Apparatus State Detection With Server-Updated Diagnostic Databases

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing apparatuses struggle to accurately detect abnormalities and predict failures due to reliance on self-diagnosis, leading to potential inaccuracies in maintenance agencies' understanding of their state.

Innovation Solution

A state detection system that utilizes a server to optimize a database on the apparatus, providing accurate information on its state through a communication network, enabling precise determination and notification to users and maintenance agencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If self-diagnosis is performed only by the apparatus, then the apparatus can determine whether a failure occurs, but the accuracy of state detection is insufficient and maintenance agencies cannot obtain accurate information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate detection accuracyVSAvoidinformation accuracy on apparatus state
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

A server is introduced as an intermediary between the apparatus and maintenance agencies. The server collects signal information from the apparatus, performs comprehensive analysis using multiple data sources including weather data and maintenance history, and provides accurate state determination to maintenance agencies. This mediator resolves the information accuracy problem by centralizing data processing and analysis capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the server continuously receives signal information from the apparatus, compares it with historical data and external conditions, and updates the apparatus database with optimized diagnostic information. This feedback mechanism enables continuous improvement of detection accuracy and provides maintenance agencies with progressively more accurate state information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If only self-diagnosis data is used, then the apparatus can detect failures, but it cannot predict when failures will occur or provide detailed maintenance information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure prediction capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance timing and detail information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary analysis of signal information trends before actual failures occur. By analyzing historical data patterns, weather conditions, and maintenance history in advance, the system can predict potential failures and provide maintenance agencies with advance notice and detailed maintenance planning information, enabling proactive rather than reactive maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes from binary failure detection to multi-parameter state analysis. The server analyzes multiple parameters including signal information trends, weather conditions, maintenance history, and operational patterns to determine apparatus state. This parametric approach enables failure prediction and provides detailed maintenance timing information that self-diagnosis alone cannot deliver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive data analysis is performed centrally, then accurate state determination is achieved, but communication load and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate determination accuracyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments diagnostic functions between the apparatus and server. The apparatus performs local signal collection and basic processing, while the server handles comprehensive data analysis and state determination. This segmentation distributes computational complexity, maintaining high accuracy while managing system complexity through functional division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The server is designed as a universal platform that handles multiple functions: collecting signal information from apparatus, analyzing historical data, integrating weather data, performing state determination, and communicating with maintenance agencies. This multi-functional design consolidates complexity into a single versatile component rather than requiring complex distributed intelligence across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4116895B1State detection system
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4116895B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4116895B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4116895B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A state detection system includes a server and an apparatus. The apparatus includes one or more internal devices, a first control module, a determination module, a first storage module, and a first communication module. The control module acquires signal information from each internal device. The determination module refers to a first database in the storage module and determines a state of the apparatus from the signal information. The communication module transmits, in response to a command from the control module, the result of determination by the determination module to a terminal device of a user, and transmits the result of the determination and/or the signal information to the server. The server stores a second database for determination of the state of the apparatus. The server determines the state of the apparatus based on the determination result and/or the signal information from the apparatus. The server notifies a maintenance agency of information based on the determination result, when the apparatus is in an abnormal state. The server transmits data in the second database to the apparatus and causes the apparatus to update the first database.