Signal Recording Control for Change-Triggered Data Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional recording devices face challenges in efficiently recording signal values over extremely short time periods, leading to rapid memory overflow due to the high volume of data generated, requiring trial and error to determine optimal recording times.

Innovation Solution

A recording device that uses an AD conversion device to convert analog signals into digital signals and a recording control section to determine a recording start condition based on a determination reference value, starting the recording process only when a significant change in signal values occurs, thereby preventing unnecessary data storage and optimizing memory usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If signal values are recorded over an extremely short sampling period, then the recording precision and time resolution are improved, but the quantity of data increases enormously causing RAM to become out of free space quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime resolutionVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information by recording representative values (maximum, minimum, average) during each sampling period rather than storing all individual signal values. This selective extraction reduces data volume while preserving the time-series change characteristics needed for analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by recording only certain critical data points (representative values) rather than all possible data points. This partial recording approach suffices to capture the essential time-series behavior without the excessive data volume that would result from continuous recording at the shortest sampling period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If all signal values are recorded continuously, then the completeness of data is improved, but the memory consumption increases rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidmemory consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information by recording representative values (maximum, minimum, average) during each sampling period rather than storing all individual signal values. This selective extraction reduces data volume while preserving the time-series change characteristics needed for analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters being recorded from individual signal values to aggregated statistical parameters (max, min, average). This parameter transformation maintains the essential information about signal behavior while dramatically reducing the quantity of data that must be stored in memory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional recording methods are used with trial and error, then the recording device can operate, but the complexity of operation and time required for setup increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording operationVSAvoidsetup effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The recording device performs self-service by automatically determining when to start recording based on detecting significant changes in signal values. The system independently decides when recording conditions are met without requiring external intervention or manual configuration, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining reliable recording of important events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring signal values and using this information to dynamically control the recording process. The system feeds back the current signal state to the recording control logic, which then adjusts recording activation accordingly, eliminating the need for manual trial-and-error setup and enabling automatic adaptive recording.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The solution allows for easy and efficient recording of time-series changes in signal values by initiating the recording process only when substantial changes occur, preventing memory overflow and reducing the effort required to manage data storage over short sampling periods.

Implementation Method 1

A recording device that uses an AD conversion device to convert analog signals into digital signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnalog-to-digital conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP3751235B1Recording device and recording method
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 OMRON CORP
  • EP3751235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3751235B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3751235B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

To allow a time-series change among signal values to be recorded easily for a process of recording the respective time-series values of input signals, a recording device includes: a determination reference value obtaining section configured to obtain a determination reference value on a basis of signal values during a reference time period, the reference time period being a predetermined time period after a start of input of time-series signal values, the determination reference value indicating a feature of the signal values during the reference time period, and a recording control section configured to (i) obtain information on a recording start condition on a basis of the determination reference value, the recording start condition indicating whether, as compared to the signal values during the reference time period, there has been a large change among signal values after the reference time period has elapsed, and (ii) start recording signal values in response to the recording start condition becoming satisfied.