Industrial Control Device Pulse Width Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional industrial control devices require additional circuits to detect faults, such as short circuits between signal input-output circuits, leading to increased circuit complexity.
Innovation Solution
The control device employs signal input-output circuits with distinct pulse widths, a determination unit, and a fault detection unit to identify faults without the need for additional circuits by comparing pulse widths, utilizing a processor and memory to execute instructions for fault detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional circuits are added to detect faults in conventional industrial control devices, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal input-output circuits perform self-diagnosis by monitoring their own output pulse widths. Each circuit compares its output pulse width against a predetermined value, enabling the system to detect faults without requiring external monitoring circuits. This self-service approach maintains high reliability while avoiding additional circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing signal input-output circuits are designed to perform multiple functions: their primary function of signal conversion and their secondary function of self-diagnosis. By making the circuits universal, the patent eliminates the need for separate fault detection circuits, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
2Measurement precision
If pulse widths of signal input-output circuits are made distinct, then fault detection precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predetermined pulse width values for each signal input-output circuit during the design and configuration phase. These predetermined values serve as reference standards for fault detection. By performing this configuration action in advance, the system ensures that distinct pulse widths are maintained without requiring continuous manufacturing precision control during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pulse width as a distinctive parameter for each signal input-output circuit. By assigning different pulse width values to different circuits, the system creates easily distinguishable signal characteristics that improve fault detection precision. This parameter-based differentiation approach is more tolerant to manufacturing variations than structural differences.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device for industrial machines includes a plurality of signal input-output circuits configured such that pulse widths of pulse signals output from the signal input-output circuits are different from each other. The control device detects a fault when a pulse signal output from one of the signal input-output circuits has a pulse width different from the pulse width set to the one of the signal input-output circuits.