Communication Facility Power Sequencing to Prevent Main Source Overload

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large-scale communication systems, managing multiple independent communication facilities requires stable power supply to prevent failures and ensure continuous operation, but starting or stopping power supply to multiple facilities simultaneously can lead to instability and overload of the main power source, necessitating manual operation by skilled personnel.

Innovation Solution

A power source supply control device and method that uses controllable switch units, load monitor units, and a switch control unit to sequentially manage power supply to communication facilities based on predetermined conditions, ensuring stable operation and preventing overload by monitoring the state of each load and adjusting the energization order.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If power source electric power supply is started simultaneously to multiple communication facilities, then productivity is improved, but the main power source becomes overloaded and loses function

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of activating communication facilitiesVSAvoidstability of main power source

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device determines a predetermined energization order for multiple loads before activation. The switch control unit switches switch units in this predetermined order, ensuring that loads are activated sequentially rather than simultaneously. This preliminary planning of activation sequence prevents overload while maintaining systematic activation of all communication facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The activation process is divided into discrete segments corresponding to individual switch units. Each switch unit controls power supply to a specific load, and the control device manages each switch unit independently according to the predetermined order. This segmentation allows controlled sequential activation, preventing simultaneous overload while ensuring all facilities are activated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If power source electric power supply is sequentially started to multiple communication facilities in predetermined order, then reliability is improved, but manual operation is required and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of power supply operationVSAvoidspeed of activating communication facilities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device automatically determines the energization order and controls the switching sequence without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously managing the sequential activation process, eliminating the need for skilled operation personnel while maintaining the reliability benefits of ordered activation. The control device independently monitors load states and adjusts switching timing accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical switching operation is replaced by an electronic control system. The switch control unit electronically controls the switching of switch units based on predetermined orders and monitored load states, substituting human manual operations with automated electronic control. This eliminates the need for skilled personnel while maintaining sequential activation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If power source electric power supply is started to communication facilities without monitoring load states, then ease of operation is improved, but the order of activation may be incorrect causing errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of power supply controlVSAvoidcorrectness of activation order

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Load monitor units continuously monitor the operational states of loads and provide feedback to the switch control unit. Based on this feedback, the control device determines whether to switch the next switch unit in the predetermined order. This feedback mechanism ensures that activation proceeds correctly according to the predetermined sequence while maintaining simple automated operation without requiring manual verification of each step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11901728B2Communication facilities power supply control device, power supply control method, power supply control program, and power supply control system

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A power source supply control device includes controllable switch units configured to switch provision or non-provision of power source electric power supply to respective loads from a main power source, load monitor units configured to monitor a state in each of one or more of the loads connected to downstream sides of switch units, and a switch control unit configured to control on/off of each of the switch units sequentially, based on monitor situations of the load monitor units, in which the switch control unit specifies an energization switching order to the loads according to a predetermined state.