Method and device for monitoring a device equipped with a microprocessor

摘要

A method of monitoring a device which is equipped with a microprocessor, which method includes computation in the microprocessor on input data; performing a logic operation by logic gates in an external monitoring device on the same input data; comparing the results of the computation and the logic operation, and deriving from the compared results a diagnostic of the microprocessor, and optionally then switching the microprocessor to a backup safety mode. A device for carrying out such monitoring is also described.

主权项

1. A method of monitoring an electrical system which is equipped with a microprocessor, said method comprising:
performing in the microprocessor at least one computation on input data received at an input terminal of the microprocessor; performing in a monitoring device, which is distinct and physically separate from the microprocessor, at least one logic operation by logic gates on the identical input data; the microprocessor and the monitoring device performing, in parallel, said computation and/or logic operations on the identical input data; comparing the results of said at least one computation performed on said input data in the microprocessor, with the results of said at least one logic operation performed on the identical input data in the monitoring device, and deducing from the compared results diagnostic result information about the functioning of the microprocessor; and transmitting a feedback signal to the electrical system from an output terminal of the monitoring device, wherein the feedback signal represents said diagnostic result information about the microprocessor.