Galvanic Isolation via Serial Diagnostic Bits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Security relays for security-critical applications require numerous galvanic isolation units, leading to increased space and cost requirements, while ensuring secure data transmission remains a challenge.
Innovation Solution
A security arrangement utilizing a data processing unit with serial data transmission and shift registers for converting data, incorporating diagnostic bits to ensure error detection and secure data transmission, which reduces the need for galvanic separation units and enhances security by using a single galvanic separating element for control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate optocoupler is used for each input and output, then data transmission security is ensured, but the number of galvanic separating elements increases, leading to increased space and cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple optocouplers are replaced by a single galvanic separating element through the use of serial data transmission. The parallel data paths are merged into a single serial path, allowing one optocoupler to handle what previously required multiple separate isolators, thereby reducing board space while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional parallel data transmission mechanism with a serial transmission system using shift registers. This substitution transforms the data transmission approach from simultaneous parallel paths to sequential serial paths, enabling the use of fewer galvanic separating elements
2Reliability
If a separate optocoupler is used for each input and output, then data transmission security is ensured, but the number of galvanic separating elements increases, leading to increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple expensive optocoupler components are merged into a single galvanic separating element. The serial transmission architecture allows one optocoupler to replace multiple separate isolators, directly reducing component costs while maintaining the security requirements for each data path
Solution Approach 2:
A single galvanic separating element is made universal to handle multiple data paths sequentially through serial transmission. The shift registers enable this one element to perform the isolation function for what would traditionally require multiple dedicated optocouplers, reducing overall system cost
3Area of stationary object
If serial data transmission is used to reduce the number of galvanic separating elements, then space and cost are reduced, but the security of data transmission is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through diagnostic bits that are transmitted along with the data. These diagnostic bits provide real-time information about the transmission status, allowing the system to detect and respond to errors, thereby maintaining security despite using serial transmission
Solution Approach 2:
Error detection and correction measures are built into the transmission protocol in advance. Diagnostic bits are prepared and transmitted along with the data, and error checking is performed before the data is considered valid, preventing compromised data from affecting system security
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces the number of galvanic separation elements and costs, while ensuring high data security in security-critical applications by using diagnostic bits to check for errors in data transmission, thus maintaining system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
An optocoupler e.g. transmits data by optical means and therefore provides a perfect galvanic separation of the data transmission
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a security arrangement comprising a data processing unit for serial transmission of data for controlling outputs and for querying inputs of a process and a corresponding method; further comprising at least one parallel-to-serial converter comprising a shift register for converting data to query the inputs; at least one serial-to-parallel converter comprising a shift register for converting data to control the outputs; wherein the data to be transmitted includes diagnostic bits that are output from the serial-to-parallel converter and read back from the parallel-to-serial converter; and the read-back data is checked for errors by the data processing unit to ensure a secure data transmission.