Electronic Circuit Arrangement Segmentation for Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic control circuits for process devices often require replacement of entire printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) due to component failures, especially when long-term components become obsolete and unavailable, leading to costly and unnecessary replacements.
Innovation Solution
The electronic circuit arrangement separates processing and process interface circuitries onto distinct PCBAs, allowing for the replacement of processing circuitry components while maintaining the process interface circuitry unchanged, utilizing components with slower innovation cycles for stability and faster innovation cycles for processing tasks, such as DSP chips, in separate PCBAs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire PCBA is replaced when a component fails, then the control circuit can be restored to full functionality, but the cost and complexity increase significantly when components become obsolete
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is divided into two separate PCBAs: a process interface PCBA that interfaces with the process device, and a processing PCBA that performs signal processing and control functions. This segmentation allows the processing PCBA to be replaced independently when components become obsolete, while the process interface PCBA can be retained and reused, thereby reducing replacement complexity while maintaining full control circuit functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If processing circuitry components are updated over time, then the control circuit remains current and efficient, but the process interface circuitry must be redesigned to accommodate new components
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the processing circuitry from the process interface circuitry onto different PCBAs, the system allows processing components to be updated independently without affecting the process interface circuitry. The standardized interface between the two PCBAs ensures compatibility and eliminates the need for redesign when processing components are upgraded.
Solution Approach 2:
The process interface PCBA is designed with universal interfaces that can work with multiple types of processing PCBAs. This universality allows different processing components to be accommodated without redesigning the process interface circuitry, as long as they adhere to the standardized interface specifications.
3Ease of manufacture
If all components are integrated on a single PCBA, then the circuit board assembly is simpler to manufacture, but component obsolescence forces replacement of the entire assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is segmented into two separate PCBAs with standardized interfaces between them. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity for each individual PCBA while providing the flexibility to replace only the processing PCBA when components become obsolete, rather than replacing the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized interface acts as an intermediary between the process interface PCBA and the processing PCBA. This standardized interface enables easy connection and disconnection, allowing the processing PCBA to be replaced independently while maintaining compatibility with the process interface PCBA, thus providing component replacement flexibility without complicating manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
The electronic circuit arrangement for controlling a process device comprises a process interface circuitry and a processing circuitry, wherein the process interface circuitry is designed for receiving process signals from the process device and converting the process signals into converted signals and/or digital data, which converted signals and/or digital data are transmitted to the processing circuitry, and wherein the processing circuitry is designed for processing the converted signals and/or digital data and for outputting processed signals and/or digital data, which processed signals and/or digital data are transmitted to the process interface circuitry, and wherein the process interface circuitry is designed for converting the processed signals and/or digital data into control signals, which control signals are transmitted to the process device. The process interface circuitry comprises one or more first printed circuit board assemblies, and the processing circuitry comprises one or more second printed circuit board assemblies, which second printed circuit board assemblies are different from the first printed circuit board assemblies, and wherein each second printed circuit board assembly is electrically connected to at least one of the first printed circuit board assemblies. The circuit arrangement may find applications in high or medium voltage devices, in drives and in power converters.