Multi-Line Communication Control for Stable IO Refresh Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control devices face challenges in maintaining a predetermined update cycle as the number of connected functional units increases, leading to longer IO refresh processing cycles and reduced design freedom due to complex scheduling and interdependent control processes.
Innovation Solution
A control device configuration with independent communication lines and cycles for data transmission, utilizing a communication unit with separate tasks and DMA cores to manage communication frames independently, allowing each functional unit to process only one communication frame and transfer others, thereby maintaining a secure update cycle and increasing design freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of functional units connected to communication lines increases, then the data exchange capability is improved, but the transfer time of communication frames increases and the IO refresh processing cycle becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single communication line into multiple independent communication lines (first communication line, second communication line, etc.), allowing data exchange to be segmented across multiple parallel channels. This segmentation enables simultaneous data transmission on different lines, preventing the communication bottleneck that occurs when all functional units share a single line, thus maintaining fast IO refresh cycles even as the number of connected units increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional single communication line to a multi-dimensional communication structure with multiple independent lines. By adding the dimension of parallel communication paths, the system can handle increased data exchange requirements without proportionally increasing the time required for complete data transmission cycles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control processings are executed with different cycles, then the control flexibility is improved, but the scheduling complexity increases and may reduce update cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control processings into different tasks, each assigned to specific communication lines and executing with different cycles independently. This segmentation allows each task to manage its own scheduling without being constrained by other tasks, reducing overall scheduling complexity while maintaining control flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication unit as an intermediary that manages the scheduling of multiple tasks across different communication lines. This intermediary handles the complexity of coordinating multiple control processings with different cycles, isolating the complexity from the functional units and allowing them to operate independently according to their specific cycles.
3Device complexity
If a single communication line is used for all functional units, then the device structure is simplified, but the communication performance deteriorates when multiple units are connected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication infrastructure into multiple independent communication lines, each capable of handling data exchange with functional units. This segmentation increases communication bandwidth and performance by allowing parallel data transmission, while the overall device structure remains relatively simple through the use of identical, standardized communication line modules.
Data Source
AI summary
This control device comprises a communication unit, one or more functional units, and communication lines that connect the communication unit and the one or more functional units and are independent of each other. The communication unit is configured to execute a first task of sending out, with a first cycle, a first communication frame for executing transmission of data collected by the functional unit to the communication unit and/or transmission of data held by the communication unit to the functional unit via a first communication line among the communication lines, and a second task of sending out, with a second cycle different from the first cycle, a second communication frame for executing transmission of the data collected by the functional unit to the communication unit and/or transmission of the data held by the communication unit to the functional unit via a second communication line among the communication lines.