Laser Oscillator Control Apparatus for Rapid Abnormality Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laser oscillators require significant time to determine which unit has an abnormality, and opening the cabinet can lead to condensation issues due to environmental conditions, potentially causing failures in units without abnormalities.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus with a monitoring unit, abnormality determining unit, command unit, storage unit, and estimation unit that issues a predetermined current command to power units to assess abnormalities without physically opening the laser oscillator, allowing for remote diagnosis of power and optical units, including a combine unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the cabinet of the laser oscillator is opened to check the state of each unit, then the operator can visually inspect the units, but significant time is required to determine which unit has an abnormality and condensation may occur causing false failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidtime to determine abnormal unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical inspection method (opening the cabinet to visually check units) with an electrical measurement system. The measurement unit electrically measures current values from each power unit and compares them against reference values to automatically identify abnormal units, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection and avoiding condensation issues entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an electrical copy or representation of the physical state of each unit through current measurements. By measuring and comparing current values against reference values stored in memory, the system creates a digital model of unit health status, allowing identification of abnormal units without physical inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If the cabinet of the laser oscillator is opened to check the state of each unit, then the operator can visually inspect the units, but condensation may occur due to environmental conditions causing failure in units without abnormalities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidunit failure rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical inspection method (opening the cabinet) with an electrical measurement system that operates through sealed interfaces. The measurement unit electrically accesses current values from power units without requiring physical access to the interior, eliminating condensation formation and protecting unit reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electrical measurement interface as an intermediary between the operator and the internal units. Instead of directly opening the cabinet, the measurement unit acts as an intermediary that electrically probes unit status through existing electrical connections, allowing inspection while maintaining the sealed environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the laser oscillator includes multiple units (power unit, optical unit, combine unit), then the system provides comprehensive laser beam output capability, but it requires significant time to determine which specific unit has an abnormality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaser beam output capabilityVSAvoidtime to identify abnormal unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the abnormality detection process by assigning dedicated measurement circuits and reference values to each power unit. The measurement unit can independently measure and compare current values for each unit against its specific reference value, allowing parallel or sequential identification of which specific unit is abnormal without having to manually inspect each one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual sequential inspection of multiple units with an automated electrical measurement system that rapidly queries each unit's current status. The measurement unit electrically accesses and compares current values from multiple power units, automatically identifying the abnormal unit among them without requiring physical inspection of each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9800012B2Control apparatus for controlling laser oscillator

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 FANUC LTD

AI summary

A control apparatus for a laser oscillator includes an abnormality determining unit which determines an abnormality of a first assembly based on a first deviation between a first laser beam output command and a first laser beam output and which determines an abnormality of a second assembly based on a second deviation between a second laser beam output command and a second laser beam output, a command unit for issuing a predetermined current command to at least one of a first power unit and a second power unit when the abnormality determining unit determines that at least one of the first assembly and the second assembly has an abnormality, and an abnormality determination stopping unit for stopping the abnormality determining unit from determining an abnormality when the predetermined current command is issued.