Communication Device Prioritizing Sensor Data Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems in production lines face decreased communication rates and increased load when transmitting data from sensors to control devices, particularly due to the need to send both discriminant and detection values, which degrades performance and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A communication device that prioritizes data transmission based on importance, allowing higher-priority data to be sent more frequently while lengthening the transmission cycle for lower-priority data, using a combination of cyclic and message communication protocols to manage data load and maintain user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the detection value is transmitted in addition to the discriminant signal using the cyclic communication, then the user can acquire both types of data, but the amount of data to be transmitted increases to possibly decrease the communication rate and increase the load on the communication unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into two priority levels: discriminant signals (high priority) and detection values (low priority). The cyclic communication unit transmits only discriminant signals at high speed, while detection values are transmitted separately through message communication, thus maintaining high communication rate while providing complete data access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the communication unit acts as a mediator between sensors and control device. It selectively transmits discriminant signals via cyclic communication and detection values via message communication, optimizing the overall data transmission system by routing different data types through appropriate channels.
2Loss of information
If the full monitor mode is selected to transmit both detection value and discriminant signal, then complete data is available, but the load on the communication unit increases to possibly degrade communication performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data transmission into two separate channels: cyclic communication for discriminant signals and message communication for detection values. This segmentation prevents the communication unit from being overloaded by transmitting all data through a single channel, thus maintaining communication performance while providing complete data access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic data transmission where the communication unit adaptively selects transmission modes based on data type and priority. High-priority discriminant signals are transmitted cyclically, while low-priority detection values are transmitted on-demand, allowing the system to dynamically adjust its communication strategy to maintain performance.
3Productivity
If the partial monitor mode is selected to transmit only the discriminant signal, then the communication rate is maintained, but it is necessary to separately acquire the detection value using the message communication, requiring the user to separately produce a program, which degrades convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the communication unit multi-functional by enabling it to handle both cyclic communication (for discriminant signals) and message communication (for detection values) through a unified interface. This allows the communication unit to serve multiple data transmission needs simultaneously, maintaining high communication rate while providing convenient access to all data types through a single integrated system.
Data Source
AI summary
A decrease in communication rate and an increase in load in the cyclic communication are prevented in a photoelectric sensor system (1) without degrading a user's convenience. A communication unit (10) is connectable to a PLC (2) and a photoelectric sensor (30). The communication unit (10) receives a plurality of types of data, such as a discriminant signal, error information, a light receiving amount, setting values such as a threshold, a bottom value of the light receiving amount, and a peak value of the light receiving amount, from the photoelectric sensor. The communication unit (10) stores a priority setting table in which priority is fixed for each type of the data and a cycle setting table in which a data transmission cycle is fixed for each cycle. The transmission cycle is fixed so that the higher priority type data is transmitted in shorter cycle than the lower priority type data. Accordingly, the data is transmitted to the PLC (2) at a corresponding cycle where data of higher priority is transmitted with a shorter cycle than data of lower priority.