Inferential Sensing Engine for Fast Response

Solution Overview

Problem

Sensing systems face delays in responding to changes in physical properties due to mechanical and electrical component interactions, which can be mitigated but introduce noise or susceptibility to vibrations when signal filtering is reduced.

Innovation Solution

A sensor system comprising mechanical and electrical components that generate an analog signal in response to a step change, with an A/D converter and control circuit to infer the final value of the change before the response period has elapsed, using a model to characterize the signal slew and apply time-dependent relationships to determine the magnitude of the change.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If signal filtering is reduced to decrease response time, then response speed is improved, but noise and vibration susceptibility increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidnoise and vibration susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary analysis of the incoming signal to predict the final value before the complete response period elapses. By inferring the final value from partial data using a model of the sensor system's response characteristics, the system obtains the measurement result earlier than traditional methods would allow, without reducing the actual physical response time of the mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/electrical signal filtering methods with a computational approach. Instead of using physical filters or reducing mechanical component inertia to speed up response, the system uses a control circuit that applies a model-based algorithm to infer the final value from the evolving signal, substituting computational processing for physical signal conditioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If mechanical and electrical components are used to generate analog signal, then measurement reliability is improved, but response time increases due to component response delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary analysis of the incoming signal to predict the final value before the complete response period elapses. By inferring the final value from partial data using a model of the sensor system's response characteristics, the system obtains the measurement result earlier than traditional methods would allow, without reducing the actual physical response time of the mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a computational model that replicates the behavior of the mechanical and electrical components. This virtual model allows the control circuit to simulate and predict the final signal value based on the observed evolution of the analog signal, effectively creating a digital copy of the physical system's response characteristics to accelerate measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10302515B2Inferential sensing engine

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS USA INC

AI summary

Providing a fast response to a process step while allowing a sensor response to remain relatively slow. A mechanical component generates a response to a step change in a physical property and an electrical component generates an analog electrical signal indicative of the response generated by the mechanical component over a period of time. The analog electrical signal is converted into digital values and the digital values are used to indicate the final value of the step change in the physical property before the period of time has elapsed.