Remote I/O Module Position Offset Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial control systems for moving frames, such as conveyor belts, face complexity in synchronizing sensors and actuators due to the need for frequent adjustments of offset variables, which complicates the control program and requires manual review and changes.

Innovation Solution

An I/O module that receives and transmits actual position values corrected for spatial offsets, allowing these calculations to be performed remotely and eliminating the need for position corrections in the control program, enabling simultaneous broadcasting of frame-referenced positions to multiple devices and automatic or semi-automatic calibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If offset variables are defined in the control program to represent spatial offsets of control devices, then the control system can synchronize sensors and actuators with the moving frame, but the control program becomes complex and requires manual review and changes when adjustments are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidcontrol program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the offset compensation functionality from the central control program and relocates it to the I/O modules themselves. Each I/O module now contains its own offset variable and performs local position value correction, eliminating the need for complex centralized offset management while maintaining synchronization accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the offset compensation task into individual I/O module responsibilities. Instead of one centralized control program managing all offsets, each I/O module independently handles its own offset corrections, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing control program complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If position corrections are performed in the control program, then spatial offsets can be compensated, but adjustments require manual review and changes to the control program

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidadjustment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables I/O modules to perform self-service by automatically applying their own offset corrections to position values. The modules independently manage their offset variables without requiring manual intervention in the control program, making adjustments easier while maintaining position accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring offset variables in each I/O module before operation. These offset values are established in advance and automatically applied during normal operation, eliminating the need for manual control program modifications when adjustments are needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple devices receive position data from the control program, then coordination across the system is achieved, but position corrections must be applied centrally increasing system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem coordinationVSAvoidcentralized control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the position correction function so that each receiving device performs its own corrections locally rather than relying on centralized processing. This distributed approach maintains system coordination while reducing centralized control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the I/O modules as intermediaries that receive raw position data from the control program, apply their local offset corrections, and then use the corrected values for device coordination. This intermediary approach distributes the correction workload and simplifies the control program.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2717107B1Industrial control system with position offsets embedded in remote devices
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC
  • EP2717107B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2717107B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2717107B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An industrial control system provides for distributed processing of position related signals by remote I/O modules to correct for spatial offsets of sensors or actuators associated with the I/O modules, the latter which may receive position data and may correct timing signals detected at the I/O modules according to a stored position offset within the I/O modules.