Elevation Apparatus Travel Distance Initialization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stage illumination systems face errors in calculating the travel distance of lifted lighting elements due to noise interference and incomplete winding of the reel wire, leading to inaccurate elevating control, especially during prolonged performances.
Innovation Solution
An elevation apparatus with a detection unit and a reset switch that initializes the travel distance calculation at a fixed timing by detecting the lighting element's position and deactivating the motor when the element reaches its initial position, preventing accumulated errors from affecting the elevating control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an encoder is used to calculate travel distance, then the elevating control can be automated, but measurement errors occur due to noise and incomplete winding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by completely winding the reel wire onto the reel before starting the elevating operation. This ensures the reel is in a known initial state, eliminating errors caused by insufficient winding. The control circuit is configured to perform this winding action beforehand, establishing a reliable baseline for encoder-based measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the relationship between encoder rotation amounts and actual travel distances. When discrepancies are detected (indicating error accumulation), the system automatically corrects the calculated travel distance by referencing the known reel wire length and winding state, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy throughout operation.
2Reliability
If initialization is performed at fixed timing, then accumulated errors are reduced, but the to-be-lifted object must be at an accurate initial position which is difficult to recognize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical position detection with an electrical control approach. Instead of mechanically determining when the lighting element reaches its initial position, the control circuit uses electrical signals and calculations based on encoder data, reel wire length, and winding state to determine initialization timing. This substitution eliminates the difficulty of mechanical position recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-initialization through automatic calculation and control. The control circuit autonomously determines when initialization should occur based on monitored parameters (encoder counts, reel wire length, winding state) and automatically corrects travel distance calculations without requiring external intervention or complex position sensing mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If the reel wire is insufficiently wound, then the device structure is simpler, but calculation errors occur due to idle reel state
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is configured to perform preliminary winding of the reel wire to a predetermined extent before initiating elevating operations. This ensures the reel is properly engaged and eliminates idle reel states that would cause calculation errors, while maintaining a relatively simple winding mechanism structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures accurate initialization of the travel distance, reducing errors and maintaining precise elevating control during stage performances, thereby preventing failures in the desired elevating operation.
Implementation Method 1
The encoder includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element
Implementation Method 2
Light from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An elevation apparatus is provided that initializes a calculated travel distance of a to-be-lifted object. The elevation apparatus includes a housing that has a side wall in a longitudinal direction and that has an opening in a lower face, a reel rotating to wind a reel wire, the reel wire wound on the reel to elevate the to-be-lifted object attached to a tip end of the reel wire and the to-be-lifted object is suspended from the lower side of the elevation apparatus, a controller for calculating a travel distance along which the to-be-lifted object is elevated, and a reset switch provided in the housing. The to-be-lifted object is lifted to depress the reset switch. The depression of the reset switch allows the controller to initialize the calculated travel distance.