ABSTRACTED DISPLAY BUILDING METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20100146418A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Mann, Krista Kummerfeldt, Britt, Clinton D., Mann, Joseph Francis, Cisler, Steven Mark, Lloyd, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,740,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• 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 2219/1205 Memory access for different processors, memory arbitration, mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2206 Microprocessor for display and parameter input, link to control microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24084 Remote and local monitoring, local result to remote, remote takes action
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25305 MMA, memory management, set ram and eprom part for flash memory, store state also
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31406 Data management, shop management, memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32142 Define device, module description using xml format file
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34192 Memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36138 Configuration of operator panel, using os-2 modular programs, masks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44594 Unloading
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 15/00 Apparatus or local circuits for transmitting or receiving dot-and-dash codes, e.g. Morse code teaching apparatus therefor G09B; telegraph tapping keys H01H21/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A machine can be accessed and controlled with the help of an interface device. The customizable interface device contains device elements that define features relating to the external representation and internal functionality of the interface device, as linked to one or more machines. An operator can use a configuration station to implement single or reoccurring queries that interact with the interface device and corresponding machines. In particular, the queries target the configuration of device elements in the interface device. The process can include temporarily unloading unused features from active memory and mirroring property changes initialized by a source. An emulator can assist in the configuration process by providing a preliminary software representation of the interface device hardware. A user can develop, test, and reconfigure functions on the emulator before loading the finalized platform to the interface device.

Claims

1. An industrial automation system, comprising:

an interface device, comprising a first device element that represents a visual aspect of the interface device, a second device element that represents an operational aspect of the interface device and a global memory container that houses the first device element and the second device element, wherein the interface device determines whether at least one of the first device element or the second device element is an idle device element and temporarily unloads the idle device element from the global memory container; and

a configuration station that configures the idle device element,

wherein the interface device operates in an execution mode when the configuration station configures the idle device element.

2. The system of claim 1, the interface device is at least one of a human machine interface (HMI), a graphical user interface (GUI), a user interface (UI), an operator interface (OI) or a man-machine interface (MMI).

3. The system of claim 1, the interface device further comprises a main interface screen that incorporates the first device element and the second device element.

4. The system of claim 1, the interface device further comprises an unloaded interface screen that eliminates the idle device element.

5. The system of claim 1, the interface device determines whether the at least one of the first device element or the second device element is the idle device element according to a refresh rate.

6. The system of claim 1, the configuration station receives an instruction from an operator to configure the idle device element.

7. The system of claim 1, the configuration station is directly connected to the interface device.

8. The system of claim 1, the configuration station is housed in a browser and communicatively connected to the interface device.

9. A method for configuring an interface device in an industrial automation system, comprising:

operating an interface device in an execution mode;

checking a status of a first device element that represents a visual aspect of the interface device and a second device element that represents an operational aspect of the interface device;

determining whether at least one of the first device element or the second device element is an idle device element based at least in part upon the checking;

unloading the idle device element from a global memory container for a temporary period of time; and

configuring the idle device element while operating the interface device in the execution mode.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising reinstating the idle device element after the temporary period of time lapses.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising checking a second status of the first device element and the second device element and determining whether at least one of the first device element or the second device element is a second idle device element.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising unloading the second idle device element from the global memory container for a second temporary period of time.

13. The method of claim 9, the checking the status further comprises checking at a time interval.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a request to configure the idle device element from an operator.

15. An interface device that in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

a first device element that represents a visual aspect of the interface device;

a second device element that represents an operational element of the interface device; and

a global memory container that houses the first device element and the second device element,

wherein the interface device performs a status check and determines whether at least one of the first device element or the second device element is an idle device element and temporarily unloads the idle device element from the global memory container, and

wherein the interface device operates in an execution mode while the idle device element is configured.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the interface device performs the status check at regular intervals.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a main interface screen that incorporates the first device element and the second device element.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising an unloaded interface screen that eliminates the idle device element.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the idle device element is configured in response to an instruction from an operator.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the interface device reinstates the idle device element to the global memory container after a period of time.