Sequence Control Apparatus for Relay State Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sequence control systems become large in scale due to the need for control circuits and programs to manage intermediate states and time intervals when controlling the ON/OFF states of relays, making them inefficient for state transitions.
Innovation Solution
A sequence control apparatus that stores sequence data associating control signals with states and time intervals, includes a sequence data selecting section to choose data based on current and previous states, and a time control section to manage these intervals, allowing efficient control of relay states and time durations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control circuits and control programs are added to manage intermediate states and time intervals, then the ability to control state transitions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a lookup table (sequence storing section) that stores pre-defined state transition sequences. Instead of implementing complex control logic to manage intermediate states and time intervals, the system copies pre-stored sequence data from the lookup table based on the current state, thereby simplifying the control circuit while maintaining reliable state transition control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-calculates and stores all possible state transition sequences, including intermediate states and time intervals, in a lookup table before runtime. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time decision-making circuits, as the system only needs to retrieve the appropriate pre-computed sequence based on the current state.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive intermediate state management is implemented, then the precision of state control is improved, but the program size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the state control function into two parts: a compact state detection unit that identifies the current state, and a lookup table that stores all intermediate state sequences. This segmentation allows precise control of intermediate states while keeping the main control program small, as the detailed state sequences are stored externally in the lookup table rather than being hard-coded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lookup table as an intermediary between the simple state detection logic and the complex intermediate state management. The lookup table acts as a mediator that contains all the detailed intermediate state sequences, allowing the control system to achieve precise state control without embedding complex logic in the main control program.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a sequence control apparatus for outputting a sequence of control signals to operate a control target, including a sequence storing section that stores thereon sequence data in association with each state received from outside, where the sequence data includes a plurality of control signals to be sequentially supplied to the control target and a plurality of pieces of time interval information designating time intervals during which the plurality of control signals are respectively kept supplied to the control target, a sequence data selecting section that, on reception of a state from the outside, selects sequence data associated with the state, a sequence reading section that sequentially reads the plurality of control signals and the plurality of pieces of time interval information included in the selected sequence data and sequentially supplies the plurality of control signals to the control target, and a time control section that refers to the plurality of sequentially read pieces of time interval information to control the time intervals during which the plurality of control signals are kept supplied to the control target.