Redundant Process Control Using Parallel Input Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
In safety-oriented systems, cross-communication is necessary for data comparison between control devices to detect errors, but this process increases processor time and response time due to asynchronous operations and tolerances in input circuits, leading to potential system failures.
Innovation Solution
Control devices operate two interfaces in parallel to receive and compare input data streams simultaneously, eliminating the need for cross-communication by directly comparing data in memory after transmission, using SPI master and slave interfaces for synchronized data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cross-communication is used to exchange and compare input data between control devices, then data synchronization and fault detection are achieved, but processor time increases and system response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having both control devices read the same input signals simultaneously through dedicated communication interfaces before any comparison or processing occurs. This pre-synchronization of input data eliminates the need for subsequent cross-communication exchanges, as both devices already possess identical data locally ready for immediate parallel processing and comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by creating duplicate copies of the input data stream through separate communication interfaces. Each control device receives its own copy of the input signals independently, allowing both devices to process identical data simultaneously without requiring data exchange. This copying approach enables parallel processing while maintaining data consistency.
2Reliability
If input data is exchanged via cross-communication before processing, then data consistency is verified, but additional transmission time and processor overhead are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing identical data copies in both control devices through simultaneous reading of the same input signals via dedicated communication interfaces. This preliminary data synchronization eliminates the need for subsequent cross-communication exchanges to verify consistency, as both devices already possess identical data locally ready for immediate parallel processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by creating duplicate copies of the input data stream through separate communication interfaces. Each control device receives its own copy of the input signals independently, allowing both devices to process identical data simultaneously without requiring data exchange. This copying approach enables parallel processing while maintaining data consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If asynchronous operations are used in cross-communication, then flexibility in data exchange is maintained, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to tolerances in input circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having both control devices simultaneously read the input signals before any asynchronous operations occur. This preliminary simultaneous reading establishes a common reference point in time for both devices, ensuring that subsequent processing operates on precisely synchronized data while still allowing flexible asynchronous handling of the actual processing tasks.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for controlling a process. The system comprises: a first control device which has a first processor designed for processing first data and a first communication interface of a first communication unit designed for receiving the first data; and a second control device which has a second processor designed for processing second data and a second communication interface of a second communication unit designed for receiving the second data. The first communication unit comprises a third communication interface and the second communication unit comprises a fourth communication interface. The third communication interface is connected to the second communication interface and the first processor is designed to process, in particular to compare, the second data received by the third communication interface with the first data received by the first communication interface. The fourth communication interface is connected to the first communication interface and the second processor is designed to process, in particular to compare, the second data received by the second communication interface with the first data received by the fourth communication interface.