Asynchronous Arithmetic Safety Control with Mediated Data Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing railway safety devices face challenges in synchronizing asynchronous arithmetic units, leading to potential malfunctions and increased development costs due to complex design requirements and timing considerations.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with multiple asynchronous arithmetic units that output data in each control period, utilizing temporary storage units and comparison units to synchronize data output without requiring synchronization awareness, ensuring safe and error-free data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If asynchronous arithmetic units are used to improve processing performance, then productivity is improved, but synchronization difficulty increases leading to potential malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator unit that receives arithmetic results from multiple asynchronous arithmetic units, stores them temporarily, and manages their output timing. This mediator acts as an intermediary layer that handles the synchronization complexity, allowing the arithmetic units to operate asynchronously while ensuring reliable synchronized output through the mediator's coordinated control
2Reliability
If synchronization mechanisms are added to ensure data accuracy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where each arithmetic unit independently manages its own output data and stores it in the mediator unit when ready. The units do not need to coordinate with each other or be aware of other units' operations. The mediator unit automatically manages the storage and retrieval of results, eliminating the need for complex inter-unit synchronization protocols
3Reliability
If complex synchronization design is implemented to prevent malfunctions, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into independent functional modules: arithmetic units that perform calculations, a mediator unit that manages data storage and timing, and output units that deliver results. This segmentation allows each module to be designed, tested, and manufactured independently with standard components, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining reliability through the structured mediator architecture
Data Source
AI summary
The safety device includes a plurality of arithmetic units which output an arithmetic result of input data as arithmetic data in each control period, a first comparison unit which compares information indicating the control period at a timing at which each of the plurality of arithmetic units outputs the arithmetic data, a plurality of temporary storage units which hold the arithmetic data output by the plurality of arithmetic units, a second comparison unit configured to compare the arithmetic data held by the plurality of temporary storage units, and an output unit configured to output the arithmetic data to outside. Each of the plurality of temporary storage units outputs the arithmetic data held therein according to a comparison result from the first comparison unit, and the output unit outputs the arithmetic data output by the temporary storage units to the outside according to a comparison result from the second comparison unit.