Patent ID: 6996442
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting an impending fault of a component operated within a closed-loop control system, comprising: disabling the closed-loop control system; selecting a value of a parameter for an actuator from a set of values of the parameter, the set of values defining a first operational range of the parameter, each of the set of values corresponding to a respective one in a set of values of a parameter for the component based on a predefined relationship, the first operational range corresponding to a second operational range, the second operational range defined by the set of values of the parameter for the component, the second range including a maximum value and a minimum value, the minimum value smaller than the maximum value; operating the actuator at the selected value; obtaining a sensor reading from a sensor monitoring the component while the actuator is operating at the selected value; determining whether the sensor reading is indicative of an impending fault condition of the component; and generating a warning if the sensor reading is indicative of the impending fault condition.