User interface for programming a motor controller

• US 5,909,372 A
• Filed: 06/07/1996
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Drives A/S (Danfoss A/S)
• Original Assignee: Danfoss A/S
• Inventors: Thybo, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S.
• Application Number:
  US08/659,917
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 364/188, 364/189, 364/167.01, 364/146, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/964-970
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/108 characterised by physical layout of switches; switches co-operating with display; use of switches in a special way
• 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 2219/35498 Synoptic display of available, selectable control modules with their functions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36119 Mouse with buttons to assist operator with selection of menu instead of pointing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/41295 Ac-to-ac converter frequency controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and system for improving the user interface between operator and motor controller, in particular a frequency converter. According to the invention, instead of presenting all information on a display at one time, a method of programming the motor controller is suggested, in which the operator is guided through the set up procedure, so that only relevant parameters are displayed on the different views. Another aspect of the invention is a method of programming a motor controller not in terms of parameter and parameter numbers, but in physical, technical and process terms. In this way, a high level mode of programming a motor controller is achieved, because the user interface does not deal with the less interesting motor controller specific parameters, but instead allows the operator to program the unit in terms he uses.

Claims

1. A method of programming a user interface for a motor controller via a computer incorporating a monitor displaying different screen displays, wherein the motor controller is configured by way of parameters and where an operator is guided in views sequentially through the programming procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

a) displaying a first view with a graphic representation of modes of application, where each mode contains a number of parameters for configuring the motor controller, these modes of application indicating basic control principles to be chosen,

b) selecting one of these modes of application,

c) in the guided views limiting the number of settings and choices to be chosen by the operator to only contain parameters from the selected mode of application,

d) whereby each view consists a set of functionally related parameters in the form of a set of family parameters, and

e) incorporating into each view graphics relating to the set of family parameters.

2. Method of programming a user interface for a motor controller according to claim 1, wherein the configuration is done by an operator by means of a keyboard or mouse and a graphic, where the graphic is linked with input boxes in the views, the method comprising sensing selections on a data representation in the graphic to select setting values for programming the motor controller, and simultaneously changing the values in the input boxes so that the selections in the graphic correspond to the values in the input boxes.

3. Method of programming a user interface for a motor controller according to claim 1 wherein the same input boxes are employed in different screen displays for the programming of different parameters in the motor controller.