Controller Map File Conversion for Motor Drive Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing data access methods for drive devices in electric automobiles, which rely on function codes, are inefficient for maintenance and inspection, making it difficult to specify and update data, and impose an extra processing load on the drive device.
Innovation Solution
A map file is used in the controller to associate symbol names from the control program with memory addresses, allowing intuitive data specification and updating without additional processing load on the drive device, and enabling flexible adaptation to data additions, modifications, and deletions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If function codes are used to specify data in the drive device, then data can be accessed through the controller, but the operation efficiency during maintenance and inspection deteriorates because it is difficult to determine which data are represented from the function code and testers need to refer to manuals repeatedly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the variable names from the control program source code and stores them in a map file that can be read by external devices. This allows testers to use meaningful variable names (copies of the original program identifiers) instead of function codes, making data specification intuitive and eliminating the need to refer to manuals during maintenance and inspection operations.
2Ease of operation
If function code to address conversion is performed in the drive device, then data can be accessed, but an extra processing load is placed on the drive device which may prevent accurate inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the function code to address conversion processing from the drive device and relocates it to the controller. The drive device only needs to store the address map in its memory and return addresses based on function codes, while the controller performs the actual conversion by matching function codes with stored addresses. This extraction eliminates the extra processing load from the drive device while maintaining full data access capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a table with function codes is stored in the drive device, then data can be accessed by function code, but the table needs to be updated every time data are appended, modified, and deleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the map file stored in the drive device universal by generating it from the control program source code using a compiler. This map file serves multiple functions: it provides the address mapping table for data access, acts as a version identifier through its generation date, and automatically adapts to program changes. When the control program is updated, the map file is regenerated automatically, eliminating manual table updates while maintaining adaptability to data additions, modifications, and deletions.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for controlling a drive device that executes drive control of a motor. The controller includes a processing device and a memory having program instructions stored thereon. Execution of the program instructions by the processing device causes the controller to obtain a symbol name provided to indicate data that are an object of reading or updating, to convert the obtained symbol name into an address with reference to a map file, where the map file uses each symbol name included in a source code of a control program as an identifier of the data corresponding to each symbol name, and associates each symbol name with an address of a storage area storing the corresponding data, and to instruct the drive device to read or update the data stored in the storage area indicated by the address obtained through the conversion.