Hierarchical Field Device Diagnosis With Selective Fail Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing field device diagnostic methods are inflexible and fail to accurately diagnose the operating state under specific use conditions, as a 'Fail' result in one diagnostic process can lead to a 'Fail' result in subsequent processes, limiting adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A field device with a diagnoser that can hierarchically implement diagnostic processes and selectively enable or disable diagnostic results, allowing for improved adaptability by bypassing or treating a 'Fail' result as 'Pass' based on predefined parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hierarchical diagnostic processes are implemented where subsequent processes use results from previous processes, then diagnostic completeness is improved, but diagnostic flexibility and adaptability deteriorate because a 'Fail' result propagates to all subsequent processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the diagnostic process dynamic by allowing the system to adaptively select whether to propagate diagnostic results between hierarchical processes. A control flag or parameter determines whether a 'Fail' result in one process should prevent subsequent processes from executing, enabling the system to switch between strict hierarchical diagnosis and flexible adaptive diagnosis based on operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of result propagation by introducing a configurable setting that controls whether diagnostic results are passed between hierarchical processes. This parameter can be adjusted based on specific use conditions, allowing the system to maintain diagnostic completeness when needed while preventing unnecessary 'Fail' propagation when operational context suggests otherwise.
2Measurement precision
If diagnostic results from previous processes are used in subsequent processes, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but loss of information increases when a 'Fail' result incorrectly propagates and masks actual device state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system monitors diagnostic results and operational conditions to determine whether result propagation is appropriate. When a 'Fail' result is obtained, the system evaluates contextual information and feedback from operational parameters to decide whether to propagate the result or allow subsequent diagnostic processes to continue independently, thereby preventing information loss.
3Reliability
If all diagnostic processes are executed hierarchically with result propagation, then comprehensive diagnosis is achieved, but diagnostic time increases due to cascading 'Fail' results requiring multiple process levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by evaluating whether result propagation should occur before executing subsequent diagnostic processes. By pre-assessing operational conditions and the nature of the 'Fail' result, the system can determine in advance whether to block or allow propagation, preventing unnecessary time consumption from cascading diagnostic failures while maintaining comprehensive diagnosis when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to improve the adaptability of diagnosis of an operating state of a field device, a field device 10 according to the present disclosure has a diagnoser 17 configured to diagnose an operating state of the field device 10 by hierarchically implementing a plurality of diagnostic processes. The diagnoser 17 can select whether to enable or disable a diagnostic result of at least one diagnostic process of a plurality of diagnostic processes in a diagnostic process after the one diagnostic process.