Controller user interface and method

Abstract

The method of operating a controller interface and an interface for a controller has a display, a plurality of manual user input mechanisms for receiving user input, a processor, and memory. The interface includes an actuation mechanism configured for receiving an actuation by a user and a user interface module coupled to the input mechanism for receiving an indication of an actuation of the actuation mechanism by the user. The user interface module is configured to receive one or more of actions from either a user input mechanisms or a soft key module and store the received one or more actions, and to execute the stored one or more actions in response to receiving the actuation indication.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a controller having a programmable controller user interface in one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a controller front panel having a programmable user interface.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary method illustrating the programming of a controller user interface button in one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computer system that may be used to implement a method and apparatus embodying some aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a system according to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An interface for a controller having a plurality of manual user input mechanisms for receiving user input, a processor, and memory, the interface comprising: an actuation mechanism configured for receiving an actuation by a user; anda user interface module coupled to the input mechanism for receiving an indication of an actuation of the actuation mechanism by the user, the user interface module being configured to receive one or more of actions from at least one of one or more user input mechanisms and a soft key module, to store the received one or more actions, and to execute the stored one or more actions in response to receiving the actuation indication.

2. The interface of claim 1 wherein the user actuation mechanism is at least one of a key and a button.

3. The interface of claim 1 wherein the user actuation mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a key, a button, a dial, a slide control, a switch, a touch pad, a mouse, a joystick, a data interface, and a voice interface.

4. The interface of claim 1 wherein the user interface module includes a learn mode and an operations mode and is configured to receive a user defined action received from the one or more user input mechanisms during the learn mode and to execute the user defined action during the operations mode.

5. The interface of claim 4 wherein the user interface module is configured to receive a sequence of user defined actions from one or more of the user input mechanisms during the learn mode and execute the sequence of user defined actions during the operation mode.

6. The interface of claim 5 wherein at least one of the user defined actions within the sequence includes a pause in the sequence.

7. The interface of claim 5, further comprising a display wherein the user interface module is configured to display a value of a controller parameter associated with at least one of the user defined actions during the operations mode.

8. The interface of claim 7 wherein the displayed controller parameter value is at least one of a value of a then current controller operational parameter and a value of a parameter received and stored in the learn mode.

9. The interface of claim 8 wherein at least one of the user defined actions within the sequence includes a pause in the sequence and the user interface module is configured for receiving an secondary input from the user from one or more of the manual user input mechanisms to accept, reject, or change the value of the controller parameter as displayed, and is configured to continue the sequence following the receipt of the secondary user input.

10. The interface of claim 4 wherein the user interface module is configured to receive a plurality of sequences of user defined actions and execute a first sequence in response to receiving a first actuation indication and execute a second sequence in response to receiving a second actuation indication.

11. The interface of claim 4 wherein the user interface module includes a test mode configured for validating the user defined action or a sequence of user defined actions received during the learn mode.

12. The interface of claim 1 wherein the defined action is selected from the group consisting of defining a parameter, defining a parameter value, changing a controller profile, changing a controller program term or parameter, changing a configuration, changing a type of controlled device, traversing a menu state logic, change the state of the controller, changing a type of sensing device, changing a controller mode, defining or changing a routine, process, or program, performing a mathematical operation, starting or stopping a clock, automatic tuning, retrieving data, storing data, starting, pausing, restarting, turning off, shutting down, reconfiguring, establishing or entering a user identification or password, and locking.

13. The interface of claim 1, further including a usage projection module configured for storing a sequence of user inputs received from the user input mechanisms and projecting one or more next user actions as a function of the stored sequence of user inputs, wherein the soft key module is coupled to the usage projection module for receiving the projected next user input as provided by the usage projection module, the softkey module configured to receive the projected next user actions and to store the projected next user actions as the one or more actions, and wherein the user interface module is configured to execute one or more of the projected next user actions as the one or more actions in response to receiving the actuation indication.

14. The interface of claim 1, further including a projection module configured for storing a sequence of user interface or controller actions and projecting one or more next actions as a function of the stored sequence, wherein the softkey module is coupled to the projection module for receiving the projected next action as provided by the projection module, the softkey module configured to store the projected next action as the one or more actions, and wherein the user interface module is configured to execute one or more of the projected next actions as the one or more actions in response to receiving the actuation indication.

