Information processing with failure detection, apparatus and method

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for failure detection in medical equipment, which often require duplexing hardware, lead to increased manufacturing costs and apparatus size as the complexity of processing circuits increases.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a first processor performing a first process on sensor information, a second processor performing a different process on the first information, and a third processor performing a third process corresponding to at least part of the second process, allowing for failure detection without the need for two sets of the same hardware, thereby reducing costs and size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hardware duplexing is used for failure detection, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and apparatus size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection capabilityVSAvoidapparatus size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the processing circuit's computation through a calculation model that generates pseudo signals. Instead of duplicating the entire hardware, the model replicates the computational logic in software, allowing failure detection by comparing actual sensor outputs with modeled pseudo signals while avoiding the need for duplicate hardware components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based failure detection system with a software-based calculation model. The computational processes are substituted from physical circuit duplication to mathematical modeling, eliminating the need for duplicate processing circuits while maintaining failure detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If hardware duplexing is used for failure detection, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the processing circuit's computation through a calculation model that generates pseudo signals. Instead of duplicating the entire hardware, the model replicates the computational logic in software, allowing failure detection by comparing actual sensor outputs with modeled pseudo signals while avoiding the need for duplicate hardware components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based failure detection system with a software-based calculation model. The computational processes are substituted from physical circuit duplication to mathematical modeling, eliminating the need for duplicate processing circuits while maintaining failure detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If two sets of the same processing circuits are prepared, then failure detection is enabled, but the apparatus size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection capabilityVSAvoidapparatus size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the processing circuit's computation through a calculation model that generates pseudo signals. Instead of duplicating the entire hardware, the model replicates the computational logic in software, allowing failure detection by comparing actual sensor outputs with modeled pseudo signals while avoiding the need for duplicate hardware components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions the failure detection mechanism from the physical dimension (duplicate hardware circuits) to the computational dimension (software-based calculation model). By moving the replication function into the software domain, the system achieves redundancy without increasing physical apparatus size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11080119B2Information processing with failure detection, apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2021.08.03 AIR WATER INC

AI summary

An information processing device is provided with: a first processing unit that generates first information by performing first processing with respect to sensor information acquired from a sensor; a second processing unit that generates second information by performing, with respect to the first information, second processing that is different from the first processing; and a third processing unit, which generates third information by performing, with respect to the first information, third processing, i.e., processing that corresponds to at least a part of the second processing, and which acquires the second information, and outputs the second information and the third information.