Virtual knob lever arm as analog control element

• US 7,720,552 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SITO Processing LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Lloyd, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Paul L
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAO, SHEELA S
• Application Number:
  US11/422,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 700/10, 700/180, 345/56, 345/156, 345/173, 345/184, 345/619, 345/649, 345/650, 345/660, 345/676, 345/678, 345/689, 4551511-1514, 455/156.1, 455/157.1, 455/158.2, 455/158.4
• US Class Current: 700/10
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23036 Same knob, different function, normal for parameter, value, pushed to enter value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates providing analog control within an industrial automation environment. An interface component can facilitate the receipt of data relating to an input. An analog lever component can be communicatively coupled to the interface component to provide analog control of a parameter associated with the industrial automation environment, wherein the analog control correlates the input with a virtual knob to adjust the parameter.

Claims

1. A system that provides analog control for an industrial device, comprising:

an interface component that receives a selection of a virtual knob that controls a parameter associated with the industrial device; and

an analog lever component communicatively coupled to the interface component that provides analog control of the parameter associated with the industrial device upon selection of the virtual knob, the analog lever component provides two dimensions of analog control, the two dimensions of analog control comprising;

a first dimension of analog control comprising a rotary movement around the virtual knob that changes a value of the parameter of the parameter; and

a second dimension of analog control comprising a linear movement along a radial arm from a center of the virtual knob that provides step-size manipulation associated with the value of the parameter based on a distance from the center of the virtual knob.

2. The system of claim 1, the selection is associated with at least one of the following:

a mouse;

a mouse pointer;

a cursor;

a mouse cursor;

a trackball;

a stylus;

a pointer related to a display;

a touch-screen;

or a coordinate on a display on which the virtual knob is presented.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device that relates to the parameter controlled by the virtual knob, wherein the device is at least one of a human machine interface (HMI), a computer, a disparate controller, a roller, a station, a welder, a scanner, a belt conveyor, a pump, a press, a fan, a furnace, a cooler, a valve, an electrical component, a drain, or a photo eye.

4. The system of claim 1, the virtual knob is associated with a human machine interface (HMI).

5. The system of claim 1, the selection of the virtual knob is based upon a cursor.

6. The system of claim 5, the analog lever component determines an initial cursor position and utilizes the initial cursor position as a set point for the two dimensions of analog control.

7. The system of claim 6, the first dimension of analog control further comprises movement of the cursor orthogonal to the radial arm and the second dimension of analog control further comprises movement of the cursor along the radial arm.

8. The system of claim 1, the first dimension of analog control further comprising at least one of a clockwise rotation or a counterclockwise rotation that correlates to at least one of an increase or a decrease in the value of the parameter.

9. The system of claim 1, the second dimension of analog control further comprising a distance from the center of the virtual knob that correlates to at least one of an increase or a decrease in the step-size.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coordinate component that ascertains a first cursor location associated with the selection and continuously ascertains a second cursor location associated with the two dimensions of control.

11. The system of claim 10, the coordinate component ascertains at least one of:

the cursor location associated with the selection or the cursor location associated with the two dimensions of control based upon a location on a display.

12. The system of claim 11, the display is at least one of a monitor, a human machine interface (HMI), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat-screen, a television, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, or a hand-held.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a map component that utilizes the first cursor location associated with the selection, second the cursor location associated with the two dimensions of control and the center of the virtual knob to determine an amount of variation and the step-size.

14. The system of claim 1, the interface component provides a first virtual knob that provides analog control to a first parameter and a second virtual knob that provides analog control to a second parameter.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the knob is presented on a display and the step-size manipulation is limited by the resolution of the display.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotary movement comprises one or more revolutions.

17. A method for providing analog control for an industrial device, comprising:

receiving a cursor input associated with selecting a virtual knob;

capturing a cursor upon receiving the cursor input associated with selecting the virtual knob;

controlling a magnitude of a change in a parameter within an industrial device by moving the cursor along a radial arm from a center portion of the virtual knob, wherein the magnitude of the change is a function of a distance from the center portion of the virtual knob to the cursor; and

changing a value of the parameter within the industrial device by rotating the cursor around the virtual knob.

18. The method of claim 17, changing the value of the parameter further comprising at least one of increasing or decreasing the value of the parameter within the industrial device by rotating the cursor in at least one of a counter-clockwise direction or a clockwise direction.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling the magnitude of the change in the parameter within the industrial environment comprises moving the cursor along the radial arm beyond the virtual knob.

20. An apparatus that provides analog control of an industrial device, comprising:

an interface comprising at least two knobs, wherein the at least two knobs are associated with at least two parameters of an industrial device; and

a cursor that;

selects one of the at least two knobs and initiates the analog control of the associated parameter,

moves a radial distance away from the center of the selected knob and adjusts a resolution for a change of a value of the parameter, wherein the resolution is a function of the distance from the center of the selected knob to the cursor,

rotates around the selected knob and changes the value of the parameter.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the adjustment of the resolution is independent of the size of the selected knob on the interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cursor rotates at least twice around the selected knob.