Patent Application
20100175029
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to human interfaces in a graphical computing environment.
Computer systems are employed to engineer and diagnose various control systems. By way of non-limiting example, these control systems can include chemical processing plants, power plants, heating plants, metal smelting and forming plants, and an almost unlimited spectrum of other applications.
Each control system employs a set of interconnected components that perform associated functions. By way of non-limiting example, these components include items such as motors, pumps, heaters, chillers, and so forth. Each component may also be associated with one or more sensors that provide data regarding the component's performance. By way of non-limiting example, the sensor data may represent voltages, pressures, flow rates, temperatures, and so forth.
The computer systems may be employed to graphically depict the control system. In a typical application, each component is represented by an icon image. Lines connect the icons and represent various signals, fluids, and so forth that flow between the components. A pointing device, such as a computer mouse, may be employed to select each icon. Once an icon is selected then a menu can be used to access graphical depictions of the sensor data that is associated with the selected icon.
According to one aspect of the invention, a diagnostic system is disclosed. The diagnostic system includes a display module that displays an icon view and one or more sensor views. The icon view includes icons that represent associated processes and the sensor views include sensor data that is associated with respective ones of the processes. A processor module receives the sensor data from sensors. A human interface device communicates with the processor module and includes a pointing device. The pointing device facilitates selecting one of the icons and zooming the icon view to switch from the icon view to its associated sensor view.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of operating a diagnostic system is disclosed. The method includes displaying an icon view and one or more sensor views. The icon view includes icons that represent associated processes and the sensor views include sensor data that is associated with respective ones of the processes. The method also includes receiving the sensor data from sensors; selecting one of the icons; and zooming the icon view to switch from the icon view to its associated sensor view.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a diagnostic system is disclosed. The diagnostic system includes means for displaying an icon view and one or more sensor views. The icon view includes icons that represent associated processes and the sensor views include sensor data that is associated with respective ones of the processes. The system also includes means for receiving the sensor data from sensors and means for communicating with the means for receiving. The means for communicating also provide means for facilitating selecting one of the icons and zooming the icon view to switch from the icon view to its associated sensor view.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure.
As used herein, the term module refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.
Referring now to
Each process 12 may also be associated with one or more sensor modules 14-0-0, . . . , 14-0-M, . . . , 14-N-0, . . . , 14-N-M, which are collectively referred to as sensors 14. M is an integer greater than or equal to zero. Each sensor module 14 generates a signal that represents one or more physical properties of its associated process 12. Examples of physical properties include, by way of non-limiting examples, items such as voltage, temperature, current, vibration, displacement, and the like. Described below is a diagnostic system 20 (best shown in
Referring now to
Processor module 24 receives the data from sensors 14. It should be appreciated that the sensor data may be communicated directly from the sensors and/or communicated as data via a network communication link. Processor module 24 also stores data that represents control system 10. The data includes icons 72 (best shown in
Referring now to
In
In
Referring now to
Method 50 enters at block 52 and immediately proceeds to decision block 54. In decision block 54 control compares the present zoom level to a predetermined zoom level. The zoom level describes a ratio between the displayed size of the selected icon 72 vs. a native size of the selected icon 72. For example if the selected icon 72 has a native size of 100×100 pixels and the displayed size is 200×200 pixels, then the zoom level is 200%.
If the present zoom level is less than the predetermined zoom threshold then control branches to block 56. In block 56 control increases the displayed size of the selected icon 72 in accordance with the present zoom level. Control then returns to other processes via block 58.
On the other hand, if the present zoom level is greater than the predetermined zoom threshold in decision block 54, then control branches to block 60. In block 60 control switches the image displayed on display module 22 from icon view 70 to sensor data view 80. This allows the user to seamlessly switch between the icon and sensor data views without needing to select from a menu.
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
