Drive Control Unit Parameter Management for Portable Applications

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for operating application programs on electrical control units for drive systems are complex and do not facilitate easy operation, especially during commissioning and device replacement, requiring manual management of parameters and lacking independence from the control unit.

Innovation Solution

An automatic application parameter manager is introduced to manage application parameters independently, allowing the application program to run on firmware with an integrated device parameter manager, enabling separate management of application and device parameters, and facilitating easier operation and portability across different control devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual management of parameters is used in existing control systems, then parameter control is possible, but operation complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic parameter management where the control unit autonomously loads, stores, and manages application parameters without requiring manual intervention. The management device automatically communicates with the control unit to transfer parameters, and the system self-configures during commissioning, eliminating complex manual parameter management while maintaining full parameter control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

An application parameter manager is introduced as an intermediary component between the management device and the application program. This manager handles parameter loading, storing, and management automatically, serving as a mediator that simplifies the interaction between the user and the complex parameter management system, thereby improving ease of operation without losing control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If application programs are tightly coupled with control units, then execution is stable, but portability and adaptability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidexecution stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates application parameters from the control unit firmware by storing them in separate memory areas (SD card, flash memory, or RAM). The application parameter manager independently manages these parameters, creating a modular architecture where the application program can be transferred between different control units while maintaining its parameter set, thus improving portability while preserving execution stability through consistent parameter management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The application parameter manager is designed to work with multiple storage media (SD card, flash memory, RAM) and can manage parameters for different application programs. This universal parameter management system allows the same control unit to execute different applications with their respective parameters, enhancing adaptability and portability while maintaining reliable execution through a standardized management interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple application programs are executed with different parameter settings, then versatility improves, but parameter management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoidparameter management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The application parameter manager automatically manages multiple parameter sets for different application programs without requiring manual intervention. It autonomously loads the appropriate parameters when an application is selected, stores parameters in organized memory structures, and handles parameter switching between applications, enabling versatile multi-program execution while keeping parameter management simple and automatic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Parameters for multiple application programs are pre-configured and stored in the system memory before execution. The application parameter manager prepares and organizes these parameter sets in advance, so when an application is selected, the corresponding parameters are already loaded and ready for immediate use, enabling quick switching between applications with different parameter settings without complex real-time management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3679431B1Method for operating an application program for executing in an electric control unit for a drive system, electric control unit, drive system and system
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 LENZE AUTOMATION
  • EP3679431B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A method for operating an application program (SP) for executing in an electric control unit (20) for a drive system (10), comprising the step: administering at least one application parameter (AP) using an application parameter administrator (APV).