Universal Electronic Device for Vacuum Pumps

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and risk of incorrect assembly associated with producing numerous variants of electronic devices for vacuum pumps, leading to increased production and storage costs and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A universal electronic device design that undergoes an irreversible state change upon connection to a device component, eliminating the need for pre-defined configurations and reducing the risk of incorrect assembly by generating device-specific operating configurations through interface interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple variants of electronic devices are produced for different vacuum pumps, then the risk of incorrect assembly is reduced, but production costs and storage costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of incorrect assemblyVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal electronic device that can be used across multiple vacuum pump variants through interface recognition. The electronic device automatically identifies the connected vacuum pump type via the interface and configures its operating parameters accordingly, eliminating the need to manufacture separate electronic device variants for each pump type. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through accurate identification while reducing production costs through standardized manufacturing.

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

2Reliability

If multiple variants of electronic devices are produced for different vacuum pumps, then the risk of incorrect assembly is reduced, but storage costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of incorrect assemblyVSAvoidstorage costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The universal electronic device design allows a single device type to serve multiple vacuum pump applications. By storing configuration data in the interface rather than manufacturing hardware variants, the system reduces inventory requirements and storage costs while maintaining the ability to correctly identify and configure for different pump types.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If a universal electronic device is used for multiple device types, then production costs are reduced, but the risk of incorrect assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costsVSAvoidrisk of incorrect assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is pre-configured with device-specific identification data during manufacturing. When the electronic device connects to a vacuum pump, it automatically reads this pre-stored information and configures its operating parameters before operation begins. This preliminary configuration action ensures correct assembly identification without requiring multiple electronic device variants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the electronic device queries the interface to identify the connected vacuum pump type, receives configuration information, and automatically adjusts its operating parameters. This closed-loop feedback ensures that even with a universal device design, the correct configuration is applied, maintaining reliability while reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3536966B1Vacuum device
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 PFEIFFER VACUUM GMBH
  • EP3536966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3536966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3536966B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Vacuum device, in particular vacuum pump, vacuum gauge, leak detection and/or vacuum chamber device, with at least one device component and with an electronic device, in particular for device control and/or regulation, wherein the electronic device is connected to an interface of the device component and the connection generates a change of state of the electronic device to determine a device operating configuration.