METHODS, SYSTEMS AND USER INTERFACE FOR EVALUATING PRODUCT DESIGNS IN LIGHT OF PROMULGATED STANDARDS

• US 20090119628A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Lottmann, Todd Francis
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 716/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/04 Constraint-based CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/3323 using formal methods, e.g. equivalence checking or property checking

Abstract

Systems, methods, and interfaces for evaluating proposed product designs having interconnected devices in light of promulgated industry standards via a graphical interface.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a proposed design of a product having a plurality of interconnected devices in light of a promulgated industry standard, the method comprising:

creating a graphic display representing a layout of a plurality of interconnected devices;

accepting a plurality of data corresponding to a proposed design of a product having the plurality of interconnected devices;

applying a standard relating to the plurality of data corresponding to the proposed design; and

presenting an analysis corresponding to the plurality of interconnected devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a template corresponding to the proposed design of the product; and

modifying the template based on the plurality of data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic display comprises a selection of icons for representing the plurality of interconnected devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting a plurality of data corresponding to a proposed design comprises searching for at least one of the plurality of data corresponding to at least one of the plurality of interconnected devices, wherein the at least one of the plurality of data is stored in a database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting a plurality of data corresponding to a proposed design comprises entering at least one of the plurality of data corresponding to at least one of the plurality of interconnected devices, wherein the at least one of the plurality of data is entered by a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis is presented on a screen display, the screen display comprising a selection section for at least one of the plurality of interconnected devices and a name plate section for presenting the analysis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the screen display further comprises a panel layout section for displaying information regarding the proposed design of the product in an iconic format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein creating a graphic display comprises:

selecting a plurality of icons from a menu; and

placing the plurality of icons in a panel layout section.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting an analysis comprises generating a detailed analysis report.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard relates to an electrical system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical system comprises an electrical control panel.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard relates to a short-circuit current rating of an electrical control panel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected devices are interconnected in a plurality of electrical circuits, and wherein the standard relates to an electrical rating of a combination of the plurality of electrical circuits.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a standard comprises obtaining a reference value for at least one of the plurality of interconnected devices, and adjusting the reference value based upon a comparison of the reference value and a default value.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a standard comprises obtaining a first reference value for at least one of the plurality of interconnected devices, and adjusting the first reference value based upon a presence of a specified device connected upstream to the at least one of the plurality of interconnected devices being analyzed and a comparison of the first reference value and a corresponding second reference value for the specified device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a standard comprises obtaining a reference value for at least one of the plurality of interconnected devices, and adjusting the reference value based upon a comparison of the obtained reference values and a value associated with a separate device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting data for a plurality of devices, and filtering the accepted data for the plurality of devices in view of the previously accepted data corresponding to the plurality of devices.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating a short circuit current rating of the plurality of interconnected devices.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting the standard.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard is a promulgated industry standard.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a processor based-device.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a networked-based computer system.

23. A network-based system for evaluating a proposed electrical product design having interconnected electrical circuit devices for compliance with a promulgated standard, the system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a database for storing information; and

a server system adapted to be coupled to the client system and the database, the server system further adapted to;

accept a plurality of data corresponding to one or more eligible circuit devices for a proposed product design;

receive a plurality of user provided data and information regarding the proposed product design;

selectively present the plurality of data to a user in a graphic format based on the plurality of user provided data and information; and

apply a promulgated standard to the one or more eligible circuit devices selected by the user from the plurality of data.

24. An electronic system for evaluating a short-circuit current rating of a proposed design of an electrical panel having multiple interconnected circuits, the circuits including at least one of a feeder circuit connected to a supply circuit, a branch circuit connected to the supply circuit, a sub-feeder circuit, and a branch circuit connected to the sub-feeder circuit, wherein each of the circuits comprises an overcurrent protection device and another device, the electronic system comprising:

a processor-based device adapted to;

accept a plurality of device data and information corresponding to one or more eligible overcurrent protection devices and other devices for a proposed electrical panel;

receive a plurality of user provided data and information regarding the proposed electrical panel design;

selectively present the plurality of device data and information to a user in a graphic format based on the plurality of user provided data and information; and

determine the short circuit current rating for the proposed electrical panel as each of the one or more eligible overcurrent protection devices and other devices is selected by the user.

25. The electronic system of claim 24, wherein the system comprises:

a client system comprising a browser;

a database for storing information; and

a server system adapted to be coupled to the client system and the database, the processor based-device being provided in the server system.

26. The electronic system of claim 24, wherein the processor-based device is a computer.

27. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for evaluating and assessing a proposed electrical system in light of a promulgated industry standard, the program comprising:

at least one code segment that receives user provided selections for devices utilized in a proposed electrical system, and, in response to the received selections;

determines an output value of the proposed electrical system corresponding to a promulgated industry standard;

displays the output value of the proposed electrical system for inspection by a user when a selection is received; and

displays the proposed electrical system in a graphic format.

28. An electronic system for evaluating a short circuit current rating of multiple interconnected circuits, the system comprising:

means for storing data relating to eligible circuit devices for a plurality of interconnected circuits;

means for receiving a user provided circuit device selection;

means for determining a short circuit current rating after each user provided circuit device selection is received; and

means for communicating the short circuit current rating to a user after each user provided circuit device selection is received, wherein the means for communicating comprises a display screen utilizing a graphic format representing a layout of the plurality of interconnected devices.

29. The electronic system of claim 28, wherein the means for storing data, the means for receiving, the means for determining, and the means for communicating the short circuit current rating to a user are integrated into a single device.

30. The electronic system of claim 28, wherein the means for storing data, the means for receiving, the means for determining, and the means for communicating the short circuit current rating to a user are distributed in a networked-based computer system.

31. An electronic system for evaluating a proposed electrical product design having interconnected electrical circuit devices for compliance with a promulgated standard, the system comprising:

a processor-based device adapted to;

accept a plurality of data corresponding to one or more eligible circuit devices for a proposed product design;

receive a plurality of user provided data and information regarding the proposed product design;

selectively present the plurality of data to a user in a graphic format based on the plurality of user provided data and information; and

apply a promulgated standard to the one or more eligible circuit devices selected by the user from the plurality of data.

32. The electronic system of claim 31, wherein the processor-based device comprises a computer.

33. The electronic system of claim 31, wherein the processor-based device comprises a server in a networked-base computer system.