Method and system for facilitating control of an industrial system

• US 8,922,551 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Energy Limited
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mikkelsen, Christine
• Primary Examiner(s): BROOME, SAID A
• Application Number:
  US13/902,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]

Abstract

A method for displaying a two-dimensional image in a three-dimensional view. The two-dimensional image is formed by a plurality of objects representing elements of an industrial system. The three-dimensional view is displayed on a display of a control system of the industrial system, wherein at least one object is associated with a parameter value pertaining to a state of a corresponding element in the industrial system. The method includes determining the parameter value for the object; mapping the parameter value to a depth layer, which depth layer defines part of the three-dimensional view; and displaying the object in the depth layer. A corresponding control system is also presented herein.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a two-dimensional image in a three-dimensional view, the two-dimensional image being formed by a plurality of objects representing elements of an industrial system, the three-dimensional view being displayed on a display device of a control system of the industrial system, wherein at least one object is associated with a parameter value pertaining to a state of a corresponding element in the industrial system, wherein the method comprises providing a processor configured for:

determining the parameter value for the at least one object,

mapping the parameter value to a depth layer, which depth layer defines part of the three-dimensional view, and

displaying the at least one object in the depth layer,

wherein the step of mapping comprises mapping the at least one object to a depth layer in a near field of the three-dimensional view when the parameter value deviates from a criterion associated with a corresponding element in the industrial system, the criterion including an accepted behavior of the corresponding element, wherein the deviation from the criterion indicates an alarm or a trend to be brought to the attention of an operator monitoring the industrial system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

repeating the steps of determining and mapping, and provided that the mapping determines another depth layer,

displaying the at least one object in the another depth layer.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of mapping comprises comparing the parameter value of the at least one object with the criterion associated with the corresponding element in the industrial system.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of displaying comprises visually moving the at least one object from the depth layer to the another depth layer.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

determining an object category associated with the at least one object, the object category pertaining to a category of its element in the industrial system, and

mapping the at least one object to a depth layer based on the object category.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising associating a range of parameter values with the depth layer.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each parameter value corresponds to a dynamic process of the industrial system.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional image is a schematic diagram of the industrial system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional view is a stereoscopic view.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor comprises two or more processors.

13. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the steps are repeated continuously.

10. A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, which computer program when executed performs the steps of a method for displaying a two-dimensional image in a three-dimensional view, the two-dimensional image being formed by a plurality of objects representing elements of an industrial system, the three-dimensional view being displayed on a display device of a control system of the industrial system, wherein at least one object is associated with a parameter value pertaining to a state of a corresponding element in the industrial system, wherein the method comprises:

determining the parameter value for the at least one object,

mapping the parameter value to a depth layer, which depth layer defines part of the three-dimensional view, and

displaying the at least one object in the depth layer,

wherein the step of mapping comprises mapping the at least one object to a depth layer in a near field of the three-dimensional view when the parameter value deviates from a criterion associated with a corresponding element in the industrial system, wherein the deviation from the criterion indicates an alarm or a trend to be brought to the attention of an operator monitoring the industrial system.

11. A control system for controlling an industrial system, the control system comprising:

a display device configured to display a two-dimensional image in a three-dimensional view, which two-dimensional image is formed by a plurality of objects representing the industrial system, wherein at least one object is associated with a parameter value pertaining to a state of a corresponding element in the industrial system,

a processor configured to determine the parameter value for at least one object, and to map the parameter value to a depth layer, which depth layer defines part of the three-dimensional view,

the display device being configured to display the at least one object in the depth layer,

wherein the processor is arranged to map the at least one object to a depth layer in a near field of the three-dimensional view when the parameter value deviates from a criterion associated with a corresponding element in the industrial system, wherein the deviation from the criterion indicates an alarm or a trend to be brought to the attention of an operator monitoring the industrial system.