Method for constituting structures and items of consistent menu in user interface

By adopting a unified menu structure and menu data management method in electrical devices and systems, the problem of inconsistent user interfaces was solved, learning efficiency and ease of use were improved, and maintenance costs were reduced.

CN122064256APending Publication Date: 2026-05-19DANFOSS POWER ELECTRONICS AS
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
DANFOSS POWER ELECTRONICS AS
Filing Date
2025-11-14
Publication Date
2026-05-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The lack of consistency in the user interfaces of existing electrical installations and systems means that users need to learn multiple different menu structures, which increases time and cost and makes configuration errors more likely.

Method used

A unified menu structure and menu data management method are adopted. By maintaining the first menu data and the second menu data in the memory system, the data processing system is configured to control the display to present the corresponding menu items and receive user input data, ensuring that the menu items correspond to the electrical devices or system functions.

Benefits of technology

It achieves consistency in the user interface of electrical devices and systems, improves learnability and usability, reduces training time and error occurrence, and simplifies the maintenance of a series of products.

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Abstract

A user interface comprising: a display (302) for presenting a menu structure; an input interface (303) for enabling a user to navigate within the menu structure and feed input data; a memory system (304) storing first menu data (306) defining a menu structure; and a data processing system (305) that controls the display to present the menu structure in accordance with the first menu data. The memory system stores second menu data (307) defining which of the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to a function of the electrical device or system; and control the display to present only those menu items corresponding to the function as valid and selectable menu items. Since the menu structure defined by the first menu data may be used in different electrical devices or systems, the menu structures of these electrical devices and systems may be similar, with a consistent appearance.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to configuring, monitoring, and / or troubleshooting electrical devices and systems, such as motor drives, power converters, and electrolyzers. More particularly, this invention relates to methods for implementing a user interface, and user interfaces for managing electrical devices or systems. Furthermore, this invention relates to computer programs used to implement a user interface by loading the computer program into a programmable device or system. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical devices used to implement electrical systems (e.g., electric drives) encompass a wide variety of products designed for various application types and sizes. For example, electrical devices used to implement electric drives may include an active front-end converter (AFE) between an AC power grid and a DC intermediate circuit, an inverter (INU) between the DC intermediate circuit and an electric motor and / or other AC devices, protection and monitoring devices such as protective relays, and other possible components of the electric drive.

[0003] Despite the wide range of products designed for various application types, it is common for the same user to be responsible for commissioning, starting up, handling maintenance and troubleshooting, as well as other possible tasks related to different electrical devices (such as, for example, motor drives, power converters, electrolyzers, and protection and monitoring devices). As a result, the user must learn to navigate the menu structures of all these electrical devices in order to perform these tasks. This is both time-consuming and costly for the user when using electrical devices to implement electrical systems (such as, for example, electric drives). Furthermore, it can be both time-consuming and costly for the supplier of the electrical devices to maintain a series of products with different menu structures.

[0004] For example, exemplary user interfaces for configuring electrical installations are described in publications EP1883009, US20080215978, US6181331, and EP1604450. However, known user interfaces do not address the challenges mentioned above associated with the wide variety of products designed for various application types and sizes. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following is a simplified overview to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various embodiments of the invention. This overview is not a comprehensive summary of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or essential elements of the invention nor to define the scope of the invention. The following overview presents only some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplary embodiments.

[0006] According to the present invention, a novel method is provided for implementing a user interface suitable for managing electrical devices or systems, such as motor drives, power converters, electrolyzers, protection and / or monitoring devices or systems, etc. Management performed using this user interface may include, for example, configuring, monitoring, and / or troubleshooting the electrical devices or systems.

[0007] The method according to the present invention includes: - Maintain first menu data with a defined menu structure in the memory system; - Configure the data processing system to control the display to present the menu structure defined by the first menu data to the user; - Configure the input interface to receive navigation input actions given by the user for navigating within the menu structure, and receive input data for the electrical device or system; and - Configure the data processing system to submit the input data received from the input interface to the electrical device or system.

[0008] Furthermore, the method according to the present invention includes: - Maintain second menu data in the memory system, the second menu data defining which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the functions of the electrical device or system under consideration; and - Configure the data processing system to control the display to present only those menu items that correspond to the function of the electrical device or system as valid and selectable menu items.

