Holographic display and controls applied to gas installations

• US 7,724,407 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Air Liquide Incorporated (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Original Assignee: American Air Liquide Incorporated (L'Air Liquide SA)
• Inventors: Germouni, Omar, Parias, Thomas, Cadet, Olivier J.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US11/614,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 359/1, 359/115
• US Class Current: 359/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0005 Adaptation of holography to specific applications holographic optical element G02B5/32; holographic scanner G02B26/106; recognition using holographic mask G06V10/88; holographic memories G11B7/0065, G11C13/042
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/22 Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from holograms G03H1/26 - G03H1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0061 in haptic applications when the observer interacts with the holobject
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/63 Environment affecting the recording, e.g. underwater G03H2001/0432 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for holographic control and monitoring of processing devices. Operator control of a processing device is indicated by interaction with a holographic image. The holographic image is generated, and the operator interaction is detected, by a holographic control system. The holographic control system is sealed to prevent explosions, corrosion, and contamination resulting from contact with external substances.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a holographic generator configured to display a respective holographic control interface for each of a plurality of devices of a processing facility;

device selection circuitry for selecting which of the plurality of devices is to be operated;

wherein the device selection circuitry is configured to;

receive a selection of a device, of the plurality of devices, to be operated; and

responsive to receiving the selection of the device, cause the holographic generator to display the respective holographic control interface for the selected device, whereby the holographic generator is operated to display different holographic control interfaces at different times depending on which of the plurality of devices is selected for operation;

an input detector configured to receive user input indicative of user interaction with the displayed holographic control interface; and

control circuitry configured to issue a control signal responsive to the user input, wherein the control signal operates the selected device of the processing facility.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more devices controlled by interaction with the respective holographic control interface are selected from at least one of a valve, a pump, a compressor, a heater, and a fan.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor to activate the holographic generator when a radio-activated tag is detected within a predetermined operating range of the proximity sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the radio-activated tag is a radio frequency identification (RF ID) tag.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing enclosing the holographic generator to seal the holographic generator from ambient environment.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to illuminate the selected device responsive to receiving the selection of the device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the holographic generator is secured as a fixture in a given location of the processing facility.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said holographic generator is further configured to display a status of one or more devices of the processing facility.

9. A system, comprising:

a plurality of devices in a processing facility;

a respective device controller configured to control a respective one of the plurality of devices;

one or more stationary wireless communication modules in communication with each of the device controllers; and

a portable control device, comprising;

a holographic generator configured to display a respective holographic control interface for each of the plurality of device;

device selection circuitry for detecting which of the plurality of devices is to be operated;

wherein the device selection circuitry is configured to;

receive a selection of a device, of the plurality of devices, to be operated; and

responsive to receiving the selection of the device, cause the holographic generator to display the respective holographic control interface for the selected device, whereby the holographic generator is operated to display different holographic control interfaces at different times depending on which of the plurality of devices is selected for operation;

an input detector configured to receive user input indicative of user interaction with the displayed holographic control interface; and

a wireless communication module configured to issue control signals to the stationary wireless communication module responsive to the user input, wherein the control signals cause the respective device controller to operate the respective selected device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of devices controlled by interaction with the respective holographic control interface are selected from at least one of a valve, a pump, a compressor, a heater, and a fan.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a proximity sensor to activate the holographic generator when a radio-activated tag is detected within a predetermined operating range of the proximity sensor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the radio activated tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a housing enclosing the holographic generator to seal the holographic generator from ambient environment.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said holographic generator is further configured to display a status of the device.

15. A method for providing a holographic control interface, comprising:

selectively generating a respective holographic control interface for each of a plurality of devices of a processing facility, wherein each respective holographic control interface includes one or more holographic controls for the respective device;

receiving a selection of a device, of the plurality of devices, to be operated; and

responsive to receiving the selection of the device, causing the holographic generator to display the respective holographic control interface for the selected device, whereby the holographic generator is operated to display different holographic control interfaces at different times depending on which of the plurality of devices is selected for operation;

detecting an operator interaction with the one or more holographic controls of the displayed holographic control interface for the selected device; and

issuing one or more control signals responsive to the detected operator interaction, the one or more control signals configured to operate the selected device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected device is selected from a control valve, a pump, a compressor, a heater, and a fan.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said operator interaction is made by the placement of a finger relative to the one or more holographic controls.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said holographic control interface includes one or more displays of a status of the selected device controlled by the one or more control signals.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising illuminating the selected device during a period when the operator interaction with the one or more holographic controls is detected.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said plurality of holographic control interfaces is stored in a database.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said database is a remote database accessed by a wireless communication link.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more devices controlled by interaction with the holographic controls are selected from at least one of a valve, a pump, a compressor, a heater, and a fan.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the radio-activated tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising a light source configured to illuminate a target device of the one or more devices, the target device being selected according to the user input.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein said holographic generator is further configured to display a status of one or more devices of the processing facility.

22. A system, comprising:

a holographic generator configured to display a respective holographic control interface for each of a plurality of devices of a processing facility;

device selection circuitry for selecting which of the plurality of devices is to be operated;

wherein the device detection circuitry is configured to;

receive a device identification signal identifying a selected one of the plurality of devices;

wherein the device identification signal is received from a wireless transmitter associated with the selected one of the plurality of devices; and

responsive to receiving the device identification signal, cause the holographic generator to display the respective holographic control interface for the selected device, whereby the holographic generator is operated to display different holographic control interfaces at different times depending on which of the plurality of devices is selected for operation;

an input detector configured to receive user input indicative of user interaction with the displayed holographic control interface;

control circuitry configured to issue a control signal responsive to the user input, wherein the control signal operates the selected device of the processing facility;

a proximity sensor to activate the holographic generator when a radio-activated tag is detected within a predetermined operating range of the proximity sensor; and

a housing enclosing the holographic generator to seal the holographic generator from ambient environment.