Multi-Core Numerical Control System for Scalable Axis Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing numerical control systems face limitations in scalability and increased complexity due to the use of low-price DSPs, which restrict the number of mountable processors and control axes, making it difficult to create multi-axial and high-functional machine tools with limited operating frequency and increased connection pins.
Innovation Solution
A numerical control system utilizing a multi-core processor for both the numerical control processor and motor control processor, with a serial communication interface such as PCIExpress, HyperTransport, or RapidIO, allowing for efficient allocation of control axes to each core and reducing the number of DSP chips and connection pins, thereby enhancing scalability and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If low-price DSPs are used as motor control processors to increase the number of processors, then cost is reduced and scalability is enhanced, but the number of connection pins increases and the number of mountable processors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple motor control processors into a single multi-core processor. The multi-core processor integrates multiple processing cores that can handle multiple control axes simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate DSP chips and their associated connection pins. This reduces device complexity while maintaining or enhancing scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-core processor serves multiple functions that previously required separate processors. Each core can be allocated to different control axes or control functions, making the single processor universal enough to replace multiple specialized DSPs. This reduces the number of connection pins needed while preserving the ability to scale to multiple control axes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of control axes is increased to create multi-axial machine tools, then functionality is enhanced, but the number of motor control processors must be increased which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple motor control processors into a single multi-core processor. The multi-core architecture allows multiple control axes to be managed within one integrated processor, reducing the total number of separate processor components needed in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-core processor segments its processing capacity into multiple independent cores, where each core can be allocated to handle a specific control axis. This segmentation allows the system to scale to multiple control axes while keeping the overall processor count low, as each axis is handled by a dedicated core within the same physical processor package.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more motor control processors are mounted to handle more control axes, then the number of control axes increases, but operating frequency cannot be increased due to semiconductor technology limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple processing functions into a single multi-core processor package. This integration allows the system to achieve multi-axis control without increasing the number of separate processor chips, thereby avoiding the semiconductor scaling limitations that prevent frequency increases in multi-chip configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the number of processors (one dimension), the patent transitions to a multi-core architecture within a single processor (another dimension). This dimensional shift allows parallel processing capability to scale without being constrained by the physical limitations of adding more separate chips, thus preserving operating frequency potential.
4Ease of manufacture
If low-price DSPs are used with general-purpose parallel bus connections, then ease of manufacture is improved, but direct connection to local bus is not possible requiring bus bridges which increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-core processor is designed with universal interface capabilities that can directly connect to local buses. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate bus bridge components that would be required if using traditional low-price DSPs with general-purpose parallel bus connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the bus bridge component from the system architecture. By integrating direct local bus connection capability into the multi-core processor itself, the intermediate bus bridge is eliminated, simplifying the overall system while maintaining ease of manufacture and configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor driving amplifier and a numerical controller are connected to each other via communication to configure a numerical control system. The numerical controller includes a numerical control unit, a motor control unit, and an amplifier interface unit. Furthermore, a motor control processor included in the motor control unit is a multi-core processor.