Actuator Control Configuration via External Parameter Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation systems face challenges in efficiently and easily adapting actuator controls to specific actuators, requiring significant effort to manage various actuator parameters and configurations, especially when dealing with a large number of different actuators and sensors.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a display and input device, such as a microcomputer, to connect with actuator controls via wired or wireless communication, allowing users to input actuator identifiers and retrieve actuator parameters from a remote memory, which are then processed and displayed for configuration, reducing the need for additional program modules and minimizing effort in configuring the actuator control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If actuator controls are configured to work with a large variety of different actuators and sensors, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator control is designed with a universal configuration approach that can handle multiple actuator types through a single standardized interface. The control unit can automatically recognize and adapt to different actuator models by retrieving their specific parameters from external memory, eliminating the need for multiple specialized control units for different actuator types.
Solution Approach 2:
An external memory device serves as an intermediary between the actuator control and the diverse actuator types. This memory device stores actuator-specific parameters and characteristics, allowing the control unit to access the necessary information without having to internally process or store all possible actuator variations, thus reducing the complexity of the actuator control itself.
2Productivity
If actuator-specific parameters are stored in the actuator control itself, then the configuration speed is improved, but the loss of substance increases due to the large memory requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator-specific parameters are extracted from the actuator control and stored in a separate external memory device. This extraction allows the actuator control to maintain a compact size with minimal internal memory, while still enabling fast configuration by quickly retrieving the necessary parameters from the external memory when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator parameters are pre-stored in the external memory device in a ready-to-use format. When configuration is needed, the actuator control can immediately retrieve these pre-prepared parameters without performing complex calculations or data processing, thus achieving fast configuration speed without requiring large internal memory capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple program modules are added to the actuator control to handle different actuator types, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing multiple specialized program modules for different actuator types, a single universal program module is used that can handle all actuator types. This module retrieves actuator-specific parameters from external memory and adapts its operation accordingly, providing multi-functionality without the complexity of multiple dedicated modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The external memory device acts as an intermediary that provides actuator-specific information to the universal program module. This allows the program module to maintain a simple, unified structure while still being able to accommodate different actuator types by accessing their specific parameters from the external memory when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for configuring an automation system (1) which comprises a machine controller (2), at least one control device (3) which is connected to the machine controller (2), at least one actuator controller (4), in particular a motor controlling device, and at least one actuator (5). The machine controller (2) outputs control commands to the control device (3), and the control device (3) is designed to convert the control commands into actuator movements. The method has the following steps: establishing a communication link between a display and input device (12) and one of the actuator controllers (4), providing specifiable information from the actuator controller (4) to the display and input device (12), presenting the information, inputting an actuator identifier of the actuator (5) into the display and input device (12), reading actuator parameters from a parameter store (17) by means of the display and input device (12) using the actuator identifier, providing the read actuator parameters from the display and input device (12) to the actuator controller (4), processing the actuator parameters in the actuator controller (4), and disconnecting the communication link.