Automation Process Image Change Tracking for Event-Driven Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation technologies face resource and energy inefficiencies due to cyclic execution of control programs, limited response times, and failure to detect short-term state changes, leading to synchronization issues and unpredictable system behavior.
Innovation Solution
Implement an event-based operation method for programmable automation devices, using change notifications to update data points and set change indicators, allowing selective execution of control program steps only when necessary, thereby conserving resources and detecting short-term changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cyclic execution of control programs is used, then the output process image is kept up to date, but resource consumption and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements event-triggered periodic action where the control program executes only when change notifications are received, rather than continuous cyclic execution. This maintains output process image accuracy by updating only when necessary, while significantly reducing energy consumption during stable states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode between event-triggered updates and idle states. The automation device transitions from active processing to low-power mode based on input changes, optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cyclic execution is used, then the system maintains synchronization, but response time is limited by cycle duration
Solution Approach 1:
The event-triggered mechanism provides asynchronous periodic updates only when state changes occur, eliminating the fixed cycle duration limitation while maintaining synchronization through change indicators that coordinate updates across the system.
3Reliability
If complete control programs are executed each cycle, then all output data is recalculated, but bandwidth and CPU power are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the specific data points that have changed, as indicated by change indicators. Instead of recalculating all output data, the system selectively updates only affected portions, reducing CPU power consumption and communication bandwidth usage while maintaining output accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control program execution is segmented into selective processing based on change notifications. Only the relevant control logic corresponding to changed inputs is executed, rather than complete program execution, optimizing resource utilization.
4Use of energy by moving object
If long cycle duration is used, then resource consumption decreases, but short-term state changes are undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The event-triggered periodic action ensures that the system remains sensitive to short-term changes by immediately responding to change notifications regardless of the average update rate. The change indicator mechanism ensures no transient changes are missed even when the system operates in low-power mode for extended periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and computer programs for event-based operation of a programmable automation device, the method comprising: receiving a change notification indicating a changed value of an input of the automation device. A data point of an input process image of the automation device assigned to the input is updated based on the changed value. A change indicator of the data point of the input process image is set, which indicates that the data point has been updated. The invention enables more performance results with considerable resource savings (especially consumption of electrical energy), especially in fields of application with only rare changes to control data and/or changes to the control data on only a small scale.