Modular Image Sensor Configuration Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modular image sensors face challenges in ensuring consistent module configurations during maintenance and installation, leading to potential operational issues due to mismatched scene data, which can result in improper inspection performance.

Innovation Solution

An image sensor system that compares and notifies users of module configuration differences, allowing for customized notification settings to ensure accurate data application and reduce unnecessary work hours, by integrating a collection part, comparison part, notification part, and data setting part to manage module configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If modular image sensors are used with customizable module combinations, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases and configuration management becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodule combination flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary configuration management by automatically collecting module information, comparing it with stored reference configurations, and notifying users of any mismatches before operational issues arise. This proactive approach prevents problems rather than reacting to them after they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where module configuration information is continuously collected, compared against reference configurations, and used to generate notifications. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures configuration consistency and enables users to take corrective action when deviations are detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If module configurations are copied between image sensors, then productivity is improved through faster deployment, but reliability decreases due to potential configuration mismatches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidconfiguration consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Before deploying copied configurations, the system performs preliminary verification by collecting actual module information and comparing it with the reference configuration. This pre-deployment check ensures that copied configurations are valid and consistent with the physical hardware, preventing operational failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary anti-action by detecting configuration mismatches before they can cause operational problems. By notifying users of inconsistencies between copied configurations and actual hardware, the system prevents the harmful effects of configuration errors from manifesting during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Loss of time

If configuration copying is performed without verification, then time consumption is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to inappropriate data application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration setup timeVSAvoidoperational errors from mismatched data
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a minimal but sufficient verification action - collecting module information and comparing it with reference configuration - which takes only minimal time but effectively prevents operational errors. This partial verification approach balances time consumption with error prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

By performing preliminary comparison and notification, the system counteracts the potential harmful effects of inappropriate data application before they can occur. The notification mechanism allows users to correct configuration issues before they lead to operational failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3531678B1Image sensor and module configuration notification method for image sensor
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 OMRON CORP
  • EP3531678B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3531678B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3531678B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image sensor (200) includes an imaging system (201, 202, 203) configured by combining of modularized components; and a processing part (204) executing a process using an image acquired by the imaging system (201, 202, 203). Each of the components includes a memory storing information specifying the component. The image sensor (200) further includes: a collection part (204) collecting the information specifying the component from the memory; a storage part (204b) storing information representing a combination of the components of the image sensor (200) and data to be used when the image sensor (200) having the components indicated by the combination executes the process; a comparison part (204) comparing a combination of its components with the combination of the components of the image sensor (200) represented by the information stored in the storage part (204b); and a notification part (204) sending a notification based on a result of comparison.