Media Converter for Low-Latency Industrial Ethernet Wireless

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies for industrial Ethernet protocols face significant latency issues when transmitting data over wireless paths, as they rely on packet-oriented transmission, which is not deterministic and introduces unacceptable delays, unlike their wired counterparts.

Innovation Solution

A media converter system that continuously converts data signals from a wired Ethernet network into a sequence of bits, embedding synchronization information, and modulates these bits into a radio transmission signal in a predetermined frequency band, allowing for direct demodulation and conversion back into a data signal on the wired network without the need for additional clock or control frequency generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If packet-oriented transmission is used for wireless communication, then wireless data transmission is enabled, but latency increases and real-time capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless communication capabilityVSAvoidtransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission process by separating synchronization information from data packets. Each symbol contains embedded synchronization signals that enable continuous synchronization without waiting for complete packet reception, thus reducing latency while maintaining wireless communication capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding synchronization information in advance within each transmitted symbol. This allows the receiver to be continuously synchronized before data arrival, eliminating the need to wait for complete packet reception and enabling real-time wireless transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If synchronization information is embedded in each symbol, then continuous synchronization is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidtransmitter and receiver complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges synchronization information with data symbols by embedding sync signals within each symbol structure. This integration approach achieves continuous synchronization without requiring separate synchronization modules or additional hardware components, thus maintaining reliability while avoiding increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmitted symbols serve multiple functions simultaneously: they carry both synchronization information and data information. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate synchronization channels or additional processing hardware, achieving reliable synchronization without increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach enables efficient, low-latency wireless data transmission by eliminating the need for separate synchronization modules and allows for continuous communication with minimal delay, suitable for real-time industrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

A modulator is set up to modulate a radio transmission signal in a predetermined frequency band with the sequence of bits supplied by the converter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectModulation: Phase Modulation

Implementation Method 2

the antenna is provided for emitting the radio transmission signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

A demodulator is set up to generate a sequence of bits by demodulating the radio transmission signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDemodulation: Phase Modulation

Data Source

PatentEP3588788B1Media converter
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3588788B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a media converter for data transmission in a wired data network, a transmitter, a receiver for such a media converter, and a method for data transmission in a wired data network, wherein a data signal (11a) is received via a first medium according to a first network protocol and converted into a sequence of bits (12a) which represents transmitted data on the physical layer of a second protocol, which is based on a different form of energy after conversion. A radio transmission signal (13a) subsequently modulated (13) with the sequence of bits in a predetermined frequency band can then be emitted and received on the receiving side as a radio transmission signal (13a) in the predetermined frequency band (24), which is then demodulated into a sequence of bits (22a) which represents data on the physical layer of the second protocol.After conversion (22) of the sequence of bits (22a) into a data signal (21a) according to the first network protocol, this is output via the wired data network.