Absolute Encoder Clock Control Circuit for Battery Backup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Absolute encoders experience increased power consumption due to wider pulse widths when battery voltage and temperature decrease, leading to longer pre-activation times and inefficient battery usage.

Innovation Solution

An absolute encoder configuration that includes a clock generator, analog signal generation circuit, comparator, and clock control circuit, which adjusts the pulse width of the clock pulse based on battery voltage and temperature information to optimize power consumption, using correspondence information to determine appropriate pulse widths and reduce pre-activation times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pulse width of the clock pulse is set wide to ensure proper operation when battery voltage or temperature decreases, then the reliability of the encoder operation is improved, but the power consumption of the battery increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of encoder operationVSAvoidpower consumption of battery

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pulse width of the clock pulse is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The clock control circuit changes the pulse width based on detected battery voltage and temperature conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying operating environments while optimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter (pulse width) of the clock pulse based on operating conditions. When battery voltage or temperature decreases, the pulse width is increased to ensure reliable operation; when conditions improve, the pulse width is reduced to minimize power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the pulse width of the clock pulse is set wide to accommodate slower device response at low voltage or temperature, then the encoder can operate reliably, but the pre-activation time increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveencoder operation reliabilityVSAvoidpre-activation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pulse width is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of battery voltage and temperature. This allows the system to minimize pre-activation time when conditions permit while ensuring sufficient pulse width when conditions deteriorate, thereby reducing overall time loss without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The clock control circuit uses feedback from voltage detection and temperature detection circuits to continuously monitor operating conditions and adjust the clock pulse width accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures optimal balance between reliability and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10739168B2Absolute encoder comprising a clock control circuit to change the pulse width of each backup clock pulse

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 FANUC LTD

AI summary

An absolute encoder is driven by backup power from an external battery for backup. The absolute encoder includes: a clock generator configured to generate backup clock pulses at intervals of a predetermined period when the backup power is supplied; an analog signal generation circuit configured to operate according to the clock pulse so as to detect a displacement position of a motor and generate an analog signal corresponding to the detected displacement position; a comparator configured to operate according to the clock pulse so as to compare the analog signal with a predetermined voltage; and a clock control circuit configured to control the clock generator to change the pulse width of the clock pulse.