Web Sensor Interface for Unified Recording and Playback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor systems require separate user interfaces for sensors and data recorders, leading to increased operational and maintenance efforts, and it is inconvenient for users to access recording and playback functions directly at the data recorder.

Innovation Solution

A sensor system with a switching device that forwards sensor data and control instructions between a web-based user interface and the sensor or data recorder, allowing both to be accessed through a single interface, and optionally via an intermediary device acting as a proxy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate user interfaces are provided for the sensor and the data recorder, then each device can be controlled independently, but the operating and maintenance effort increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEase of operationVSAvoidDevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the control of the sensor and data recorder into a single integrated user interface. The control unit provides a unified interface that allows users to control both the sensor (addressing sensor data requests) and the data recorder (managing recording operations) without needing separate interfaces, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining independent device functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the control interface for the sensor and as the control interface for the data recorder. This universal interface handles diverse operations including sensor configuration, data retrieval, recording control, and playback management, eliminating the need for multiple specialized interfaces

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

2Device complexity

If a single user interface controls both the sensor and data recorder, then operating effort is reduced, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDevice complexityVSAvoidEase of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit segments its functionality into distinct modules: one module for sensor control operations and another for data recorder control operations. This segmentation allows the unified interface to present organized, context-specific controls to the user while maintaining the ability to switch between different operational modes, reducing perceived complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If the data recorder stores large amounts of sensor data, then data archiving capability is improved, but storage capacity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveStorage capacityVSAvoidAdaptability or versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The data recorder implements dynamic storage management with adjustable recording parameters. Users can configure recording duration, data sampling rates, and storage allocation based on specific application requirements. The system dynamically adapts storage capacity allocation to match actual needs, allowing flexible adjustment between long-term archiving and short-term monitoring scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4645829A1System and method to control a sensor system
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SICK AG
  • EP4645829A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4645829A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4645829A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A sensor system comprises a sensor that outputs sensor data during operation, a web-based user interface for displaying the output sensor data on an end device and for transmitting control instructions from the end device to the sensor, and a data recorder that is connected to the sensor and configured to receive sensor data output by the sensor and store it on a storage medium. The data recorder includes a switching device configured to forward sensor data received from the sensor to the web-based user interface and/or to forward control instructions received from the web-based user interface to the sensor.