US 12,332,311 B2
Output module and method for operating the module
Peter Fischer, Schwandorf (DE); and Fabian Dehling, Edelsfeld (DE)
Assigned to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
Appl. No. 18/039,382
Filed by Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 28, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/079914
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 30, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/117266, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 9, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20210889 (EP), filed on Dec. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0417833 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. G01R 31/327 (2006.01); H01H 47/00 (2006.01); H01H 50/18 (2006.01); H01H 50/44 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 31/3277 (2013.01) [H01H 47/002 (2013.01); H01H 50/18 (2013.01); H01H 50/44 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An output module having an output for switching a load, the output module comprising:
a switch which switches a switching voltage to the output to causes a load current to flow from the output through the load;
a measuring device which provides a monitoring signal profile which maps a signal profile of the load current based on the switching voltage;
an analyzer which compares, at least at points, the monitoring signal profile with a switch-on characteristic curve characterizing the load;
a diagnostic device which generates a maintenance notification if the comparison exceeds a specifiable deviation;
a detector which, on initial startup of the load, detects an initial state and thus an individual switch-on characteristic curve of the load over a predetermined detection period at a predetermined sampling rate, the detector additionally, for a point-by-point comparison, ascertaining and storing value pairs from the individual switch-on characteristic curve at which a gradient changes sign or is equal to zero over a course of the individual switch-on characteristic curve, the value pairs having an amplitude and a point in time,
wherein the measuring device provides the monitoring signal profile in the predetermined detection period at the predetermined sampling rate;
wherein the analyzer is configured, for the point-by-point comparison, to ascertain current value pairs from the monitoring signal profile at which a gradient changes sign or is equal to zero over the course of the monitoring signal profile; and
wherein the analyzer is additionally configure to examine the value pairs with the current value pairs with respect to a shift in their point in time and to generate the maintenance notification if a specifiable deviation is exceeded.