Parallel Measurement Device with Pre-Driven Detectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing measurement devices face increased measurement time when simultaneously measuring electrical resistance and other physical properties, as the operation of the second measurement unit is delayed relative to the first unit, leading to prolonged overall measurement time.

Innovation Solution

A measurement device configuration where the second measurement unit starts its detector driving before the first unit, and both units execute measurements in parallel with the resistance measurement unit, with the control unit managing these operations to reduce noise influence and optimize measurement timing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the detector in the second measurement unit is started after the detector in the first measurement unit, then the operation sequence is simplified, but the measurement time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation sequenceVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The detector in the second measurement unit is started before the actual measurement begins, performing preliminary initialization and warm-up. This preliminary action ensures that when the measurement starts, both detectors are already in a ready state, allowing parallel measurement operations and reducing total measurement time while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If both measurement units operate in parallel with the resistance measurement unit, then measurement efficiency improves, but measurement time may increase due to coordination complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement efficiencyVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The second measurement unit performs preliminary detector startup and initialization before the parallel measurement operation begins. This ensures that when all units operate in parallel, the detectors are already calibrated and ready, avoiding delays in coordination and maximizing measurement efficiency without increasing total measurement time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement system maintains continuous useful action by having the second measurement unit's detector already operational and ready before the parallel measurement starts. This continuity eliminates idle waiting periods and ensures that all measurement operations proceed simultaneously without interruption, optimizing both productivity and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of time

If the second measurement unit starts detector driving before the first unit, then measurement time is reduced, but noise interference may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement timeVSAvoidnoise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The second measurement unit's detector is started in advance for preliminary initialization, but the actual measurement operation is triggered only after the first measurement unit begins. This timing coordination ensures that noise from the resistance measurement unit does not interfere with the second measurement unit's detector, while still allowing both units to operate in parallel and reduce total measurement time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors the operational status of both measurement units and coordinates their startup sequences. It uses feedback information about when each detector is ready and when noise levels are acceptable to optimize the timing of measurement operations, reducing noise interference while maintaining parallel operation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4091825B1Measurement device and image forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • EP4091825B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4091825B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4091825B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A measurement device (20) includes: a resistance measurement (50) unit that measures an electrical resistance of a measurement target; a first measurement unit (30), including a detector (325) that detects information indicating a first physical property other than the electrical resistance of the measurement target, that measures the first physical property from a detection result from the detector; a second measurement unit, (70) including a detector (725) that detects information indicating a second physical property other than the electrical resistance and the first physical property of the measurement target, that measures the second physical property from a detection result from the detector, in which a length of time from a start of driving the detector until a start of actual measurement is longer in the second measurement unit than in the first measurement unit; and a control unit (81B) that performs first control causing the first measurement unit to execute a measurement operation of measuring the first physical property in parallel with a measurement operation by the resistance measurement unit, and performs second control causing the second measurement unit to execute a measurement operation of measuring the second physical property in parallel with the measurement operation by the resistance measurement unit and also causing the second measurement unit to start the driving of the detector in the second measurement unit before the start of the driving of the detector in the first measurement unit.