Bus Subscriber Auto-Addressing via Physical State Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to accurately determine the position of individual slave units, such as fans, within a system, even after address assignment, leading to uncertainty about their location in operational areas.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses indirect information acquisition through sensors detecting physical state changes, such as temperature variations, to determine the position of slave units by activating and measuring the operational function of each unit, allowing for iterative assignment of network addresses based on the largest measured change, and storing this information in a data allocation table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If auto-addressing algorithm is used to assign addresses to slave units, then individual addressing capability is improved, but position determination capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices that detect physical state changes (temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) caused by slave units. These sensors act as mediators between the slave units and the control system, providing indirect information about the positions of slave units without requiring direct communication or additional addressing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual method of determining slave unit positions with a sensor-based detection system. Instead of physically tracking or manually recording positions, the system uses sensors to detect physical state changes and automatically determines positions through evaluation, substituting mechanical tracking with electronic sensing and evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are used to detect physical state changes for position determination, then position determination precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sensors serve multiple functions: they monitor the physical state of the system for normal operation and simultaneously detect changes caused by slave units for position determination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated position detection devices, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the slave units' own operational effects (temperature changes, pressure changes, etc.) as the detection signal for position determination. The slave units effectively serve themselves by creating the physical state changes that the sensors detect, eliminating the need for separate active transmitters or additional signaling mechanisms from the slave units themselves.
3Loss of information
If iterative procedure is used to determine positions of all slave units, then complete position mapping is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a periodic iterative procedure where slave units are activated in sequence across different periods or cycles. Each cycle focuses on determining the position of one or more slave units by activating them and detecting the resulting physical state changes. This periodic approach systematically completes the position mapping of all slave units while allowing parallel operations in other parts of the system during each cycle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and reliable determination of the position of all slave units in a system, ensuring accurate mapping of positions to network addresses, enhancing operational efficiency and clarity in complex applications like cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a detectable physical state change in the operating area or areas by measuring the respective measured variables that correspond to the respective state, specifically as a function of time by means of the sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a position-sensing method and a position-sensing device for sensing the installation location (F1,....., Fi) of slave units (SE1,....., SEi) in an operating region (A1,....., Ai) of a system (A) comprising a number i of adjacent operating regions (A1,....,Ai) each having a slave unit (SE1,..., SEi), the individual slave units (SE1, SEi) having a changeable operating function for achieving or changing the physical state in the operating region (A1,....., Ai) in question of the system and a sensor (S1,...., Si) being provided in each operating region (A1,...., Ai) in question in order to sense a measurement variable (T) proportional to the physical state in the operating region in question and an evaluating device being provided in order to determine, upon the activation or changing of the operating function of at least one slave unit (SE1,..., SEi), the installation location (F1,..., Fi) of said slave unit from the change in the measurement variables (T) over time.