Synchronized Measured Value Acquisition in Spatial Coordinate Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-precision measuring systems face challenges in achieving simultaneous measurement across distributed subsystems due to time uncertainties caused by unsynchronized local clock signals, leading to inconsistent data and measurement errors, especially in high-accuracy applications.

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting a synchronization signal to phase-synchronize local clock signals across subsystems, allowing for a time uncertainty significantly less than one clock cycle, thereby ensuring that measured values are recorded simultaneously with high accuracy, using existing signal lines for efficient cabling and reducing system complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If local clock signals are used in distributed subsystems for time quantification of measured value acquisition, then device complexity and cabling effort are reduced, but time uncertainty increases leading to measurement precision degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A synchronization signal is introduced as an intermediary between the central trigger signal and the local clock signals of distributed subsystems. This synchronization signal phase-lock s the local clock signals to a common reference, eliminating time uncertainties while preserving the benefits of distributed local clock operation. The synchronization signal acts as a mediator that coordinates timing across all subsystems without requiring direct central control of each subsystem's clock.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization signal creates a feedback mechanism where local clock signals are continuously adjusted to maintain phase alignment with the reference synchronization signal. This feedback loop ensures that any drift or deviation in local clock frequencies is corrected, maintaining precise temporal synchronization across all distributed subsystems while allowing them to operate independently with local clocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If unsynchronized local clock signals are used in subsystems, then cabling effort is reduced, but temporal uncertainty exceeds one clock cycle leading to inconsistent data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecabling effortVSAvoiddata consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization signal serves as a mediator that transmits timing reference information through existing signal lines to all distributed subsystems. This approach maintains the reduced cabling architecture while ensuring that all subsystems reference their local clock signals to the same temporal standard, guaranteeing consistent and reliable data acquisition across the distributed system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If a synchronization signal is transmitted to phase-synchronize local clock signals, then measurement precision is improved, but additional signal lines are required increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemporal accuracyVSAvoidsignal line quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization signal is transmitted utilizing existing signal lines already present in the measuring system for other purposes. This multi-functional use of existing infrastructure eliminates the need for dedicated additional cabling, achieving precise temporal synchronization across all subsystems while avoiding increases in physical device complexity or installation burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2718677B1High precision synchronized measured value acquisition
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 HEXAGON TECH CENT GMBH
  • EP2718677B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2718677B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2718677B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for wire bound, high precision, temporal synchronization of measured value acquisition in a measurement system designed as a space coordinate measurement apparatus having a plurality of measurement sub-units with signaling of a time for triggering the measured value acquisition by means of a trigger signal and with the respective acquisition and intermediate storage of a measured value in the measurement sub-unit at the time determined by the trigger signal. Each acquisition of the measured value is carried out in the measurement sub-units in a time quantified manner with a local timing signal of the measurement sub-unit. A phase synchronization of the local timing signals of the measurement sub-units is then carried out using a synchronization signal in order to ensure simultaneity of the acquisition of the measured value in the measurement sub-units with a temporal uncertainty which does not exceed a phase jitter of the synchronization, and which is in any case less than 90% of a period duration of the local timing signal.