Test System Batch Control for Mobile Object Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional test systems for mobile objects and their components become complex and difficult to operate as the number of measurement units increases, with challenges in grasping the operation status of multiple units due to hidden or minimized windows, leading to potential selection errors and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A test system that allows batch operation commands and settings, enabling flexible operation by grouping units and reflecting changes in hardware configurations, with a receiving part for addition, deletion, or modification of units and a communicating part for sharing batch operations across administrating devices, facilitating easier understanding and execution of settings and commands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple measurement units are used to test mobile objects, then measurement capability and test coverage are improved, but operation complexity and difficulty in grasping operation status increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides multiple measurement units into separate, independently controllable segments. Each measurement unit can be individually selected, configured, and monitored through the administrating device. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple units without increasing overall operation complexity, as each unit can be managed separately rather than as a monolithic system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The administrating device serves as an intermediary between the operator and multiple measurement units. It provides a centralized interface that simplifies interaction with numerous units by abstracting their individual complexities. The administrating device manages communication, coordination, and status monitoring across all units, reducing the operational burden on the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If individual windows are displayed for each measurement unit, then operation status of each unit can be monitored, but visibility and ease of grasping overall status deteriorate when units increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation status visibilityVSAvoidease of grasping overall status
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display of multiple measurement unit statuses into a unified interface on the administrating device. Instead of requiring separate windows for each unit, the system consolidates status information from all units into a single comprehensive view. This merging allows operators to grasp the overall operation status of all measurement units simultaneously without switching between multiple windows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If batch operation commands are implemented across multiple units, then operational efficiency is improved, but system complexity and control difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The administrating device implements universal control capabilities that can operate at multiple levels: individual unit control, grouped unit control, and system-wide batch control. This multi-functionality allows operators to apply the same control mechanisms across different scopes (single unit or multiple units) without learning different control paradigms. The system provides batch operation commands that can be applied universally to selected units or all units simultaneously, improving efficiency without increasing control difficulty.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2696186B1Test system
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 HORIBA LTD
  • EP2696186B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2696186B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2696186B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An administrating device 7 that administrates a plurality of units for test used for a test of a mobile object such as a vehicle or a constituting component of the mobile object comprises a recognizing part that recognizes an assembly of one or more units for test 21 as a group for test and an assembly of one or more group for test as a device for test, and an administrating body part 73 that conducts a predetermined batch operation command or a predetermined batch setting for a unit for test 21 that belongs to the designated one or more groups for test and/or that conducts a predetermined batch operation command or a predetermined batch setting on a unit for test that belongs to the designated one or more device for test.