Patent ID: 6456928
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: F02B,F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for detecting system failure modes, wherein the system has a plurality of monitor points, each point having an actual parameter value, wherein the system has a plurality of failure modes, the method comprising the steps of:providing a range of desired parameter values for each monitor point; providing a monitor point comparator function for said monitor points, wherein said monitor point comparator function compares said actual parameter value with said desired parameter value range and generates a parameter deviation signal if said actual parameter value is outside of said desired parameter value range; providing a plurality of ambiguity groups, said ambiguity groups having at least one failure mode associated with a monitor point deviation signal; obtaining said actual parameter value; comparing said actual parameter value with said desired parameter value for each monitor point using said monitor point comparator function and generating a parameter deviation signal if said parameter actual value is outside of said desired parameter value range; and for each generated parameter deviation signal, searching said plurality of ambiguity groups for at least one ambiguity group that includes said generated parameter deviation signal, and identifying at least one failure mode associated with said generated deviation signal.