Method for reliably operating a sensor

US9335183B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Thomas Hess · Bad Liebenzell, DE
• Philip S. Schulz · Stuttgart, DE
• Markus Strasser · Penzberg, DE
• Sven Wagner · Tiefenbronn, DE
• Constantin Werner · Schenefeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 2012
• Grant date: May 10, 2016
• Expiry date: Jul 7, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F11/30
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method is presented for reliably operating at least one sensor connected to a central control unit. Each sensor senses a sensor value for its sensor parameter and creates an interrupt to the control unit when its sensor value is outside a sensor value range limited by an upper and a lower threshold. Upon generation of an interrupt by a sensor, a modified sensor value range is calculated so that the sensor value causing the interrupt lies within the modified sensor value range, and the modified sensor value range is applied to the respective sensor. The method further includes repeatedly verifying correct behavior of each sensor. A computer-readable medium, a computer program product, and a system for executing the above-summarized method are also presented.