Distributed Bus System for Flexible Process Value Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process engineering systems, particularly fluidic systems, lack flexibility in assigning consumers and producers of process values due to the need for complex reconfiguration when components are exchanged or the system changes, as they rely on a master unit for proper assignment.
Innovation Solution
A BUS system where all participants, including both producers and consumers, can autonomously transmit and receive information about their assignment properties, allowing direct communication without a master unit, enabling self-configuration and simplifying the installation and reconfiguration of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a master unit is used to assign consumers and producers of process values, then proper assignment can be achieved, but the system lacks flexibility and requires complex reconfiguration when components are exchanged
Solution Approach 1:
Each participant in the BUS system autonomously determines its own assignment properties and transmits this information to other participants. Consumers and producers independently identify each other through direct communication on the bus, eliminating the need for a master unit to manage assignments. This self-organizing capability enables automatic adaptation when components are exchanged or added to the system.
2Ease of operation
If a master unit manages the assignment between consumers and producers, then system control is centralized, but the device complexity increases due to reconfiguration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The master unit is completely removed from the system architecture. Assignment management functions previously centralized in the master unit are distributed to all participants, who independently determine and communicate their assignment properties through direct BUS communication. This extraction eliminates the complex reconfiguration mechanisms required by centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized assignment management function is segmented and distributed across all participants in the system. Each participant independently handles its own assignment information and communicates it to relevant others on the bus, transforming a single-point control system into a distributed autonomous system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all participants transmit assignment information autonomously, then system flexibility and ease of reconfiguration are improved, but network load increases
Solution Approach 1:
Participants transmit assignment information selectively based on their specific roles and requirements. Producers transmit information about the process values they generate, while consumers transmit information about their requirements. This targeted communication approach reduces unnecessary network traffic compared to universal broadcasting, while maintaining system flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (1) has a bus system (2) which is provided with several participants (4) with producer and/or consumer having a process value. The subscriber information regarding the allocation property of the participants of a group of subscribers of the bus system is transmitted to the users of the bus system. The allocation property of the participants of the group of subscribers of the bus system is determined using the process value consumed by the suitable users of the group of the bus system. The allocation property is classified corresponding to the type of the process value. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) fluid system; and (2) method for operating bus system.