Communication Device Current Detection for Bus Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems in control networks face challenges in maintaining communication and identifying the failure point when a transmission line disconnects, leading to complex control issues and increased costs due to the need for additional monitoring functions in slave communication devices.
Innovation Solution
A communication device and system that utilize a current detection unit to detect changes in current flow across a transmission line, allowing for simple detection of disconnections and continuous communication by maintaining connections across the disconnected point, without the need for additional monitoring functions in slave devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bus is doubled to keep communication when disconnection occurs, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The master communication device automatically detects disconnections by monitoring current consumption patterns and autonomously determines the disconnected device without requiring additional monitoring functions in slave devices. The system serves itself by using existing communication currents for fault detection, eliminating the need for complex additional hardware or software in slave devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication line serves dual purposes: transmitting data between master and slave devices while simultaneously enabling disconnection detection through current monitoring. The existing communication infrastructure is used for multiple functions, avoiding the need for separate monitoring systems or doubled bus architecture.
2Measurement precision
If output current monitoring function is added to each slave communication device to specify disconnected place, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The master communication device performs the monitoring function centrally, eliminating the need for each slave device to have its own monitoring capability. The master device uses its existing communication interface to detect current consumption patterns and autonomously identifies the disconnected device, providing precise location information without adding complexity to slave devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The disconnection detection function is merged with the existing master communication device's control functions. The master device combines data communication and fault detection capabilities in a single unit, eliminating the need for separate monitoring functions in each slave device while maintaining high detection precision.
3Device complexity
If output currents of all slave communication devices are shared for monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but detection time increases and overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master communication device monitors current consumption in real-time during communication operations and immediately detects changes indicating disconnection. The system uses feedback from current measurements taken during normal communication to rapidly identify faults without requiring separate measurement cycles, reducing detection time while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The current monitoring occurs continuously during normal communication operations rather than requiring separate measurement phases. The master device leverages the ongoing communication current flow to detect disconnections, ensuring continuous monitoring without adding overhead or increasing detection time.
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 reliable and cost-effective maintenance of communication even during disconnections, simplifying the configuration and reducing overhead by directly detecting and specifying the failure point within the communication system.
Implementation Method 1
a current detection unit connected to the first port and the second port, in which a change in a quantity of current flowing in at least one of the first port and the second port is detected
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device that performs bidirectional multiplex communication between a plurality of slave communication devices and the communication device is provided with: a first port connected to one end section of a transmission line to which the slave communication devices are connected; a second port connected to the other end section of the transmission line; and a current detection unit connected to the first port and the second port. An operation voltage is supplied from the communication device to the slave communication devices, a change of the quantity of a current flowing in the first port and/or the second port is detected by means of the current detection unit, and on the basis of the current quantity change, occurrence of disconnection in the transmission line is detected.