Concurrent overview and detail display system having process control capabilities

• US 4,001,807 A
• Filed: 02/03/1975
• Issued: 01/04/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Dallimonti, Renzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Application Number:
  US05/546,321
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/225, 340/324 A, 340/324 AD, 178/DIG. 38
• US Class Current: 700/84
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/153 using cathode-ray tubes

Abstract

A cathode-ray tube, i.e., CRT, console having a plurality of CRT display faces with a data display on each CRT being divided among predetermined spatially oriented locations with correlated manually operable switches adjacent to each location area on the periphery of an associated CRT. The switches are used to control the display of additional and detailed information concerning an associated data area either on a CRT adjacent to the switches or on another adjacent CRT. Additional switches are provided on the console to enable an operator to respond to a data display by manipulating these additional switches to effect an adjustment or control of the data being displayed.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a display panel means having at least a first and a second display means having respective display faces for displaying a plurality of corresponding displays on each display face, said displays being interrelated and separately characterized wherein said first display means displays an overview of a plurality of variables, and said second display means displays a detailed display of one of the variables displayed on said first display means,

a plurality of separately actuable means associated with each of said display means, and

control means connected between said display means and said actuable means to control each of said plurality of display means in response to an actuated one of said actuable means whereby to select a detailed display for display on said second display means in response to said actuable means associated with said first and said second display means.

2. A display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and said second display means are each a cathode-ray tube.

3. A display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display panel means includes a third display means for displaying characterized information on the plurality of variables displayed on said first display means.

4. A display system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first, second and third display means are each a cathode-ray tube.

5. A display system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said characterized information includes alarm displays for each of said plurality of variables displayed on said first display means.

6. A display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said display faces includes a plurality of contiguous areas forming substantially uninterrupted display for displaying respective ones of said plurality of corresponding displays and said actuable means includes a plurality of manually operable switches with each of said switches being adjacent to a respective one of said plurality of areas in a one-to-one correspondence.

7. A display systems as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes memory means for storing displays to be supplied to said display means and means responsive to the operation of said actuable means for selecting said displays stored in said memory for application to said display means.

8. A display system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said last-mentioned means includes means for receiving input data for supplying output signals representative of said input data and means for applying said output signals to said memory means to alter said displays stored in said memory means.

9. A display system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for receiving includes a digital computer.

10. A display system as set forth in claim 9 and including output terminal means and means for applying said output signals to said output terminal means, said output terminal means including process controllers responsive to said output signals for controlling process variables concurrently being displayed on said display means, said output signal being derived from said digital computer, and further actuatable to provide signals to said digital computer to effect selective control of said process controllers.

11. A display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuable means associated with said first display means operates said control means to select a detailed display for display on said second display means.

12. A display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuable means associated with said second display operates said control means to select a detailed display for display on said second display means.

13. A display system as set forth in claim 11 and wherein said actuable means associated with said second display operates said control means to select a detailed display for display on said second display means.