Control System Design Tool Power Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Designers face difficulties in verifying the total consumption of electric power in control systems and determining the capability of the electric source supply unit, making it challenging to configure systems for optimal performance and safety.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device is used to simulate and configure networks by determining whether there is an overage or shortage of electric power for each unit, displaying the state of electric power supply, and allowing for virtual configuration updates to ensure optimal power distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If designers use software to simulate control system configurations, then system design convenience is improved, but the ability to verify electric power consumption for individual units deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem design convenienceVSAvoidelectric power consumption verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the total electric power consumption information into individual unit-level consumption data. The determination portion calculates and identifies the electric power consumption of each unit separately, allowing designers to verify power consumption for individual units while maintaining the overall system simulation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the control system is designed to achieve optimum performance, then system performance is improved, but the complexity of verifying electric power supply capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem performanceVSAvoidverification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The determination portion automatically performs the verification of electric power supply capability by calculating the difference between supplied and consumed power for each unit. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual verification processes, reducing complexity while ensuring accurate assessment of power supply adequacy for optimal system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If designers manually calculate electric power consumption for each unit, then power supply verification accuracy is improved, but design time and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply verification accuracyVSAvoiddesign time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical calculation methods with an automated information processing system. The determination portion automatically calculates electric power consumption and verifies power supply capability for each unit, maintaining measurement precision while dramatically reducing design time and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10461997B2Information processing device and program

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 OMRON CORP

AI summary

The convenience of a design of a system is improved by making it easier to verify consumed electric power when designing and constructing the system. An operation screen is displayed upon execution of on a PC for supporting the design of a control system. The configuration of a control system can be controlled in an editing region, and unit images representing an I/O unit are connected in order to a unit image representing a communication coupler. A power supply unit can be inserted into this configuration. An icon indicates a shortage of electric power to the units downstream of the unit indicated by a selected image. When a user mouses the pointer over the icon, the detailed meaning of the icon is displayed in a message. The designer is thus capable of easily verifying the position at which a power source supply unit should be added.