Common Controller with Interchangeable Interface Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building automation systems require numerous hardware and software variants to accommodate different environments and applications, leading to labor-intensive custom configurations prone to human errors, increased testing time, and higher implementation costs.
Innovation Solution
A common controller with interchangeable interface boards is used to reduce the number of unique hardware variants and configurations, allowing for flexible adaptation to various environments and applications through preloaded applications and dynamic or static binding of functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If numerous hardware and software variants are used to accommodate different environments and applications, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal field device platform that can perform multiple functions through configurable software and interchangeable interface boards. A single field device housing can accommodate different interface boards (analog, digital, communication protocols) allowing one hardware platform to serve multiple application environments without requiring separate specialized devices for each variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The field device is segmented into modular components: a common housing/processor unit and interchangeable interface boards. This segmentation allows the core functionality to remain standardized while only the interface layer needs to be swapped or configured differently for various applications, reducing the complexity of managing entirely different hardware variants.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom configuration of field devices is allowed for specific locations, then adaptability is improved, but implementation time and human errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The field device includes pre-configured interface boards and pre-loaded software templates that are prepared in advance for common application types. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for extensive custom configuration during implementation, as the device arrives ready-to-use or requiring minimal adaptation for standard applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables adaptability through software parameter configuration rather than hardware reconfiguration. By changing software parameters, communication protocols, and interface settings through a standardized configuration interface, the same hardware platform can be adapted to different applications quickly without manual wiring changes or extensive reconfiguration, reducing implementation time and errors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interface variants are used for different applications, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interface functionality is segmented into separate, interchangeable interface boards that can be physically swapped or logically selected. Each interface board handles a specific protocol or connection type (analog, digital, communication), but they all connect to a common processor unit, allowing interface variety without multiplying the complexity of the entire field device.
Solution Approach 2:
A single universal field device housing and processor unit can support multiple interface types through interchangeable interface boards. This multi-functionality approach allows one base unit to work with various interface variants, reducing the need to maintain separate hardware platforms for each interface type.
Data Source
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AI summary
A common automation system controller (128) configured using a hierarchical approach (900) for use in a building automation system (100).