Synchronous Data Acquisition in Automation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation systems face challenges in cost-effectively acquiring and recording process and status data with high temporal resolution, as they often require real-time clocks and are limited by the time interval between synchronization signals, which increases component costs and reduces data alignment accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method where a trigger signal is sent via a data transmission bus to initiate simultaneous data acquisition in automation components, allowing them to record data with a resolution determined by their internal cycle time, independent of the bus signals, and enabling high temporal resolution without the need for real-time clocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time clocks are installed in automation components to generate time stamps, then data alignment accuracy is improved, but component costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time stamping function from individual automation components and centralizes it in the control device. The control device generates a single time stamp for the trigger signal that is then distributed to all automation components, eliminating the need for expensive real-time clocks in each component while maintaining data alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger signal acts as an intermediary that carries the time stamp from the control device to all automation components. This single time stamp serves as a common reference for synchronizing data acquisition across multiple components without requiring each component to have its own time-keeping mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If synchronous acquisition is performed based on periodic synchronization signals, then data alignment between components is improved, but temporal resolution is limited by the signal interval
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary action by generating a trigger signal with a time stamp before the actual data acquisition begins. This trigger signal pre-synchronizes all automation components, allowing them to start recording at the exact same moment with a known reference time, thereby achieving both alignment and high temporal resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static periodic synchronization to dynamic event-triggered synchronization. Instead of relying on fixed-interval synchronization signals, the system uses a dynamic trigger signal that can be generated at any moment, allowing automation components to acquire data at their own optimal rates while maintaining synchronization through the shared time stamp.
3Measurement precision
If data acquisition is triggered by bus signals, then synchronous recording across components is achieved, but the recording cycle time is increased due to bus transmission delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data acquisition process into two independent parts: (1) the trigger signal transmission via the bus for synchronization, and (2) the local data recording at each automation component using internal high-speed timers. This segmentation allows the bus transmission time to be decoupled from the recording cycle time, enabling synchronous recording with high temporal resolution.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The method involves sending a trigger signal by one of the two automation components (20,30a to 30n). The detection and the recording of the process-and status data are started in each of the automation component. The trigger signal is received by the automation components.