15. The interface of claim 1 wherein the user interface is associated with a controller selected from the group consisting of a process controller, a temperature controller, a power controller, a flow controller, a pressure controller, a movement controller, a limit controller, a level controller, and a velocity controller.

16. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of predefined processes stored in the memory with each having a set of predefined parameters associated therewith, wherein the received actions includes one or more of the predefined processes.

17. The interface of claim 1 wherein the user interface module is configured to present a list of available actions on a display and receive user selection input of one or more of the displayed available actions from one or more of the manual user input mechanisms, and to store the selected available actions as one or more of the stored actions.

18. The interface of claim 17, further comprising a usage module configured for storing one or more user inputs received from the manual user input mechanisms and including those stored received user inputs on the presented list of available actions.

19. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a data communication interface configured for receiving one or more actions from a remote system, wherein the user interface module is configured to store the one or more actions as received via the data communication interface, and to execute the stored one or more actions including the data communication interface received one or more actions in response to receiving the actuation indication.

20. The interface of claim 19 wherein the data communication interface and user interface module are configured for receiving the one or more actions in the format of at least one of ladder logic, graphical representation, a state table or diagram, computer executable instructions, and a scripting language.

21. The interface of claim 1 wherein the user interface module is configured for validating the received one or more actions.

22. A power control system comprising: a controller;a power switching device configured for selectively providing power to a controlled device; anda user interface having a plurality of user input mechanisms, a processor, memory including computer executable instructions for execution by the processor, and a user actuation device configured for receiving an actuation input from a user, the user interface includes a learn mode and an operations mode and is configured to receive a user defined action during the learn mode from one or more of the user input mechanisms and to execute the user defined action during the operations mode and in response to receiving the user actuation input.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the user interface module is configured to receive a sequence of user defined actions during the learn mode and execute the sequence of user defined actions during the operation mode.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein at least one of the user defined actions within the sequence includes a pause in the sequence.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the user interface module is configured with a display and display value of a controller parameter associated with at least one of the user defined actions during the operations mode.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the displayed controller parameter value is at least one of a value of a then current controller operational parameter and a value of a parameter received and stored in the learn mode.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein at least one of the user defined actions within the sequence includes a pause in the sequence and the user interface module is configured for receiving an secondary input from the user from one or more of the manual user input mechanisms to accept, reject, or change the value of the controller parameter as displayed, and is configured to continue the sequence following the receipt of the secondary user input.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the user interface is configured to receive a plurality of sequences of user defined actions and execute a first sequence in response to receiving a first user actuation input and execute a second sequence in response to receiving a second user actuation input.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the user interface is configured for validating the user defined sequence of actions following receipt of the sequence of user defined actions.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the user defined action is selected from the group consisting of defining a parameter, defining a parameter value, changing a controller profile, changing a controller program term or parameter, changing a configuration, changing a type of controlled device, traversing a menu state logic, change the state of the controller, changing a type of sensing device, changing a controller mode, defining or changing a routine, process, or program, performing a mathematical operation, starting or stopping a clock, automatic tuning, retrieving data, storing data, starting, pausing, restarting, turning off, shutting down, reconfiguring, establishing or entering a user identification or password, and locking.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the user interface is configured to present a list of available actions on the display and receive user selection input of one or more of the displayed available actions from one or more of the plurality of user input mechanisms during the learn mode, and to execute the selected available actions during the operations mode in response to receiving the user actuation input.

32. The system of claim 22, further comprising a data communication interface configured for receiving one or more actions from a remote system, wherein the user interface module is configured to store the one or more actions as received via the data communication interface, and to execute the data communication interface received one or more actions as one or more of the user defined actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the data communication interface and user interface are configured for receiving the one or more user defined actions in the format of at least one of ladder logic, graphical representation, a state table or diagram, computer executable instructions, and a scripting language.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein the user interface module is configured to present a list of available actions on a display and receive user selection input of one or more of the displayed available actions from one or more of the user input mechanisms, and to store the selected available actions as one or more of the user defined actions.

