Control apparatus, data acquisition method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in acquiring high-precision odor data from odor sensors, which is crucial for accurate analysis in various applications.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus and method that detect specific operation signals from processing apparatuses, such as coffee machines, to determine optimal data acquisition periods for odor sensors, ensuring stable and precise odor data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the odor sensor operates continuously to acquire odor data, then the quantity of odor data is increased, but the degradation of odor sensor performance accelerates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of odor dataVSAvoidodor sensor performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The odor sensor operates periodically based on detected operation signals rather than continuously. The control apparatus activates the odor sensor only during specific periods when food or drink processing is detected, reducing overall operation time while ensuring adequate data collection during relevant events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses operation signals from the food/drink processing apparatus itself to trigger odor sensor activation. The processing apparatus effectively serves its own monitoring needs by providing the trigger signals that activate the odor sensor during its operational cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the odor sensor operates only when triggered by operation signals, then the degradation of odor sensor performance is reduced, but the quantity of odor data may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveodor sensor performanceVSAvoidquantity of odor data

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The control apparatus monitors operation signals from the food/drink processing apparatus and uses this feedback to dynamically control the odor sensor activation. When operation signals indicate processing activity, the odor sensor is activated to collect data; when no processing is detected, the sensor remains inactive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If data acquisition is performed without referencing operation signals, then the simplicity of the system is maintained, but the precision of odor data analysis is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidodor data precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control apparatus combines the control functions for both the food/drink processing apparatus and the odor sensor into a single integrated system. This merging allows the same control unit to coordinate processing operations and odor data acquisition, reducing overall system complexity while enabling precise synchronized data collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12329311B2Control apparatus, data acquisition method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 NEC CORP

AI summary

A control apparatus (10) includes a signal detection unit (110) and a data acquisition unit (120). The signal detection unit (110) acquires operation signals relating to an operation of a processing apparatus (20) that processes food and drink, and detects a specific operation signal relating to a specific operation from among the operation signals. The data acquisition unit (120) determines, based on a detection timing of the specific operation signal, a data acquisition period of an odor sensor (30) provided in the processing apparatus (20), and acquires output data being output from the odor sensor (20) during the data acquisition period.