DEVICE, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHOD TO DISPLAY AND PROCESS TECHNICAL DATA FOR A DEVICE IN AN INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100095233A1
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Eikenes, Jon Olav, Skourup, Charlotte, Pretlove, John, Breen, Siri
• Application Number:
  US12/445,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20100095233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32128 Gui graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36168 Touchscreen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A method, device and system to retrieve and display technical data for an industrial device supervised by a computer program for control, configuration or condition monitoring in an industrial or commercial plant. In particular to use of a display member to provide a graphical user interface for manipulating data for, and/or for controlling, one or more industrial devices. A computing device or mobile computing device can send a link or reference of an application, interface or document to the display so that various applications interfaces may be displayed by the display for ease of information retrieval, manipulation and access.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to retrieve and display technical data for an industrial device in an industrial control system including generating technical data for said industrial device and displaying the technical data utilizing an application interface displayed on an active display device arranged with input means, the method comprising:

displaying one or more application interfaces where at least one application interface provides a display of information about a said technical device, and

manipulating one or more application interfaces using said input utilizing said active display device at the same time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a first user and a one second user manipulate at the same time any of one or more said application interfaces displayed on the active display device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the one or more application interfaces.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein control is passed from one user to another user by graphically moving said application across the active display device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein input to manipulate an application interface on the active display means device is made by determining a movement or an action by a user on or close to the active display device surface.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein input to manipulate an application interface on the active display device is made by determining a touch action by a user on or close to the active display device surface.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein input is made to an application, interface or document to carry out any from the group of:

input to select an object on an interface;

input to change or modify a value of an object on an interface;

input to add an object, input to remove a graphic object, input to hide a graphic object or a text object.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein input is made by means of with a hand held or moved on or close to the surface of the active display means device.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein input to manipulate an application interface on the active display device is made by determining a movement or an action by a user on or close to the active display device surface by tracking position of a user hand or a pointer device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein input is made via a pointer device held or moved on or close to the surface of the active display device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein input is made via the active display device by a signal transmitted by any of IR, wireless radio, ultra sound, laser.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein input is made via a activating one or more built-in switch of a hand-held device and/or a/the pointer device.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein input or manipulation is done to carry out any from the group of a:

test;

a simulation, an optimisation, monitoring, configuration, fault-finding, design, engineering, system updates, maintenance, planning.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a reference for user ID to an active display device.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving data associated with information represented by said graphical user interface and

providing the data to a computer or processor for display and manipulation on the active display device.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting with said computing device a representation of an industrial device and marking it the representation, and

manipulating said graphical user interface causing the graphical user interface to send a reference to the representation of the marked industrial device to the separate display member.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting with said computing device a representation of an industrial device and marking the digital representation, and

manipulating said graphical user interface causing the graphical user interface to send an executable or active link to the representation of the marked industrial device to the separate display member.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

software code elements recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a computer or processor to cause the computer or processor to carry out a method to retrieve and display technical data for an industrial device in an industrial control system including generating technical data for said industrial device and displaying the technical data utilizing an application interface displayed on an active display device arranged with input means, the method comprising displaying one or more application interfaces where at least one application interface provides a display of information about a said technical device, and manipulating one or more application interfaces using said input utilizing said active display device at the same time.

19. (canceled)

20. A system for retrieval and display of technical data for an industrial device in an industrial control system including generating technical data for said industrial device and displaying the technical data utilizing an application interface displayed on an active display device arranged with input element, the system comprising:

an active display device for display and/or manipulation of the application interface to which said one or more industrial devices are connected.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the active display device comprises a graphical user interface arranged with interactive elements such that the active display device is a touch-sensitive screen.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the active display device comprises a graphical user interface arranged with interactive elements such that the active display device registers close proximity of a hand or other object.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein it further comprising:

a member for transmitting and/or receiving wireless communication about User ID to and/or from the active display device.

24. The system according to claim 20, further comprising:

at least one input member for selecting, navigating and/or one or more of the application interfaces, or documents.

25. The system according to claim 20, further comprising:

an inertial sensor arranged for input to manipulate an application interface on the active display device by determining a movement or an action by a user on or close to the active display device surface.

26. The system according to claim 20, wherein the computing device comprises a portable computing device.

27. The system according to claim 20, further comprising:

wireless communication elements compatible with a wireless LAN.

28. The system according to claim 20, wherein the active display device comprises a wireless member for detecting movement and position using any element from the list of:

ultrasonic sound, infra red light, visible light.

29. The system according to claim 20, wherein the active display device may comprise a directional input member comprising any from the list of:

button, joystick, ball, mouse, stylus, touch surface, elastic directional input member.

30. The system according to claim 20, further comprising one or more computer program products comprising a computer readable medium, and software code elements recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a computer or processor to cause the computer or processor to carry out a method to retrieve and display technical data for an industrial device in an industrial control system including generating technical data for said industrial device and displaying the technical data utilizing an application interface displayed on an active display device arranged with input means, the method comprising displaying one or more application interfaces where at least one application interface provides a display of information about a said technical device, and manipulating one or more application interfaces using said input utilizing said active display device at the same time.

32. The system according to claim 20, wherein the application interface permits carrying out any from the group of:

checking a status of an industrial device, engineering an industrial device, making a change to a set point or control parameter for an industrial device, configuring an automation device, controlling an automation device, tuning a process, checking a process variable, teaching a robot, editing a robot program.

31. A graphical user interface of an active display device for retrieving and displaying technical data for an industrial device in an industrial control system including generating technical data for said industrial device and displaying the technical data utilizing an application interface displayed on the active display device which is arranged with input elements, the graphical user interface comprising:

at least one graphical representation member for carrying out a method to retrieve and display technical data for an industrial device in an industrial control system including generating technical data for said industrial device and displaying the technical data utilizing an application interface displayed on an active display device arranged with input means, the method comprising displaying one or more application interfaces where at least one application interface provides a display of information about a said technical device, and manipulating one or more application interfaces using said input utilizing said active display device at the same time.