; an electrical monitoring circuit wherein the three inputs are connected respectively to outputs of each of the three circuits, which tests current and voltage level, delivers an invalid status if the current is less than a defined limit current and if the voltage is less than a defined threshold voltage and configured to detect an external failure with respect to the computer. A method detects failures of such a computer.