System and method of dynamically setting a fault threshold for an operational module

A method of determining a fault threshold for an operational module, the method comprising:

• maintaining a mapping of parameter values to fault thresholds for different production models of operational modules, each parameter value mapping to a fault threshold for one of the different production models;
• producing, by an electrical circuit of the operational module, a characterization signal having an electrical characteristic from which a parameter value may be derived;
• configuring the electrical circuit of the operational module such that the parameter value derived from the electrical characteristic maps uniquely, in accordance with the mapping of parameter values to fault thresholds, to a particular production model of the operational module and distinguishes the particular production model of the operational module from other production models of the operational module;
• measuring the electrical characteristic of the characterization signal to derive the parameter value therefrom;
• and
• obtaining, from the mapping of parameter values to fault thresholds, the fault threshold to which the derived parameter value maps, thereby obtaining the fault threshold for the operational module.

An apparatus for determining a fault threshold for an operational module, the apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining a mapping of parameter values to fault thresholds for different production models of operational modules, each parameter value mapping to a fault threshold for one of the different production models;
• means for producing a characterization signal with an electrical characteristic from which a parameter value may be derived, the means for producing being configured such that the parameter value maps uniquely, in accordance with the mapping of parameter values to fault thresholds, to a particular production model of the operational module and distinguishes the particular production model of the operational module from other production models of the operational module;
• means for measuring the electrical characteristic of the characterization signal to derive the parameter value therefrom;
• and
• means for accessing the mapping of parameter values to fault thresholds to obtain therefrom the fault threshold to which the derived parameter value maps, thereby obtaining the fault threshold for the operational module.

A system for determining a fault threshold of an operational module according to a model of the operational module, comprising:

• an operational module having circuitry for producing a characterization signal with an electrical characteristic that uniquely correlates to a model of the operational module;
• a storage unit maintaining an association between at least one parameter value and a fault threshold;
• a monitoring unit in communication with the operational module to receive the characterization signal and with the storage unit, the monitoring unit measuring the electrical characteristic of the characterization signal to derive a parameter value therefrom and accessing the storage unit to determine the fault threshold associated with the derived parameter value;
• and
• at least one other monitoring unit in communication with the operation module for receiving the characterization signal of the operation module and for measuring the electrical characteristic of the characterization signal to derive a parameter value therefrom,
• wherein the storage unit maintains at least one range of parameter values and associates each range of parameter values with a different fault threshold, each range of parameter values being separated from each adjacent range of parameter values by a gap of sufficient size to avoid an incorrect determination of the fault threshold when one of the monitoring units is removed from the system.