Control Network Timer Synchronization After Configuration Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems in manufacturing sites face challenges in synchronizing timers accurately when the network configuration changes, such as adding new control devices, which can disrupt tact time and overall system stability.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a network configuration with control devices equipped with timers, communicators, and timer synchronizers. These synchronizers automatically detect and synchronize timers with the highest accuracy when the network configuration changes, ensuring stable operation by gradually adjusting time differences between devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a new control device is added to the network configuration, then the system functionality and productivity are improved, but the timer synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to lack of coordination with existing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where control devices exchange timer accuracy information through messages. When a new control device joins the network, it receives timer accuracy information from existing devices and adjusts its timer accordingly. The timer synchronizer continuously monitors and updates timer settings based on feedback from other devices, ensuring synchronization accuracy is maintained even as the network configuration changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the timer synchronizer detect network configuration changes before they fully impact system operation. When a new control device is added, the timer synchronizer proactively initiates synchronization procedures by exchanging messages with existing devices to determine the most accurate timer, then pre-adjusts timers before significant desynchronization occurs. This prevents timer accuracy degradation rather than reacting to it after the fact.
2Measurement precision
If timers are synchronized frequently to maintain accuracy, then the timer synchronization accuracy is improved, but the system stability deteriorates due to time fluctuations affecting control operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing selective timer synchronization rather than continuous synchronization. The timer synchronizer only initiates synchronization when specific conditions are met, such as when a network configuration change is detected or when timer accuracy degradation is anticipated. This avoids the instability caused by frequent continuous synchronization while still maintaining adequate accuracy through targeted synchronization events.
3Productivity
If the network configuration is changed to increase production capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the timer accuracy deteriorates due to lack of timer synchronization in the changed configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms where control devices exchange information about their timer accuracy and network status. When the network configuration changes to increase production capacity, the timer synchronizer receives feedback from all devices about their timer characteristics, identifies the most accurate timer, and distributes synchronization information throughout the network. This ensures that even in reconfigured high-capacity networks, all devices maintain synchronized timing for accurate tact time control.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention, when there is a change in a network configuration, timers of a changed network configuration are synchronized with a timer having high accuracy among the timers. This control system has a network configuration in which one or more control devices each for controlling a target can be communicably connected to a network, and each of the one or more control devices has: a timer for managing time with accuracy; a communicator for transmitting a control command to a target corresponding to said control device on the basis of the time managed by the timer; and a timer synchronizer that, when the network configuration is changed, time-synchronizes, among timers of each control device of a changed network configuration, timers with another timer having higher accuracy than the timers.