Synchronous Measurement System With Distributed Counters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing synchronous measurement systems face challenges in synchronizing data from multiple sensor units efficiently, leading to increased communication overhead and reduced functionality due to centralized synchronization management, and high costs associated with clock synchronization in high sampling frequency applications.

Innovation Solution

A synchronous measurement system where a controller manages synchronization timing by transmitting synchronization commands to sensor units, adding count values to measurement data, and using a data structure to ensure synchronization across multiple units, with options for error handling and redundancy reduction, allowing for distributed synchronization and efficient data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If centralized synchronization management is used with master communication circuit transmitting count data to slave communication circuits, then communication synchronization is achieved, but communication overhead increases and the master circuit's original functionality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication synchronizationVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each sensor unit independently generates and transmits its own count value with measurement data, eliminating the need for a master circuit to distribute synchronization data. The sensor units self-manage synchronization without external control, reducing communication overhead and preserving the master circuit's original functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the master circuit transmitting count data to slave circuits for synchronization, the invention inverts the approach by having each sensor unit transmit its own count value along with measurement data. This reverses the traditional master-slave synchronization model and eliminates the communication overhead associated with centralized synchronization management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If clock sections are mounted on each sensor terminal for time recording, then measurement time can be recorded, but costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime recording capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive, precise clock sections with simpler, less costly counter circuits that generate count values. These counter circuits are much cheaper to manufacture and implement, while still providing sufficient synchronization capability for measurement data from multiple sensor units without requiring high-precision timekeeping hardware at each sensor terminal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention substitutes the mechanical/electronic clock sections with a software-based or simple digital counter system. Instead of using physical timekeeping hardware in each sensor terminal, the system uses count values generated by simple counters and processes synchronization through data structure organization and controller logic, replacing complex hardware with simpler computational methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If high sampling frequency is used for synchronous measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the requirement for precise clock synchronization increases costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling frequencyVSAvoidsynchronization cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive precision clock synchronization hardware with simple counter circuits and software-based synchronization processing. By using count values from simple counters and organizing data with timestamp fields, the system achieves high sampling frequency measurement capability without requiring costly precision timekeeping hardware at each sensor terminal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses inexpensive counter circuits instead of expensive clock sections in each sensor terminal. These simple counters generate sufficient synchronization information for high-frequency sampling without the cost of precision timekeeping hardware, making high sampling frequency measurements economically viable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS9948418B2Synchronous measurement system

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A synchronous measurement system includes a controller and a sensor unit connected to the controller. The controller transmits a plurality of synchronization commands to the sensor unit at every predetermined interval. The sensor unit transmits measurement data to the controller in synchronization with each one of the plurality of synchronization commands. The controller includes a data processing section configured to process the measurement data transmitted from the sensor unit and a counter configured to count the synchronization command. The controller builds a data structure in which a count value of the synchronization command corresponding to the measurement data is added to the measurement data.