Sensor Synchronization via Power Stop Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor systems for analyzing object motion, such as golf swings, face challenges in precisely synchronizing the outputs from multiple sensors attached to different parts of an object due to varying timing in receiving synchronizing signals.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system that includes a power feeding section with a stop mechanism to halt power supply to all sensors simultaneously, allowing each sensor to output timing information, which is then used by a synchronization section to synchronize the signals based on this common timing, ensuring precise time synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a synchronizing signal is time-sequentially transmitted from a host terminal to the plurality of sensors, then the sensors can be controlled to output signals, but the outputs from the plurality of sensors cannot be time synchronized precisely because the timing of receiving the synchronizing signal varies among the sensors
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transmitting a synchronizing signal from the host terminal to the sensors (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by having the host terminal stop power supply to all sensors simultaneously and using this power stop timing as the synchronization reference. Each sensor outputs timing information indicating when power was stopped, and the host terminal synchronizes signals based on this common timing reference, eliminating reception timing variations.
2Loss of information
If multiple sensors are attached to an object for motion analysis, then more comprehensive motion information can be obtained, but the outputs from the plurality of sensors need to be time synchronized which becomes complex and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply control function with the synchronization function. By stopping power supply to all sensors simultaneously through a single power feeding stop part, the system creates a unified timing reference that automatically synchronizes all sensors without requiring separate synchronization circuits or complex coordination protocols, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining information completeness.
3Reliability
If a synchronizing signal is transmitted to sensors, then signal coordination is attempted, but the varying reception timing among sensors prevents precise synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new intermediary element: the power supply stop timing. Instead of relying on sensors to respond to synchronizing signals at potentially different times, the system uses the power supply stop event as a common intermediary reference point that occurs simultaneously for all sensors. The timing information output by each sensor reflects this common reference, enabling precise synchronization without the reliability issues of signal transmission variations.
Data Source
AI summary
A power feeding apparatus includes a power feeding stop section that stops, all together, the supply of electric power to a plurality of sensors connected to the power feeding apparatus. Each of the sensors outputs a signal including timing information indicating the timing at which the supply of electric power is stopped by the power feeding stop section. A synchronization section synchronizes the output signals of the plurality of sensors based on the timing information.