Oversampled Data Frame Compression for PLC Control Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing data transfer methods in control systems, such as those using programmable logic controllers (PLCs), face challenges with large data sizes due to oversampling, leading to increased communication and processing burdens.

Innovation Solution

A data transfer device that compresses sampling data by storing only the first sampling data at full size and subsequent data at a compression size sufficient to represent the maximum change between sampling processes, reducing the overall data frame size transmitted to the PLC.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If oversampling is executed to improve control accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but data size of data frame becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol accuracyVSAvoiddata size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data transmission by separating the first sampling data (transmitted at full resolution) from subsequent sampling data (transmitted at compressed resolution). This segmentation allows the system to maintain measurement precision for the initial measurement while reducing data size for subsequent measurements, thereby resolving the contradiction between control accuracy and data size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the data representation parameter by transmitting subsequent sampling data in a compressed format that represents the maximum change value rather than the full measurement value. This parameter change reduces the data size while preserving the essential information needed for control accuracy, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and data quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If full-size sampling data is transmitted for each sampling process, then data completeness is improved, but communication burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidcommunication burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information from subsequent sampling data - specifically the maximum change value - and transmits this compressed representation instead of the full data. This extraction approach maintains data completeness for control purposes while significantly reducing the communication burden by transmitting only the necessary information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If compression is applied to subsequent sampling data, then data size is reduced, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sizeVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and transmitting the maximum change value in the compressed data format. This approach simplifies the overall processing complexity because the compression logic is predetermined and the receiving system only needs to perform simple decoding and reconstruction operations, rather than complex real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3979504B1Data transfer device, control device, setting device, and control method for data transfer device
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 OMRON CORP
  • EP3979504B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3979504B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3979504B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(D)

AI summary

The present invention suppresses the data size of a data frame to be transmitted to a control device at every control period even if oversampling is performed. A counter unit (10) compresses the data size of sampling data (Sd) indicating a second or subsequent count value (Ct) to the number of bits by which the maximum (Vmax) of a count value countable in one sampling processing can be represented.