Output Module and Method for Operating the Module

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.

A method for operating an output module in which a switch switches a switching voltage to an output for switching a load to causes a load current to flow, the method comprising:

• ascertaining a monitoring signal profile which maps a signal profile of the load current based on the switching voltage;
• analyzing the monitoring signal profile such that the monitoring signal profile is compared, at least at points, with a switch-on characteristic curve characterizing the load;
• operating a diagnostic device to generate a maintenance notification if the comparison exceeds a specifiable deviation;
• detecting, by a detector on initial startup of the load, an initial state and thus an individual switch-on characteristic curve of the load over a predetermined detection period at a predetermined sampling rate;
• ascertaining and storing, for the point-by-point comparison, value pairs at which a gradient changes sign or is equal to zero in the course of the individual switch-on characteristic curve from the individual switch-on characteristic curve;
• said value pairs having an amplitude and a point in time,
• providing, by the measuring device, the monitoring signal profile in the predetermined detection period at the predetermined sampling rate;
• ascertaining from the monitoring signal profile, for the point-by-point comparison, current value pairs at which a gradient changes sign or is equal to zero over a course of the monitoring signal profile;
• comparing the value pairs from the individual switch-on characteristic curve with the current value pairs with respect to a shift in their point in time;
• and
• generating the maintenance notification if a specifiable deviation is exceeded.