35. The interface of claim 34, further comprising a usage module configured for storing one or more user inputs received from the manual user input mechanisms and including those stored received user inputs on the presented list of available actions.

36. The system of claim 22 wherein the user defined action is selected from the group consisting of displaying a parameter, displaying a parameter value, a pause, a prompt, and a receiving of a user input.

37. The system of claim 22 wherein the user interface includes a test mode configured for validating the user defined action or a sequence of user defined actions received during the learn mode.

38. A power control system comprising: a controller;a power switching device configured for selectively providing power to a controlled device;a user interface having a plurality of user input mechanisms for receiving inputs from a user during controller operation, a processor, memory including computer executable instructions for execution by the processor, and a user actuation device configured for receiving an actuation input from a user, the user interface configured to execute one or more stored actions in response to receiving the user actuation input; anda usage projection module configured for storing a sequence of user inputs received from the user input mechanisms during controller operation, projecting one or more next user actions as a function of the stored sequence of user inputs, and storing the projected one or more next user actions in the memory as the one or more stored actions, wherein the user interface module is configured to execute the one or more stored projected next user actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the user interface includes a learn mode and an operations mode and is configured to receive a user defined action during the learn mode from one or more of the user input mechanisms, to store the user defined action as one of the stored actions, and to execute the stored user defined action as one of the stored projected next user actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the controller includes a processor and memory having computer executable instructions for execution by the processor and configured for controlling a function of the controller for selectively providing power to a controlled device by executing a sequence of controller actions, further comprising: a projection module configured for storing one or more of the sequence of controller actions as executed by the controller, projecting one or more next controller actions as a function of the stored sequence of actions, and storing the projected one or more next controller actions in the memory, wherein the user interface module is configured to execute the one or more stored projected controller actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein the one or more stored projected next user actions are a sequence of controller actions and wherein the user interface module is configured to execute the sequence of controller actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein at least one of the stored next user actions within the sequence of controller actions includes at least one of displaying a parameter, displaying a parameter value, a pause, a prompt, and a receiving of a user input.

43. The system of claim 41 wherein the user interface is configured to receive a plurality of sequences of user defined actions and execute a first sequence in response to receiving a first user actuation input and execute a second sequence in response to receiving a second user actuation input.

44. The system of claim 41 wherein the stored action is selected from the group consisting of defining a parameter, defining a parameter value, changing a controller profile, changing a controller program term or parameter, changing a configuration, changing a type of controlled device, traversing a menu state logic, change the state of the controller, changing a type of sensing device, changing a controller mode, defining or changing a routine, process, or program, performing a mathematical operation, starting or stopping a clock, automatic tuning, retrieving data, storing data, starting, pausing, restarting, turning off, shutting down, reconfiguring, establishing or entering a user identification or password, and locking.

45. A power control system comprising: a controller having a processor and memory including computer executable instructions for execution by the processor and configured for controlling a function of the controller for selectively providing power to a controlled device by executing a sequence of controller actions;a power switching device configured for selectively providing power to the controlled device in response to the controller;a user interface having a processor, memory including computer executable instructions for execution by the processor, and a user actuation device configured for receiving an actuation input from a user, the user interface configured to execute a stored defined action in response to receiving the user actuation input; anda projection module configured for storing one or more of the sequence of controller actions as executed by the controller, projecting one or more next controller actions as a function of the stored sequence of actions, and storing the projected one or more next controller actions in the memory as the one or more stored actions, wherein the user interface module is configured to execute the one or more stored projected controller actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the user interface includes a learn mode and an operations mode and is configured to receive a user defined action during the learn mode from one or more user input mechanisms, to store the user defined action as one of the stored projected controller actions, and to execute the stored user defined action as one of the stored projected controller actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

47. The system of claim 45, further comprising a usage projection module configured for storing a sequence of user inputs received from the user input mechanisms during controller operation, projecting one or more next user actions as a function of the stored sequence of user inputs, and storing the projected one or more next user actions in the memory as the one or more stored actions, wherein the user interface module is configured to execute the one or more stored projected next user actions in response to receiving the user actuation input.

48. A controller comprising: means for receiving a user defined action;means for storing the user defined action;means for receiving a user input for executing the stored user defined action; andmeans for executing the stored user defined action in response to receiving the user input.

