TDMA Base Station Tunable Receiver for Scalable Industrial Robot Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing TDMA communication systems for industrial robots and production machines face challenges in ensuring interference-free and dynamic communication, particularly when dealing with a large number of nodes, as they often require complex HF modules and are not easily scalable.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a TDMA communication system using duplex radio transceivers that can operate simultaneously as both transmitters and receivers, allowing for flexible system capacity adjustment by adding or removing transceivers based on the number of nodes, and utilizing standard components to simplify design and reduce costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional TDMA communication systems use separate fixed-frequency receivers for each node, then the system can receive multiple uplink frequencies simultaneously, but the device complexity increases and scalability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference-free communicationVSAvoidcomplex HF modules
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the receiver frequency tunable rather than fixed. The base station receiver can dynamically change its operating frequency to match any active node's transmission frequency, allowing the system to handle an arbitrary number of nodes with a single receiver instead of requiring one fixed receiver per node.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by designing a single base station receiver that can serve multiple functions - it can receive transmissions from any number of different nodes by tuning to their respective frequencies. This universal receiver replaces the need for multiple specialized fixed-frequency receivers, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to communicate with all nodes.

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

2Quantity of substance

If the system uses a large number of fixed-frequency receivers to handle many nodes, then simultaneous reception of multiple frequencies is possible, but the system becomes less adaptable and more difficult to scale

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of nodesVSAvoidsystem capacity adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves adaptability through the tunable receiver that can dynamically adjust its frequency based on which nodes are currently active. This allows the system capacity to be flexibly adjusted - when fewer nodes are active, the receiver tunes to those specific frequencies; when more nodes are added, the receiver can tune to their frequencies as well, providing seamless scalability without requiring physical addition of receiver components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If alternating transmission and reception operation is used, then the base station can communicate with nodes, but interference occurs and communication is not dynamic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic action through TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) where each node is assigned specific time slots for transmission. The base station receiver tunes to the appropriate frequency during each node's designated time slot, allowing structured simultaneous communication without interference. This periodic time-division approach enables multiple nodes to share the channel efficiently while the tunable receiver ensures the base station can switch between frequencies seamlessly during different time slots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP1744474B1Base station for a TDMA communication system
Publication Date: 2008.08.06 ABB AG(DE)
  • EP1744474B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1744474B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1744474B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The base station (1) has two duplex radio transmitter (2) and receiver (3) which is coordinately controllable by means of a common digital controller (4) and to a certain time the first duplex radio transmitter or receiver on first radio frequency downlink signals (14) are delivered to the preset nodes (6-9). The second duplex radio transmitter or receiver on a second radio frequency uplink signals (18-21) receives from preset nodes.