Dual Gate Motion Control for Synchronized Closing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for controlling dual or multiple gates struggle with synchronous or coordinated movement, often requiring complex sensors and continuous communication, which can lead to operational complexity and increased costs, and fail to ensure both gates reach the closed position simultaneously, especially when travel paths are not identical.

Innovation Solution

A controller determines and adjusts the speed of each motor to synchronize the movement of dual or multiple gates by calculating the time of travel for each gate, allowing them to open and close at the same time, even if their paths differ in length, without the need for continuous communication between gates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous communication and sensors are used to control dual gates, then coordinated movement can be achieved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinated movementVSAvoidcontinuous communication
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller pre-calculates the time of travel for each gate based on their respective travel paths and speeds before actuation. This preliminary calculation allows the system to determine the exact duration each gate should operate, eliminating the need for continuous communication during gate operation while ensuring coordinated movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the time of travel for each gate based on their individual characteristics (travel path length, speed). By making the operation duration dynamic and gate-specific rather than synchronized through continuous communication, the system achieves coordination while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If standard gate operators with predetermined run time are used, then operation is simple, but synchronization between gates fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredetermined run timeVSAvoidsynchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller changes the run time parameter for each gate operator based on calculated time of travel values. Instead of using a single predetermined run time for all gates, the system customizes the operation duration for each gate according to its specific travel path and speed characteristics, achieving synchronization while maintaining simple operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If learning mode is used for single gate calibration, then proper opening and closing is ensured, but synchronous movement of dual gates cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegate calibrationVSAvoidsynchronous movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller segments the calibration process by independently determining the time of travel for each gate separately, then combining these individual calibrations to achieve synchronous operation. This segmentation allows each gate to be precisely calibrated on its own while maintaining the capability for coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12091903B2Devices and methods for coordinated gate movement
Publication Date: 2024.09.17 PARSADAYAN ANDREW

AI summary

An access control system controls synchronous or coordinated motion of two or more gates using a controller that calculates travel time for each gate and that adjusts the speed of the motors driving the gates to so allow the gates to reach the open and/or closed position at the same time, regardless of the length of the individual travel paths of the gate.