49. The controller of claim 48, further comprising means for displaying a selection of available actions from which the user can select the one or more actions, means for receiving from the user one or more actions including one of the displayed selection of available actions.

50. The controller of claim 49 wherein the means for storing includes means for storing a plurality of stored predefined processes each having a set of predefined parameters and the parameters for the user defined actions are user selectable via the input mechanism from the pre-defined processes stored in memory and wherein the means for displaying includes means for displaying one or more of the plurality of stored predefined processes.

51. The controller of claim 48 wherein the means for receiving includes means for receiving a sequence of user defined actions, the means for storing includes a means for storing the sequence of user defined actions, and the means for executing includes a means for executing the sequence of user defined actions.

52. The controller of claim 48, further comprising means for displaying a user defined action to a user in conjunction with the means for receiving.

53. The controller of claim 52 wherein the means for displaying includes means for displaying the executed stored user defined action as executed by the means for executing.

54. The controller of claim 48, further comprising means for validating a user defined action.

55. A method of operating a user interface of a process controller having a microprocessor, memory in communication with the microprocessor, one or more input mechanisms in communication with the microprocessor and responsive to user input, the method comprising: receiving an action via one or more of the input mechanisms activated by a user;storing the received action in the memory;receiving an input from a user for executing the stored action; andexecuting the stored action in response to receiving the user input.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the receiving an action includes a sequence of actions, storing the received action is storing the received sequence of action, and executing includes executing the stored sequence of actions.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the receiving includes receiving a plurality of sequences of actions, storing includes storing the plurality of sequences of actions, and receiving an input is receiving a first input and executing includes executing a first sequence in response to receiving the first input, further comprising receiving a second input from a user for executing a second action and executing a second sequence in response to receiving the second input from the user.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein at least one of the actions within the sequence includes a pause in the sequence, further comprising pausing the executing of the sequence during executing, further comprising receiving a secondary user input from the user, and restarting the executing of the sequence of actions following the receiving of the secondary user input.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising displaying at least one of the actions within the sequence or a value of a parameter associated with one of the actions within the sequence during the executing, receiving a secondary user input from the user in response to the displaying, and storing the selected sequence or parameter value as the stored action in response to receiving the secondary user input.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the secondary user input includes at least one of accepting, rejecting, or changing the displayed parameter or the parameter value.

61. The method of claim 55 wherein receiving an action is receiving a first action, and storing the received action is storing the first action; further comprising receiving a second action via one or more of the input mechanisms activated by a user; and storing the received second action in the memory, wherein executing includes executing the first action and the second action in response to receiving the user input.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein receiving an input is receiving a first user input and executing includes executing the first action in response to receiving the first user input, further comprising receiving a second input from a user for executing the second action and executing the stored second action in response to receiving the second user input.

63. The method of claim 55 wherein the user interface includes a learn mode and an operations mode, further comprising receiving a command to place the controller in the learn mode prior to receiving an action, and receiving a command to place the controller in the operating mode following the storing of the received action.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising displaying a parameter or a value of a controller parameter during at least one of the learn mode and the operations mode.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising receiving a secondary input from the user in response to the displaying, the secondary input including changing the controller parameter or the value of the controller parameter to a second controller parameter or value of controller parameter that is different than the displayed controller parameter or value of controller parameter.

66. The method of claim 63, further comprising storing a sequence of user actions received during the operations mode and projecting a next user action as a function of the stored sequence of user inputs; wherein executing includes executing the stored next user action in response to receiving the user input.

67. The method of claim 63, further comprising storing a sequence of user actions received during the operations mode; projecting a sequence of next user actions as a function of the stored sequence of user inputs; wherein executing includes executing the stored sequence of next user actions in response to receiving the user input.

68. The method of claim 63, further comprising storing a user action received during the operations mode, projecting a next user action as a function of the stored user action, displaying the stored user action during the learn mode, and receiving a selection of the stored user action from the user during the learn mode, wherein executing includes executing the stored user action.

69. The method of claim 55, further comprising presenting a plurality of predefined processes, receiving a user selection of one or more of the predefined processes, and storing the received selected one or more predefined processes, wherein executing includes executing the stored selected one or more predefined processes.

