Measurement Processing Device Interrupt Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional measurement systems face challenges in recording measurement data at high speeds while maintaining accurate calculation of measurement points, especially when dealing with numerous measurement points at close intervals, due to significant overhead caused by interrupt processing.

Innovation Solution

A measurement processing device and method that involves obtaining and storing signals from separate devices, one for measurement results and another for position or position changes, allowing for improved calculation accuracy and faster data recording by associating measurement points with measurement results without interrupt processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If interrupt processing is used to take in measurement results based on encoder pulses, then measurement point calculation accuracy is improved, but sampling speed decreases due to significant overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement point calculation accuracyVSAvoidsampling speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the interrupt processing mechanism from the measurement data acquisition system and replaces it with a continuous sampling approach. The measurement controller continuously samples measurement data without being interrupted by encoder pulse events, thereby eliminating the overhead associated with interrupt processing while maintaining the ability to accurately associate measurement points with position information through timestamp correlation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a timestamp as an intermediary element that mediates between the measurement data and position information. By attaching timestamps to measurement data and correlating them with position information from the encoder, the system can accurately determine measurement points without requiring interrupt processing, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and sampling speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If measurement is carried out at high sampling speed with many measurement points at close intervals, then productivity is improved, but it becomes difficult to record measurement data with a general-purpose controller due to overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling speedVSAvoidcontroller processing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous sampling of measurement data without interruption, allowing the measurement controller to operate at high sampling speeds continuously. This eliminates the periodic interruptions caused by interrupt processing, enabling sustained high-speed data acquisition that would be difficult to achieve with a general-purpose controller handling frequent interrupt events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the interrupt-driven mechanical control mechanism with a continuous software-based sampling mechanism. By using timestamp correlation and continuous data buffering, the system achieves high-speed measurement data recording without relying on the overhead-intensive interrupt handling capabilities of general-purpose controllers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11221241B2Measurement processing device, measurement processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2022.01.11 OMRON CORP
  • US11221241B2 patent drawing
  • US11221241B2 patent drawing
  • US11221241B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A measurement processing device includes: a storage section; a first obtaining section configured to obtain a first signal which is outputted from a first device and indicates a measurement result of measurement of a measurement target object; a temporary storage section configured to store the first signal obtained by the first obtaining section; a second obtaining section configured to obtain a second signal which is outputted from a second device and indicates (i) a position of the measurement target object or (ii) an amount of change which is in accordance with the position of the measurement target object, the second device being different from the first device; a storage control section configured to cause the storage section to store measurement information in which the second signal which has been obtained is associated with the first signal which has been stored in the temporary storage section; and an output control section configured to output, to a control device, at least one measurement information among the measurement information stored in the storage section.