Train Bus Communication Architecture for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems with a master-slave structure require multiple transmitter and receiver units, increasing manufacturing costs and decreasing transmission efficiency due to the need for two sets of units in each slave module and inefficient packet insertion during the return process.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with a train bus architecture that uses a coupling device, controlled modules, and a terminal device to transmit and process instruction packets, where each controlled module selects and processes packets, reducing the need for multiple transmission units and optimizing packet insertion and response times by utilizing a single path for data transmission and another for response packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two sets of transmitter units and two sets of receiving units are installed in each slave unit to enable bidirectional packet transmission, then the system can transmit and process data packets in both forward and return paths, but the manufacturing cost of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single transmitter unit and single receiving unit in each slave unit are designed to handle both forward and return path transmissions. The transmitter unit can transmit data packets in the forward path and response packets in the return path, while the receiving unit can receive both forward and return path packets, making these components multi-functional and eliminating the need for separate transmitter/receiver pairs for each direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of separate transmitter units (TX1, TX2) and receiving units (RX1, RX2) into single integrated units. Each slave unit uses one transmitter unit and one receiving unit that collectively perform the functions previously requiring two of each, by combining forward and return path operations into unified transmission and reception processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the amount of I/O modules is increased to accommodate more manufacture processing nodes or stations, then the system can handle more processing nodes, but the quantity of transmitter units and receiving units will be considerably raised to increase the production cost
Solution Approach 1:
Each I/O module is equipped with universal transmitter and receiving units that can handle both forward and return path communications. This multi-functionality means that even as the number of I/O modules increases to support more processing nodes, each module still requires only one transmitter unit and one receiving unit, preventing the production cost from increasing proportionally with the number of nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into multiple I/O modules, each with independent but functionally equivalent transmitter and receiving units. This segmentation allows the system to scale to more processing nodes while maintaining the same cost-effective architecture at each node, as each segment (I/O module) uses the optimized single-transmitter/single-receiver design.
3Ease of operation
If response packets are inserted to the packet serial during the backward process from the central unit to the control unit, then the response packets can be transmitted, but the transmission efficiency of the data packets decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter unit continuously transmits packets without interruption, whether they are data packets in the forward path or response packets in the return path. The single transmitter unit alternates between transmitting forward path data packets and return path response packets in a continuous stream, maintaining high transmission efficiency by eliminating the need to switch between separate transmitter units and avoiding idle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitter unit operates in periodic cycles, alternating between transmitting forward path data packets and return path response packets. This periodic transmission pattern allows the system to efficiently interleave data and response packets in the packet serial, ensuring that response packets are inserted without causing significant delays or reducing overall transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system with train bus architecture is described. The communication system with the train bus architecture comprises a coupling device for transmitting a first instruction packet string having instruction packets via first path; the controlled module for receiving the first instruction packet string via first path, wherein the controlled module selects one instruction packet from the instruction packets, replaces the selected instruction packet by first response packet for forming second instruction packet string, and processes the selected instruction packet to generate a second response packet; and a terminal device for receiving the second instruction packet string via the first path, and for transmitting the second instruction packet string back to the coupling device via the at least one controlled module along a second path from the terminal device to the coupling device wherein the first path is connected to the second path to form train bus architecture.