Multi-Channel Sensor Synchronization via Broadcast and Post-Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor networks face challenges in achieving flexible and robust time synchronization across multiple channels, particularly in distributed systems where sensors do not share a global clock, leading to inaccurate data correlation and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method involving broadcasting measurement start and end messages to sensor nodes over a TCP/IP network, using internal counter clocks to register values and post-processing results to compensate for clock differences, ensuring approximate synchronous triggering and alignment of measurement results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors use local clocks without a global master clock in distributed sensor networks, then system flexibility and ease of installation are improved, but time synchronization accuracy between multiple channels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration of sensor nodes with unique identifiers and measurement parameters before actual measurement. The host sends configuration data to each sensor node in advance, preparing them for synchronized operation without requiring a global clock during measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The host system acts as an intermediary that coordinates measurement start and end times across all sensor nodes. Instead of sensors synchronizing directly with each other, the host mediates the synchronization process by sending start/stop commands to all nodes, enabling time-correlated measurements in distributed networks without global clock infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If sensor nodes operate independently with their own local clocks, then device complexity is reduced, but data correlation accuracy between channels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the measurement control function: sensor nodes independently execute local measurement tasks with simple local clocks, while the host system handles the coordination of timing. This segmentation allows nodes to remain simple while achieving correlated measurements through host-mediated synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The host system provides feedback to sensor nodes by sending configuration parameters, measurement start/stop commands, and collecting results. This feedback mechanism enables the host to coordinate timing across all nodes, ensuring data correlation accuracy despite nodes operating with independent local clocks.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple sensor nodes are distributed over a network without a wired master clock, then ease of installation is improved, but time synchronization reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical wired master clock synchronization mechanism with a digital network-based coordination approach. The host system uses TCP/IP network communication to send timing commands to distributed sensor nodes, eliminating the need for physical clock signal distribution while achieving synchronized measurements.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
Sensor modules are triggered to start and stop (52,54,55) the measurement approximately synchronously by sending a broadcast message. Information on the timeline of local clocks is also collected by local counters (51,53,56, 57), and any relative differences in the local clocks, local sample clocks or local time stamps are rectified afterwards by means of the collected timeline information.