Phase Coherent Synchronization for Asynchronous Vibration Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Asynchronous data acquisition systems cannot directly compare the phase of vibration signals due to lack of synchronization, leading to skewed data comparisons, especially during non-steady-state operations.
Innovation Solution
The system uses an external synchronization pulse to align data by measuring the time between the tachometer pulse and ADC samples, embedding a local synchronization signal, and aligning asynchronous synchronization signals across distributed units using an IEEE1588 network, allowing for phase coherent synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple data acquisition systems run asynchronously to collect vibration data, then system independence and flexibility are improved, but phase comparison accuracy between systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external synchronization pulse as an intermediary signal that mediates between multiple asynchronous data acquisition systems. This pulse serves as a common reference that allows each independent system to timestamp its data samples, enabling accurate phase comparison across systems while maintaining their operational independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary synchronization by embedding timestamps in data records before data collection begins. Each data acquisition system records the time relationship between ADC samples and synchronization pulses in advance, creating a reference framework that enables accurate phase comparison during subsequent data analysis without requiring continuous synchronization.
2Stability of the object's composition
If tachometer edges are aligned across asynchronous systems, then rotational reference consistency is improved, but data comparison accuracy during non-steady-state operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the synchronization problem by introducing absolute time timestamps alongside rotational phase references. Instead of relying solely on tachometer edge alignment, the system uses time-stamped data records that capture the absolute timing of each sample, enabling accurate comparison during non-steady-state operations where rotational speed varies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces reliance on mechanical tachometer alignment with an electronic timing reference system. By using external synchronization pulses and digital timestamps, the patent substitutes the mechanical synchronization approach with an electronic timing framework that provides more accurate and stable phase references during dynamic operations.
3Measurement precision
If time measurement resolution is increased to better than one microsecond, then phase measurement accuracy is improved, but system complexity and measurement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service timing by having each data acquisition system independently record its own timestamps based on local ADC clock cycles. Each system measures the time relationship between synchronization pulses and its own data samples autonomously, eliminating the need for complex centralized timing infrastructure while achieving microsecond-level precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic synchronization pulses as a regular timing reference that simplifies measurement. By introducing periodic external sync pulses that coincide with ADC sampling, the system creates a regular timing framework that makes time measurement straightforward through simple cycle counting, reducing the complexity of achieving high-resolution timing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is described for time synchronizing digitized measurement signals, such as vibration signals. The digitized signals, which are acquired asynchronously by multiple distributed measurement units, indicate the operational condition of a machine or a process. To measure the phase of the digitized signals relative to a pulse tachometer input, the time between the leading edge of the tachometer pulse and the digitized samples is measured. To achieve phase-coherent synchronization across the distributed measurement units, a local synchronization signal is embedded into the data produced by the measurement units. The systems uses the synchronization signal to align the data in post processing, which phase aligns the data and aligns the data in absolute time. The synchronization signal may be encoded with a timestamp to provide additional timing information.