Iterative Power Activation for Slave Device Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for addressing slave devices in network systems are complex, costly, and inefficient, particularly in detecting faulty devices and assigning unique addresses.
Innovation Solution
A method that iteratively addresses and activates slave devices one at a time, using current consumption measurements on the power line to detect correct activation and detect faulty devices, while efficiently assigning unique addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If switching mechanisms are used on communication lines to address slave devices, then addressing functionality is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase due to signal integrity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the addressing functionality from the communication lines and relocates it to the power lines. By measuring current consumption on the power lines, the system can identify which slave devices are active without requiring any switching mechanisms on the communication lines themselves. This separation eliminates the complexity and signal integrity issues associated with switching on communication lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces power line current measurement as an intermediary mechanism for addressing. Instead of directly switching communication lines to address slave devices, the system uses the power lines as a mediator - by measuring current draw on the power lines, the master device can indirectly identify which slave devices are active and assign addresses without touching the communication lines.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If switching between communication lines is implemented to detect faulty slave devices, then fault detection capability is achieved, but reliability decreases due to difficulty in detecting faulty devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses power line current measurement as an intermediary to detect faulty slave devices. By monitoring current consumption on the power lines, the system can identify which slave devices are drawing power and thus which ones are active. This provides a reliable method for detecting faulty devices without the complexity of switching mechanisms on communication lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through continuous monitoring of power line current consumption. The master device measures current draw, compares it against expected values, and uses this feedback to identify active slave devices and detect faults. This feedback mechanism provides reliable fault detection by comparing actual current consumption with anticipated consumption patterns.
3Measurement precision
If manual addressing of slave devices is performed, then addressing accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to operator expertise requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables slave devices to be automatically addressed through self-service mechanisms. The master device automatically measures power line current consumption, identifies active slave devices based on current draw patterns, and assigns addresses without human intervention. This eliminates the need for operator expertise and manual addressing while maintaining high accuracy through automated current measurement and analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of addressing (operator physically configuring devices) with an automated electrical measurement system. By using electronic current sensing and automated address assignment algorithms, the system substitutes human operators with an automated system that provides both high accuracy and speed.
4Productivity
If iterative power activation is used to address slave devices one at a time, then productivity is improved through efficient addressing, but use of energy increases due to repeated activation cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by iteratively activating and measuring power consumption in controlled cycles. The master device activates slave devices one at a time in sequence, measuring current draw during each activation cycle. This periodic approach allows efficient address assignment by systematically working through the slave device chain, and the energy consumption is managed by keeping activation cycles brief and targeted.
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
This method simplifies the addressing process, reduces costs by eliminating complex switching mechanisms, and enhances fault detection accuracy, ensuring efficient and reliable network system operation.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a value of a current consumption on the power line, and, based on a comparison between the measured value and a previous value, determining whether the slave device of index k is correctly activated or not
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for addressing a slave device in a network system comprising a master device and a plurality of slave devices. The slave devices have a common default address in an unaddressed state and the master device and the plurality of slave devices are connected in chain via a power line and a communication line, wherein each slave device is indexed by an index greater than or equal to 1, the slave device of index 1 being connected to the master device, wherein, to address the slave device of index k, k being equal to or greater than 2, the method first instructs the slave device of index k-1 to activate the power supply of the slave device of index k via the power line, and then, it sends, to the common default address on the communication line, a command to change the common default address of the slave device of index k to a unique address of index k. Therefore, at each iteration, there is only one unaddressed slave device in the network.