Integrated Encoder Jerk Detection for Low-Bandwidth Motion Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems struggle to reliably detect short jerk events in movement information due to limitations in data transmission rates between encoders and higher-level control units, leading to inaccurate motion control and potential warnings or errors.

Innovation Solution

An encoder system with an integrated evaluation unit that generates and transmits jerk information, allowing for frequent detection and correction of jerk events, and optionally correcting movement information before transmission to the higher-level control unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If data transmission rate between encoder and higher-level control unit is limited, then transmission bandwidth is reduced, but jerk detection reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission completenessVSAvoidjerk detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encoder's output data is segmented into two parts: movement information transmitted at reduced rate and jerk information transmitted separately. This segmentation allows the higher-level control unit to receive comprehensive data for reliable jerk detection without requiring full transmission of high-frequency movement data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Jerk information is calculated and prepared in advance by the encoder's evaluation unit before transmission to the higher-level control unit. This preliminary calculation ensures that jerk detection capability is preserved even when movement information transmission is limited.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If all movement information is transmitted to higher-level control unit, then jerk detection accuracy is improved, but transmission load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejerk detection accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The essential jerk detection capability is extracted from the full movement information stream and transmitted as separate jerk information. This extraction allows the higher-level control unit to perform accurate jerk detection without receiving the complete high-volume movement data stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The encoder's evaluation unit performs preliminary calculation of jerk information from movement information before transmission. This advance processing reduces the transmission load by sending only the derived jerk data rather than the complete movement information required for equivalent jerk analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If jerk information is calculated and transmitted by encoder, then jerk detection reliability is improved, but encoder complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejerk detection reliabilityVSAvoidencoder complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation unit that calculates jerk information is integrated into the encoder structure, merging the jerk detection function with the existing movement information generation capability. This integration achieves reliable jerk detection without requiring a completely separate detection system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4506664B1Encoder and system comprising such an encoder
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 SICK AG
  • EP4506664B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4506664B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to an encoder 10 for monitoring translational and/or rotational movements of a movable component 50. The encoder 10 comprises a sensor device 1, an output unit 3, and an evaluation unit 5. The evaluation unit 5 is configured to generate jerk information from the detected movement information, indicating a jerk of the monitored component 50. The evaluation unit 5 is further configured to transmit the generated jerk information, together with at least a portion of the detected movement information, to the output unit 3, or to make corrections to the detected movement information based on the generated jerk information and transmit at least a portion of the corrected movement information to the output unit 3.The output unit 3 is configured to output the generated jerk information together with a portion of the determined motion information to the higher-level control unit 20, or to output a portion of the corrected motion information to the higher-level control unit 20. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system 100 with such an encoder 10.