Communication Control Unit Network Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In communication control systems, achieving synchronous operation among multiple control devices connected via a network is challenging due to differences in configuration and processing delays, leading to offset cycles and reduced precision in motor output timing.
Innovation Solution
A communication control unit with a control command calculation section, synchronization section, communication delay storage, and transmission time control section is implemented to measure and manage communication delays, ensuring synchronized operation by adjusting the transmission time of control commands based on measured delays and collected start times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If control commands are transmitted to multiple control devices via network, then the control system can operate multiple devices, but communication delays cause offset in operation cycles and reduce synchronization precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures communication delays in advance between the communication control unit and each control device, storing these delay values for subsequent compensation. By performing the measurement and storage actions beforehand, the system can pre-calculate adjusted transmission times that account for individual device delays, thereby maintaining synchronization precision while operating multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission time parameter of control commands based on measured communication delays. By adjusting the transmission timing parameter for each control device according to its specific delay characteristics, the system compensates for network variability and maintains precise synchronization across all devices despite different communication paths.
2Speed
If control commands are transmitted without considering communication delays, then transmission is simple and fast, but operation cycles become offset and control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of communication delays and stores these values before actual control operations. This advance preparation allows the system to quickly compensate for delays during real-time control without adding significant transmission overhead, thus maintaining high speed while achieving precise motor output timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where communication delays are measured and used to adjust transmission timing. The system continuously monitors and compensates for communication variations by using the measured delay values to calculate appropriate transmission time adjustments, ensuring precise control despite network variability.
3Reliability
If synchronization protocol is implemented to align operation times, then control devices can operate synchronously, but additional communication overhead increases control cycle time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures and stores communication delays in advance during system initialization or setup phase. By performing this measurement action beforehand, the system avoids the need for continuous synchronization communication during control cycles, thereby maintaining high synchronous operation reliability while minimizing additional time overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control device uses its own measured communication delay value to self-adjust its transmission timing. This self-service approach eliminates the need for centralized synchronization coordination and continuous inter-device communication, reducing control cycle time while maintaining reliable synchronous operation through autonomous timing adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication control unit and a communication control system are provided in which control devices can synchronously operate. In a communication control system in which a communication control unit and multiple control devices having an actuator to operate a control target are connected via a network, the communication control unit provides a control command to the control devices, synchronizes times of the communication control unit and the control devices, obtains communication delays relative to the control devices, collects control start times of the control devices, obtains a time by subtracting the control start time from a predetermined time as a start time of the control device, calculates a time obtained by subtracting the communication delay from the start time for each control device, and transmits the control command to the control devices before the earliest time of the calculated times.