Switch Drive Apparatus Dual-Use Terminal Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive apparatuses for switches require additional transmission terminals to convey failure information from the drive circuit to the controller, increasing complexity and potentially introducing errors in failure detection and identification.
Innovation Solution
A drive apparatus with a first region for obtaining and processing signals related to a switch's physical characteristics, including a failure determiner and a transmission unit that uses a single physical-quantity transmission terminal to convey both normal operation and failure information, allowing the controller to detect physical quantities and identify failures without additional terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additional transmission terminal is added to convey failure information from the drive circuit to the controller, then the reliability of failure detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing transmission terminal that originally transmitted only physical quantity information during normal operation is made to serve dual purposes: it continues to transmit physical quantity information while also transmitting failure information when a failure occurs. This is achieved by having the drive circuit stop transmitting the pulse signal and instead output a predetermined voltage level (e.g., ground potential) to indicate failure, allowing the same terminal to convey both normal operation data and failure status without requiring additional terminals.
2Loss of information
If the number of transmission terminals is increased, then the information transmission capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to potential errors in failure detection
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the voltage level at the transmission terminal to detect failures. During normal operation, the terminal outputs a pulse signal with varying voltage levels representing physical quantity information. When a failure is detected (voltage level deviates from expected ranges), the drive circuit stops the pulse signal and outputs a predetermined voltage level. The controller uses this feedback mechanism to accurately distinguish between normal operation data and failure status, maintaining high failure detection accuracy without adding terminals.
3Measurement precision
If a separate failure information transmission method is implemented, then the measurement precision of physical quantity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The failure detection function is merged with the existing physical quantity information transmission function. The drive circuit uses the same transmission terminal and pulse signal generation circuitry to convey both types of information. When a failure occurs, the circuit transitions from outputting the pulse signal to outputting a predetermined voltage level through the same terminal, combining failure detection with the existing transmission infrastructure and avoiding additional circuit complexity.
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
Enables the controller to recognize switch failures while maintaining the number of terminals, preventing errors in failure detection and identification by using a single terminal for both normal operation and failure information transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a modulator mounted to the first region and configured to perform pulse-width modulation of the signal obtained by the obtaining unit to thereby output a pulse signal from the physical-quantity transmission terminal
Data Source
AI summary
In a drive apparatus, a transmission unit mounted to a first region stops transmission of a pulse signal from a physical-quantity transmission terminal. The transmission unit transmits, from the failure information transmission terminal, a first signal indicative of an occurrence of the failure associated with the target switch when it is determined that the failure associated with the target switch has occurred, and transmits, from the physical-quantity transmission terminal, a second signal indicative of a content of the failure associated with the target switch. A controller mounted to a second region electrically isolated from the first region detects, based on the pulse signal from the physical-quantity transmission terminal, the physical quantity upon no input of the first signal to the controller. The controller identifies, based on the second signal transmitted from the physical-quantity transmission terminal, the content of the failure upon the first signal being input to the controller.