Vehicle Test Data Synchronization Device Using Signal Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for synchronizing data during vehicle tests, such as crash tests, are prone to errors due to time synchronization issues caused by mobile phone distortions and movements, leading to inaccurate data comparison and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A synchronization device and method that generates a signal, such as an audio tone, to indicate the start of a test, using signal-generating circuitry and switching circuitry to ensure that data collection devices synchronize with test equipment, eliminating the need for network time server synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network time server synchronization is used, then data collection can be performed across multiple devices, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to mobile phone drift, movements, and external factors
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated synchronization device is introduced as an intermediary between the test equipment and data collection devices. This device generates and distributes precise timing signals to all data collection devices simultaneously, serving as a common reference point that eliminates the inaccuracies of individual mobile phone timekeepers and network time server delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based network time server synchronization system with a hardware-based signal distribution system. The synchronization device uses circuitry to generate and distribute electrical timing signals directly to data collection devices, providing more precise and reliable synchronization compared to the software-based time indication methods previously used.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple data collection devices are used, then comprehensive data coverage is achieved, but synchronization complexity increases due to drift and movement of individual devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the timing signal generation and distribution functions into a single synchronization device that serves all data collection devices. Instead of each device maintaining its own timekeeper or individually connecting to the network time server, all devices receive synchronized timing signals from one centralized source, simplifying the overall synchronization architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization device serves as a universal time reference for all data collection devices in the system. It provides a common timing signal that can be used by any number of data collection devices simultaneously, making the synchronization system scalable and adaptable to different test configurations without increasing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If mobile phones are used for data collection, then ease of deployment is improved, but time indication reliability deteriorates due to drift and movements
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization device generates and distributes timing signals to all data collection devices before the actual test begins. This preliminary synchronization ensures that all devices are aligned to the same time reference at the start of data collection, compensating for any subsequent drift or movements that may occur during the test.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the received timing signals from the synchronization device as a feedback reference for each data collection device. By continuously referencing the synchronized timing signal, each device can correct its local time indications and maintain accurate time stamps on collected data, compensating for drift and movement effects.
Data Source
AI summary
A synchronization device for synchronizing data associated with a vehicle test is presented. The synchronization device may include signal-generating circuitry configured to generate a signal and provide the signal to at least one output device associated with a vehicle so as to allow a data collection device to receive the signal from the at least one output device. The synchronization device may also include first additional circuitry configured to prevent the data collection device from receiving the signal based on whether a test associated with the vehicle has started. At least one of the providing of the signal to the at least one output device or the preventing of the data collection device from receiving the signal may indicate a start of the test and may allow data collected by the data collection device to be synchronized with other collected data.