Industrial Control Data Retransformation for Safe Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial control systems face challenges in achieving computational efficiency while ensuring high operational safety, particularly in safety-critical scenarios where malfunctions can be harmful.
Innovation Solution
An industrial control system employing a Y-shaped gate architecture with two data channel units and a retransformation unit, utilizing invertible transformation and inverse functions with a diagnosis code to detect computational errors and switch to a safe state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundancy techniques are employed to enhance operational safety by operating multiple industrial controller units in parallel, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data channels into a single retransformation unit that processes data from multiple sources. The retransformation unit combines data from the first and second data channels, applies transformation functions, and outputs merged results, thereby reducing the number of separate processing units while maintaining safety through redundant processing paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The retransformation unit serves multiple functions: it processes data from multiple data channels, applies transformation functions, performs error detection through diagnosis codes, and generates output data. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated processing units, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple data channel units operate in parallel for safety-critical processing, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines parallel data processing into a single retransformation unit that handles multiple input streams. By merging the processing functions into one unit rather than maintaining separate processing units, the system reduces the total computational energy required while still achieving safety-critical redundancy through the parallel data channels that feed into the unified processor.
3Reliability
If transformation and retransformation functions are employed for error detection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces transformation functions and diagnosis codes as intermediary mechanisms between data channels and the retransformation unit. These intermediaries enable error detection by transforming data into forms that reveal computational errors, while the diagnosis code acts as a mediator that carries error information without requiring complex additional hardware for detection.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to an industrial control system comprising a first data channel unit, the first data channel unit being adapted to receive first input data and a diagnosis code, and further adapted to transform the first input data into first transformed data by means of an invertible transformation function employing the diagnosis code; a second data channel unit, the second data channel unit being adapted to receive second input data and the diagnosis code, and further adapted to transform the second input data into second transformed data by means of the invertible transformation function employing the diagnosis code; and a retransformation unit, the retransformation unit being adapted to receive the first transformed data and the diagnosis code from the first data channel unit and further adapted to receive the second transformed data from the second data channel unit. The retransformation unit is adapted to convert the first transformed data into first output data employing an inverse function of the invertible transformation function, wherein the inverse function employs the diagnosis code. The retransformation unit is further adapted to convert the second transformed data into second output data employing the inverse function, wherein the inverse function employs the diagnosis code.