Method of detecting execution errors in program-controlled apparatus

US4535456A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Kurt Bauer · Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE
• Karl-Heinz Fischer · Laatzen, DE
• Heinz Huber · Ludwigsburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 16, 1983
• Grant date: Aug 13, 1985
• Expiry date: Feb 16, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/15048
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

To permit, by a program, supervision of a programmable controller, which controls, for example, operation of a machine tool, or other device in which sequential events occur, a computer controlled diagnostic unit (2) is connected to the programmable controller (1). The stepping or sequencing structure of the program in the programmable controller (1) is stored in the diagnostic unit (2), for example in a fixed memory (ROM 4). Supervision of the control of the machine tool, engine, or other operating unit, for example due to malfunction of transducers, connecting lines, and the like, is supervised by testing if the conditions for going from one step in a program to the next step are always satisfied; if an error is recognized, the respective steps of the control program are interrogated, and the conditions for stepping from one step to the next are tested. That one of the steps which does not meet the further sequencing conditions--or the next preceding one which does meet the conditions--then provide an indication of the source of the error, malfunction or trouble.