Dual Control Section Controller for Electrical Actuator Switch State Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing controllers for electrical actuators lack redundancy in determining switch states, leading to potential errors in determining the power supply or power cutoff states, which can result in unsafe operations and equipment failures.
Innovation Solution
A controller system with dual control sections that use different signals for determining the switch state, ensuring redundancy and accurate determination of the electrical actuator's state, even if one control section fails due to abnormality, and includes mechanisms for abnormality detection and corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single control section is used to determine switch state, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is insufficient due to lack of redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The control section is divided into a first control section that determines switch state based on command signal and a second control section that determines switch state based on drive signal. This segmentation provides redundancy in switch state determination, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through functional division.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses two different signals (command signal and drive signal) as parameters for determining switch state. By changing the parameter source from a single signal to multiple signals, the system achieves redundant determination paths, enhancing reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If dual control sections with different signals are used, then the reliability is improved through redundancy, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements cross-validation feedback between the first and second control sections. Each control section independently determines switch state using different signals, and the results are compared to ensure consistency. This feedback mechanism enhances accuracy while managing complexity through systematic verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a redundant copy of the control function with a second control section that mirrors the first control section's determination logic but uses a different signal source. This copying approach provides reliability through redundancy while maintaining complexity at acceptable levels by reusing proven determination logic.
3Reliability
If redundancy is implemented through dual control sections, then the risk of equipment failure is reduced, but the ease of operation decreases due to more complex control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The dual control sections perform self-validation by comparing their independent determination results. The system automatically detects inconsistencies between the first and second control section outputs and triggers appropriate responses without external intervention. This self-service approach maintains safety through redundancy while preserving operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for a system includes a first control section and a second control section. The system includes an electrical actuator, a switch switching the electrical actuator between a power supply state and a power cutoff state, and a drive section driving the switch. The drive section outputs, to the switch, a drive signal to drive the switch based on a command signal for switching of the switch. The first control section determines a switch state based on the command signal, and the second control section determines a switch state based on the drive signal. At least one of the first control section and the second control section determines the electrical actuator to be in the power supply state on the condition that the first control section determines the switch to be in the power supply state, and the second control section also determines the switch to be in the power supply state.