Modular Design Patterns for Industrial Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial automation, selecting the appropriate modules for batch processing applications can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring trial and error, which increases development costs and time.
Innovation Solution
A design pattern table and modular, hierarchical framework are used to facilitate the selection of suitable design patterns and modules, reducing the need for manual coding by automatically populating applicable modules into a design template, leveraging reusable module classes and integrating design patterns with templates to construct automation applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual module selection and coding is used for batch processing applications, then development flexibility is maintained, but development time and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining standardized module templates and design patterns that capture common batch processing functionality. These templates are prepared in advance with standard interfaces and implementations, allowing developers to select and configure them rather than coding from scratch. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining flexibility through configurable templates while dramatically reducing development time through reuse of pre-built components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by creating reusable module templates that can be instantiated multiple times across different applications. These templates encapsulate proven designs and can be copied and adapted to new contexts, maintaining flexibility through parameterization while reducing development time through elimination of redundant coding. The template mechanism allows exact copying of functional patterns while enabling customization for specific requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If trial and error method is used to select modules, then adaptability to specific applications is achieved, but development complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the developer and the module selection process through design pattern templates. These templates act as mediators that guide module selection by providing structured frameworks that match application requirements to appropriate modules. This reduces development complexity by eliminating trial-and-error searching while maintaining adaptability through the intermediary's ability to match specific application contexts with suitable pre-defined templates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing module templates to be configured with specific parameters that adapt them to different applications. Rather than selecting from raw modules through trial and error, developers can select templates and adjust their parameters to fit specific requirements. This maintains adaptability through parameterization while reducing complexity by providing a structured configuration approach instead of unguided module selection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If standardized design templates are used, then development consistency is improved, but flexibility for custom solutions may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making module templates configurable and adaptable rather than rigid and fixed. The templates contain parameters and interfaces that can be dynamically adjusted to suit specific application requirements. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining design consistency through the standardized template structure while preserving customization capability through dynamic parameter adjustment and configuration options within the templates.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided that facilitate construction of automation applications for utilization in an industrial automation environment. A design template component can provide a design template to yield a modular, hierarchical framework for an application. Further, a design pattern table can include a library of design patterns, where the design patterns can be organized according to respective classifications. Moreover, a design pattern component can integrate a selected design pattern from the design pattern table with the design template to construct the application.