Bus Addressing Gateway for Multi-Motor Starter Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In scenarios with a large number of motor starters, allocating communication addresses and adapting communication protocols becomes a challenge, leading to increased system costs and reduced communication timeliness.

Innovation Solution

A control device comprising multiple connection units, bus units, and a gateway, where each bus unit obtains a bus address by connecting to a connection unit and converting its location identification, and the gateway performs information exchange with the controller based on these addresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual allocation of communication addresses is used for each motor starter, then communication protocol adaptation can be achieved, but the time required for configuring bus addresses increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication protocol adaptationVSAvoidtime required for configuring bus addresses
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bus unit automatically obtains its bus address by reading the location identification from the connection unit and converting it through address conversion logic, eliminating the need for manual configuration. The system serves itself by using the physical position information already present in the connection unit to generate the communication address automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The connection unit stores the location identification in advance, which represents the physical position of the bus unit. This pre-stored information is later used by the bus unit to generate its bus address, so the address configuration is prepared beforehand rather than being configured manually during system setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If individual configuration of communication addresses is performed for each bus unit, then communication accuracy can be ensured, but the efficiency of installation and debugging decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication address accuracyVSAvoidefficiency of installation and debugging
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Each bus unit automatically configures its own bus address by reading the location identification from its connected connection unit and performing address conversion. This self-configuration process ensures that each unit receives the correct address corresponding to its physical position without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining accuracy while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The location identification is pre-stored in the connection unit during manufacturing or system setup. When a bus unit is installed in a connection unit, it automatically retrieves this pre-stored identification and converts it to the appropriate bus address, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual configuration during installation and debugging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a large number of motor starters are connected to the bus, then system functionality is enhanced, but communication timeliness deteriorates due to increased data throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidcommunication timeliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the bus address space based on the location identification values, which are distributed according to the physical positions of connection units. This segmentation allows for organized address allocation that can facilitate efficient data routing and management, potentially improving communication timeliness even as the number of connected motor starters increases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4546720A1Controlling device, controlling method and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC (CHINA) CO LTD
  • EP4546720A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4546720A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4546720A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Embodiments of the disclosure disclose a control device, control method and storage medium. The control device includes: a plurality of connection units respectively connected to a bus in the control device; one or more bus units, wherein each of the one or more bus units is configured to, in response to being connected to a connection unit of the plurality of connection units, obtain a bus address for the bus and corresponding to the connection unit; and a gateway connected to the bus and adapted to communicate with a controller, and the gateway configured to perform information exchange between the controller and the one or more bus units based on the respective bus addresses of the one or more bus units.