Chain-Linked Field Device Failure Detection in Passenger Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passenger transport systems, such as elevator systems, face challenges in quickly and reliably detecting failures in field devices due to high data transfer volumes and requirements for increased data transfer rates, which can lead to increased costs and complexity in hardware and monitoring times.
Innovation Solution
A modified failure detection method where field devices are logically linked in an unbranched chain configuration, allowing a test telegram to be sequentially forwarded through the system, reducing data transfer volume and enabling quick detection of failures without the need for response telegrams from each device, thus reducing hardware requirements and maintaining required failure detection times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional failure detection methods are used with individual response telegrams from each field device, then failure detection reliability is improved, but data transfer volume increases and hardware complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the failure detection process by using a single test telegram that is sequentially forwarded through all field devices in the chain, replacing the conventional method of individual request-response telegrams with each device. This combining approach maintains detection reliability while significantly reducing data transfer volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The test telegram serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a presence test for each field device, a communication test for the bus system, and a sequential forwarding test for the chain configuration. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate response telegrams from each device.
2Reliability
If conventional failure detection methods are used with individual response telegrams from each field device, then failure detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection functions into a single test telegram transmission sequence, reducing the number of communication protocols and hardware components needed for failure detection while maintaining reliable monitoring of all field devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The test telegram mechanism performs multiple detection tasks universally across all field devices without requiring device-specific response handling hardware, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring comprehensive failure detection.
3Speed
If data transfer rate is increased to maintain quick failure detection in large systems, then failure detection speed is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic failure detection through sequential forwarding of the test telegram through the chain of field devices at regular monitoring intervals, achieving consistent detection speed without requiring high data transfer rates or expensive hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Each field device in the chain automatically forwards the test telegram to the next device without requiring active response transmission, enabling the system to self-monitor at standard data transfer rates without additional cost for high-speed communication infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger transport system includes a bus system transferring data between a central control unit and a plurality of field devices. In a failure detection method, the field devices are configured in an unbranched chain configuration and the control unit transmits a test telegram to a first field device to start a monitoring cycle during which each field device receiving the test telegram forwards the test telegram to a next field device in the chain. During the monitoring cycle, the control unit monitors a communication between the field devices occurring via the bus system, in order to detect when a field device does not forward the test telegram. A data volume transmitted via the bus system during the failure detection method is significantly reduced in comparison to conventional failure tests such that failures can be recognized more quickly and/or simpler hardware and/or software can be used.