Switchable Counter Unit Circuit for Shared or Isolated Output Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing counter units connecting multiple output devices via common signal lines face issues with electrical noise and failure propagation, leading to increased costs and equipment size when attempting to insulate these lines using traditional methods.
Innovation Solution
A counter unit with multiple signal input terminals, common signal terminals, and power supply terminals, equipped with a switching unit that can switch between non-insulated and insulated circuits to connect these terminals, allowing for flexible wiring configurations that either share or isolate common signal and power supply lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If common signal lines are shared between multiple output devices, then cost and equipment size are reduced, but electrical noise and failure propagation occur between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a switching unit that can dynamically change the connection state of common signal terminals between insulated and non-insulated modes. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt between cost-effective shared wiring and reliable isolated wiring based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between cost and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical insulation parameter of the common signal terminals by switching between insulated and non-insulated connection states. This parameter change enables the same hardware infrastructure to support both cost-reduced shared wiring configurations and noise-prevented isolated wiring configurations.
2Reliability
If isolators are used to insulate common signal lines between output devices, then electrical noise propagation is prevented, but cost and equipment size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit provides multi-functionality by enabling the common signal terminals to operate in both insulated and non-insulated modes. This eliminates the need for separate isolator components, achieving noise isolation when required while maintaining cost-effectiveness when isolation is not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the insulation function from separate isolator components and integrates it into the switching unit. This allows insulation to be applied selectively only when and where needed, rather than requiring isolators for all connections, thereby reducing overall cost and equipment size.
3Reliability
If multiple counter units are used to provide insulated connections for each output device, then electrical isolation is achieved, but equipment size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the insulation control function into a single switching unit that manages multiple common signal terminals. This consolidation allows one counter unit to provide insulated connections for multiple output devices simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate counter units for each isolated connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit provides universal control over multiple common signal terminals, enabling a single counter unit to handle insulation requirements for multiple output devices. This multi-functional approach reduces equipment complexity while maintaining electrical isolation.
4Reliability
If extra input channels are used to provide insulated connections, then electrical isolation is achieved, but device complexity and unused channels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit dynamically controls the connection state of existing common signal terminals, enabling insulation without requiring additional input channels. This dynamic reconfiguration of existing resources achieves electrical isolation while maintaining full utilization of available channels.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a counter unit (10) that supports, in a plurality of output devices, both a case where there is no problem in a state in which common signal terminals or power supply terminals are connected by common wiring, and a case where it is preferable to connect the common signal terminals or the power supply terminals by circuits insulated from each other. The counter unit (10) is provided with a switching unit (15) that performs switching between a non-insulated circuit (16) that connects a plurality of common signal terminals (COMA, COMB, COMC) and/or a plurality of power supply terminals (IOV, IOG) by common wiring, and an insulated circuit (17) that connects the plurality of common signal terminals and/or the plurality of power supply terminals by circuits insulated from each other.