Optical Communication Timing Control for Article Storage Racks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article storage facilities face interference issues with light signals during optical communication, particularly when multiple vertical levels are involved, leading to potential malfunctions or incorrect operations in article transport devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a temporally-divided light-emission control system, where only one first optical communication device emits light at a time among those close vertically, reducing signal interference without the need for physical blocking structures, thus allowing flexible installation and operation irrespective of the facility's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If light signals are transmitted from multiple first optical communication units simultaneously, then communication efficiency is improved, but light signal interference occurs causing pickers to malfunction or perform wrong operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic time-division multiplexing where light signals from multiple first optical communication units are transmitted in alternating time slots rather than simultaneously. Each unit has a designated transmission period, ensuring that only one unit transmits at any given moment. This periodic action eliminates light signal interference while maintaining communication efficiency across multiple vertical levels.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If first optical communication units are mounted above tracks at one end of travel space, then light signal interference between vertical levels is reduced, but structural flexibility is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from spatial separation (mounting positions) to temporal separation (transmission timing) as the primary dimension for preventing light signal interference. By introducing time as the controlling dimension and implementing time-division multiplexing, the system eliminates interference without being constrained by specific spatial mounting arrangements, thereby enhancing structural flexibility and adaptability.
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 ensures reliable optical communication between devices, minimizing the risk of malfunctions and allowing efficient operation of article transport devices across multiple levels without structural constraints.
Implementation Method 1
first optical communication units provided in the travel space above the track such that the units face the picker whereas the picker is provided with second optical communication unit. Light signal is exchanged between the first optical communication unit and the second optical communication unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A main controller 50 controls carry in operations and carry out operations of articles to or from an article storage rack 1 using article transport devices 2 by causing a control command to be transmitted from a first optical communication device 10 that is associated with each article transport device 2 to a second optical communication device 20 provided to each article transport device 2. The main controller 50 is configured to perform a temporally-divided light-emission control in which a plurality of the first optical communication devices 10 are caused to emit light in a temporally divided manner such that there is only one first optical communication device 10 that emits light in any one time period among the first optical communication devices 10 that are located close to one another in the vertical direction.