Production Line Item Tracing with Centralized Event Timestamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for tracing product items on a production line face inaccuracies due to unsynchronized timestamp counters in peripheral devices, making it difficult and costly to determine the order of handling steps and identify malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a control unit and a timestamp counter that receives product signals from peripheral devices, generates event signals, and arranges them in sequence, associating a single timestamp with the sequence to accurately trace product items, eliminating the need for device synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If timestamp counters are used in each peripheral device for tracing purposes, then tracing capability is provided, but tracing accuracy deteriorates due to lack of synchronization between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the timestamp counter functionality into a single centralized control unit that all peripheral devices communicate with. Instead of each device having its own independent timestamp counter, the control unit generates a single synchronized timestamp for all devices, eliminating synchronization issues while maintaining tracing capability across all peripheral devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between peripheral devices and the tracing system. It receives signals from multiple peripheral devices, generates a single timestamp that represents the current time for all devices, and associates this timestamp with the appropriate device signals. This intermediary approach ensures all devices operate from a common time reference without requiring individual synchronization.
2Measurement precision
If sophisticated synchronization devices are used to synchronize timestamp counters, then tracing accuracy is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timestamp counter functionality from individual peripheral devices and places it solely in the control unit. This eliminates the need for complex synchronization devices between peripheral devices, as only one timestamp counter exists in the control unit. The extraction simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high tracing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls peripheral devices, generates timestamps, receives signals from devices, and performs tracing operations. By making the control unit universal and multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate synchronization devices, reducing system complexity while maintaining accurate tracing capabilities across all devices.
3Ease of operation
If multiple independent timestamp counters are used in peripheral devices, then each device can independently timestamp events, but synchronization difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves as an intermediary that enables independent device operation without requiring device-to-device synchronization. Each peripheral device independently sends signals to the control unit, which then assigns a single synchronized timestamp to all signals based on when they were received. This intermediary approach preserves operational independence while eliminating synchronization complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application concerns a system for tracing a product item (102, 104) on a production line (100) comprising a control unit (10) and a timestamp counter (11), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to receive a product signal related to the product item (102, 104) from at least one peripheral device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26). According to the invention, the control unit (10) is further configured to carry out the method steps of receiving a plurality of product signals each relating to a product item (102, 104) and a peripheral device (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26), generating a plurality of event signals, wherein each event signal is based on one of the product signals, arranging the event signals in a sequence corresponding to an order in which the product signals were received, and associating a timestamp generated by the timestamp counter (11) with the sequence.