Shared Communication Port Control for Multi-Unit CPU Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems require multiple communication units with separate communication ports, leading to increased hardware costs and development time due to the need for each unit to implement its own communication function and support multiple protocols.
Innovation Solution
A control system design where a single CPU unit with a communication port shares its communication function with multiple communication units, using a forwarding processing unit to relay data between units and devices, allowing communication units to use a single communication port and reducing the need for additional hardware and development efforts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each communication unit is provided with a separate communication module, then communication processing can be performed independently by each unit, but the system complexity and hardware costs increase due to requiring multiple communication modules
Solution Approach 1:
The CPU module is designed to perform multiple functions: it executes control programs for process control and simultaneously handles communication processing for multiple communication units. This multi-functionality allows a single CPU module to replace what would traditionally require separate communication modules for each unit, simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the communication processing function into the CPU module, combining what were previously separate functions (control processing and communication processing) into a single integrated unit. This consolidation reduces the number of required hardware components while preserving the ability to perform independent communication processing for multiple units.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication modules are prepared for multiple CPU modules, then each unit can perform communication processing independently, but hardware costs and development time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The CPU module is designed as a universal platform that can handle communication processing for multiple different communication units through a standardized communication interface. This allows the same CPU module design to be used across multiple units without requiring unit-specific communication modules, reducing development time and hardware costs while maintaining adaptability.
3Device complexity
If a single communication port is shared by multiple communication units, then hardware costs are reduced, but communication performance and response time may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic communication cycles where the CPU module systematically processes communication data from multiple communication units in sequence. This periodic action ensures that each communication unit receives timely attention while sharing the communication port, maintaining response performance without requiring dedicated communication hardware for each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The CPU module continuously performs communication processing alongside its control program execution, ensuring that communication tasks are handled without interruption to the main control function. This continuous processing maintains high response performance for communication operations while utilizing the shared communication port efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control system (1) and control device (300) are provided capable of flexibly realizing communication processing without requiring an additional unit even when a plurality of units having a communication function are present is provided. The control system (I) includes a first unit (100) having a first communication port (150) for transmitting and receiving data, and one or plural second units (200) electrically connected to the first unit. Each of the second units includes a logical communication unit (270) for transmitting/receiving data to/from a device electrically connected to the first communication port of the first unit. The first unit includes a forwarding processing unit (102) which forwards transmission data transmitted from the second unit to the device which is a transmission destination.