Safety Function Data Tracing With Automatic Data Group Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in efficiently designating a collection target data group for data tracing functions in safety systems, requiring significant time and effort, especially when multiple data points need to be selected, and there is a risk of errors due to unfamiliarity with the required data names.

Innovation Solution

A control system and support device that include a data tracing module and a storage system for associating data groups with safety functions, allowing users to select safety functions and motors in bulk, automatically outputting relevant data groups and parameters, reducing the need for manual designation and minimizing error risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users designate collection target data one by one, then the data tracing function can be executed, but significant time and effort are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata tracing accuracyVSAvoidtime for designating collection target data

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-defines multiple collection target data groups corresponding to different safety functions (STO, SS1, SS2, SOS, SBC) in advance. When a user selects a safety function, the corresponding pre-defined data group is automatically designated, eliminating the need for manual one-by-one selection and significantly reducing the time required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support device provides a universal interface where users can select from standardized safety function types. Each safety function type is associated with a comprehensive data group that includes all necessary parameters for that function, allowing users to access multiple data points through a single selection rather than individually configuring each parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If users manually designate collection target data groups, then complete data coverage can be achieved, but the process becomes complex and error-prone for users unfamiliar with required data names

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection completenessVSAvoidease of designating collection target data

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support device acts as an intermediary between the user and the complex data tracing configuration. It provides a user-friendly interface that translates simple safety function selections into comprehensive data group designations, ensuring complete data coverage without requiring users to understand or manually specify individual parameter names.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Comprehensive data groups for each safety function are pre-configured and stored in the support device. These pre-defined groups ensure that all necessary data points are included automatically when a safety function is selected, eliminating the risk of incomplete data collection while simplifying the user interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If multiple data points are selected individually, then comprehensive monitoring can be achieved, but the complexity of designation increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of collected data pointsVSAvoidcomplexity of data designation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple individual data points into unified data groups associated with each safety function type. Instead of requiring users to select numerous individual parameters, the support device combines them into pre-defined groups that are selected as single units, dramatically reducing the complexity of the designation process while maintaining comprehensive monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Each safety function type serves as a universal selector that automatically activates a comprehensive data group containing all relevant parameters. This multi-functional approach allows a single selection to trigger the collection of multiple data points across different categories (speed, position, torque, etc.), simplifying the interface while expanding data coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11340561B2Control system, support device, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 OMRON CORP

AI summary

Provided is a control system which can support a user with respect to the designation of a data group to be collected. The control system (1) includes: first and second controllers (100, 200); a drive device (300) which has a plurality of safety functions for a motor (400); a data tracing module (154) which traces a state value for indicating an operation state of the motor (400); and a support device (500) which receives a setting of the data group to be collected including the state value. The support device (500) includes: a storage (510) which stores collection candidate information in which a data group of collection candidates is associated with a type of a safety function; and an output section (508) which outputs, as the data group to be collected, the data group of collection candidates associated with one selected safety function.