Usage-Based Charging for Rented Substrate Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no mechanism for renting individual units of substrate-related operation machines and charging based on their usage, leading to inefficient capital investment and leasing charges for substrate producers due to low usage frequency caused by product type changes.
Innovation Solution
A charging system and method that includes a recognizing section to identify rented units, an attachment position memory to record unit positions, an operating information acquisition section to log usage data, and a charge calculation section to bill based on actual operating hours of rented units, allowing for flexible and usage-based leasing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If substrate producers borrow all required equipment as leased items, then capital investment burden is reduced, but leasing charges increase due to low usage frequency caused by product type changes
Solution Approach 1:
The equipment is divided into a main body and multiple replaceable units. The substrate producer leases only the units rather than the entire equipment, allowing them to pay only for the components that are actually used. This segmentation enables flexible leasing where units can be attached or detached from the main body based on production needs, reducing unnecessary leasing charges while maintaining capital investment benefits.
2Loss of energy
If substrate producers own device main body and required units, then capital investment increases, but leasing charges are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the equipment into main body and units, the system allows flexible ownership and leasing arrangements. Substrate producers can own the main body and lease only specific units as needed, or lease both. This enables optimization of the balance between capital investment and leasing charges based on actual usage patterns and production requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all equipment is leased, then adaptability to product type changes is improved, but charging efficiency deteriorates due to inability to charge based on actual unit usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a recognizing section that detects when units are attached to or detached from the main body, and an operating information acquiring section that monitors unit usage. This feedback mechanism enables the charging system to accurately track actual unit operation, allowing leasing charges to be based on real usage data rather than estimated or fixed periods, thereby improving charging efficiency while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The equipment automatically performs unit recognition and operating information acquisition without requiring manual intervention. The system self-monitors which units are attached and how they are used, then automatically generates charging data. This self-service capability streamlines the charging process and improves efficiency while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different product types.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging system including a recognizing section provided on the main body and configured to recognize individual identification information of the rented unit attached to the main body; an attachment position information memory section configured to memorize a relationship between an attachment position of the main body to which the rented unit is attached and the individual identification information of the rented unit attached to the main body; an operating information acquiring section provided on the main body and configured to acquire operating information of the rented unit attached to the main body; an operating information memory section configured to memorize the operating information for each of the individual identification information; and a charge calculating section configured to calculate a charging amount based on the operating information memorized on the operating information memory section.