Industrial Machine Time Synchronization for Accurate State Data Timing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems where industrial machines exchange state data, the first industrial machine cannot accurately determine the time point at which the state data from the second industrial machine was acquired, due to asynchronous data acquisition and transmission processes.
Innovation Solution
The system synchronizes time information between the first and second industrial machines, allowing the second machine to transmit state data along with synchronized time information, enabling the first machine to accurately grasp the acquisition time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If state data is transmitted asynchronously from the second industrial machine to the first industrial machine, then data transmission flexibility is improved, but time accuracy of state data acquisition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary time synchronization between the first and second industrial machines before state data transmission. Each machine adjusts its local time to match a reference time, ensuring that when state data is transmitted asynchronously, the time information embedded in the data accurately reflects the true acquisition time. This preliminary time alignment resolves the contradiction by enabling flexible asynchronous transmission while maintaining precise time measurement.
2Measurement precision
If time information is synchronized between the first and second industrial machines, then time accuracy of state data acquisition is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a reference time as an intermediary that both the first and second industrial machines use for synchronization. Instead of implementing complex bidirectional time synchronization protocols between the machines, they both independently synchronize to the same reference time source. This intermediary reference time simplifies the synchronization mechanism while ensuring consistent and accurate time information across both machines.
3Loss of information
If the second industrial machine transmits state data with time information, then time tracking capability is improved, but communication data volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the time information with the state data into a single integrated data packet for transmission. Instead of transmitting time information and state data separately, the time stamp is combined with the corresponding state data, allowing the first industrial machine to accurately track when each state measurement was acquired without requiring additional separate communication channels or data structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a communication system, in which a first industrial machine and a second industrial machine are configured to communicate to/from each other, the communication system comprising circuitry configured to synchronize first time information updated by the first industrial machine and second time information updated by the second industrial machine with each other, wherein the second industrial machine is configured to: acquire state data on the second industrial machine; and transmit to the first industrial machine the second time information at a time when the state data is acquired and the state data.