70. The method of claim 55, further comprising receiving a data communication including one or more actions from a data communication interface, storing the one or more actions from the data communication, wherein executing includes executing the stored one or more actions from the data communication in response to receiving the actuation indication.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein receiving the data communication includes receiving the one or more actions in the format of at least one of ladder logic, graphical representation, a state table or diagram, computer executable instructions, and a scripting language.

72. The method of claim 55, further comprising validating the received action or a sequence of received actions prior to storing.

73. A method of operating a controller configured for selectively providing power to a controlled device by executing a sequence of controller actions, the controller having a learn mode and an operations mode, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of user actions from one or more input mechanisms activated by a user during the operations mode;storing the sequence of received user actions during the operations mode;receiving an input from a user for executing the stored sequence during the operations mode; andexecuting the stored sequence of actions in response to receiving the user input.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising: projecting one or more next user actions as a function of the stored sequence of user actions, wherein executing includes executing the stored one or more projected next user actions in response to receiving the user input.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising: projecting one or more next user actions as a function of the stored sequence of user actions, anddisplaying the projected one or more next user actions; andreceiving a selection input from the user selecting at least one of the displayed next user actions,wherein executing includes executing the user selected at least one next user action.

76. The method of claim 73 wherein receiving the user actions includes at least one of displaying a parameter, displaying a parameter value, a pause, a prompt, and a receiving of a user input.

77. The method of claim 73 wherein receiving includes receiving a plurality of sequences of user actions, storing includes storing the plurality of sequences, and executing the stored sequence includes executing a first stored sequence in response to receiving a first user input and executing a second sequence in response to receiving a second user input.

78. The method of claim 73, further comprising validating the one or more next user actions or a sequence of next user actions.

79. A method of operating a controller having a processor and memory including computer executable instructions including predefined actions for execution by the processor for controlling the selective providing of power to a controlled device, the method comprising: storing one or more of the predefined actions as a next controller action;receiving an input from a user for executing the stored next controller action; andexecuting the stored next controller action in response to receiving the user input.

80. The method of claim 79, further comprising: receiving a plurality of user actions from one or more input mechanisms activated by a user;storing the received user actions; andprojecting a next controller action as a function of the received user actions and the stored predefined actions,wherein executing includes executing the projected next controller action.

81. The method of claim 79, further comprising: displaying the projected next controller action and the predefined actions; andreceiving a selection input from the user selecting at least one of the displayed actions, storing the user selected actions,wherein executing includes executing the user selected actions.

82. The method of claim 79 wherein the next controller action is a sequence of actions.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein the sequence of actions is a plurality of sequences of actions, wherein receiving an input from the user includes receiving a first user input and executing the next controller action includes executing a first stored sequence in response to receiving the first user input, further comprising receiving a second user input for executing, and executing the second sequence in response to receiving the second user input.

84. The method of claim 82, further comprising validating the sequence of next controller actions.

85. A method of operating a control system comprising: assigning a first action to a hot button for a first zone;assigning a second action to the hot button for a second zone, said second action different that the first action;controlling the control system within the first zone;generating a first screen display corresponding to the first action;controlling the control system within the second zone; andgenerating a second screen display corresponding to the second action.

86. A method as recited in claim 85 wherein assisting a first action comprises storing a first action in a soft key module.

87. A method as recited in claim 85 further comprising selecting a first zone from a user interface.

88. A method as recited in claim 85 further comprising coupling the user interface to a first controller in the first zone and a second controller in the second zone.

89. A method as recited in claim 85 further comprising coupling the user interface to a first zone and a second zone.

90. A method as recited in claim 85 further comprising actuating the hot button to perform the first action within the first zone.

91. A method as recited in claim 85 further comprising actuating the hot button to perform the second action within the second zone.

92. A method as recited in claim 85 further comprising selecting -a second zone on a user interface prior to the step of generating the second screen display.

93. A method as recited in claim 85 further comprising automatically selecting a second zone on a user interface prior to the step of generating the second screen display.

94. A method as recited in claim 85 wherein the hot button is disposed on a user interface.