Direct Data Storage for Measurement Instrumentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data collection systems in instrumentation, particularly in battery cycling and electrochemical testing, are prone to data loss due to high workload and potential computer issues such as crashes and lockups, which can invalidate extensive testing and cause delays.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where measurement devices establish a direct data connection with network storage drives, allowing them to write data directly without relying on a local computer or controlling device, using firmware for Ethernet communication to store data as soon as it is available, thereby bypassing the need for periodic data requests and local storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a computer-based data collection system is used to collect and store data from measurement equipment, then data can be collected and stored centrally, but the system becomes vulnerable to data loss due to high workload, crashes, and operating system lockups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the computer-based control system and places it directly in the measurement instrument. The instrument now has its own embedded storage capability, allowing data to be written directly to local storage media without passing through the computer system, thereby eliminating the single point of failure at the computer level.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into independent functional units: the measurement instrument with embedded storage, the computer for control, and the network for data retrieval. This segmentation allows the storage function to operate independently from the control computer, preventing computer failures from causing data loss.
2Quantity of substance
If a computer collects and processes data from hundreds or thousands of measurement channels, then comprehensive data collection is achieved, but the computer workload becomes excessively high leading to crashes and data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement instrument performs self-service by automatically writing collected data to its own embedded storage without requiring computer intervention for each write operation. This eliminates the bottleneck where the computer must process and write every data point, allowing the instrument to handle high data volumes independently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data is collected from many instrument channels simultaneously, then comprehensive testing is achieved, but the risk of data loss increases due to computer overload
Solution Approach 1:
The critical data storage function is extracted from the overloaded computer system and embedded directly in the measurement instrument. This allows multi-channel data to be written reliably to local storage without depending on the computer's processing capacity, maintaining data integrity even under heavy multi-channel loads.
4Device complexity
If the computer is used for both control and data storage functions, then system simplicity is maintained, but any computer failure invalidates extensive testing and causes data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: control functions remain on the computer while data storage is embedded in the instrument. This segmentation allows the storage function to continue operating independently during computer failures, preserving testing continuity and preventing data loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement instrument is equipped with embedded storage capacity beforehand, creating a cushion that can absorb and protect against computer failures. This pre-configured local storage ensures that data can be preserved even when the computer system becomes unavailable.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of writing data acquired from measurement instrumentation. Embodiments include establishing a direct data connection between the test equipment and a network storage drive, generating test data from a sample under test, and writing the test data to the network storage drive without assistance of a computerized controlling device configured to control the testing device.