[0009] The menu structure defined by the first menu data may include, for example, menu items such as "rotational speed," "reactive power supplied to the AC grid," and "DC current." The aforementioned second menu data may be specific to the type of electrical device or system. In the exemplary case where the electrical system is an AC motor driver, the menu items "AC current supplied by the AC grid," "AC voltage of the AC motor," "DC voltage of the intermediate circuit," "AC current of the AC motor," and "rotational speed of the AC motor" correspond to the functions of that AC motor driver, while the menu item "DC current of the DC load" does not correspond to the functions of that AC motor driver. Therefore, the second menu data associated with the AC motor driver indicates that the menu items "AC current supplied by the AC grid," "AC voltage of the AC motor," "DC voltage of the intermediate circuit," "AC current of the AC motor," and "rotational speed of the AC motor" correspond to the functions of that AC motor driver. Accordingly, in another exemplary case where the electrical device is an inverter for driving an AC electric motor, the second menu data indicates that the menu item "AC current supplied by the AC grid" does not correspond to the functions of an inverter that can operate between the AC electric motor and a DC intermediate circuit or another DC power source. Electrical systems, including active front-ends (AFEs) or passive front-ends (e.g., diode rectifiers) and inverters for driving AC motors or DC-DC converters for driving DC motors, handle AC-DC conversion in various configurations: from grid AC to intermediate circuit DC to motor AC, or from grid AC to intermediate circuit DC to motor DC. First menu data may define a menu structure including items such as "rotational speed," "reactive power supplied to the AC grid," and "DC current." Second menu data, on the other hand, is specific to the type of electrical system. For example, in the case of a motor driver with an AFE converter, the menu items "reactive power supplied to the AC grid" and "DC current" correspond to the functions of the AFE converter, while the menu item "rotational speed" does not correspond to the function of the AFE converter because the AFE converter operates between the AC power grid and the DC intermediate circuit. Therefore, second menu data specific to the AFE converter reflects that the relevant menu items include "reactive power supplied to the AC grid," "DC voltage," and "DC current." Conversely, if the electrical device is an inverter designed to drive an AC electric motor, the second menu data indicating "reactive power supplied to the AC grid" is unrelated to the inverter operating between the DC intermediate circuit or another DC power source and the AC motor.

[0010] Because the menu structure defined by the first menu data can be a generic menu structure that can be used in different electrical installations and systems, the menu structures of these electrical installations and systems can be similar and have a consistent appearance, allowing icons, menu items, and their names to be similar across these electrical installations and systems. This provides the following advantages: - Because different electrical appliances and systems have similar menu structures and consistent appearances, they enhance brand recognition for users of electrical appliances and systems; - Improved learnability due to the similarity and consistent appearance of the menu structures across different electrical devices and systems; - Cost savings due to improved learnability, resulting from reduced training time; - Improved usability, resulting in faster use and fewer errors, is due to improved learnability; - Portfolio maintenance is easier due to the similarity and consistent appearance of the menu structures of different electrical devices and systems; and - Minimize failures caused by, for example, entering configuration data into an irrelevant input field or entering incorrect configuration data into the correct input field.

[0011] In an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the control display shows each menu item that does not correspond to the function of the electrical device or system with a different graphical appearance (e.g., a different color) than the valid and selectable menu items. The advantage of this embodiment is that the menu structures of different electrical devices and systems are not different from each other; however, the disadvantage is that invalid menu items are shown in the menu structure. In another exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the control display presents a menu structure that does not include each menu item that does not correspond to the function of the electrical device or system under consideration. The advantage of this embodiment is that invalid menu items are not shown in the menu structure; however, the disadvantage is that the menu structures of different electrical devices and systems are different from each other—however, the menu structures have a substantially similar appearance.

[0012] Various embodiments of the present invention can be computer-implemented "CII" embodiments of the invention. Therefore, according to the present invention, a novel computer program is also provided for programming an electrical device or system having a programmable central processing unit (CPU) and / or capable of running another programmable data processing system suitable for managing the electrical device or system through a user interface. The computer program can, for example, be in the form of signals, allowing it to be downloaded from a server to the programmable electrical device or system, such as the CPU of a power electronic converter, via a data transmission network. As another example, the computer program can be in the form of a non-volatile computer-readable medium, such as an electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, on which the computer program is encoded and which can be connected to the programmable electrical device or system, such as the CPU of a power electronic converter.

[0013] The computer program according to the present invention includes computer-executable instructions for controlling a programmable data processing system to perform: - Retrieve the first menu data with a defined menu structure from the memory system; - Control the display to present the menu structure defined by the first menu data to the user; - Receive navigation input actions given by the user for navigating within the menu structure, and input data for the electrical device, from the input interface; and - The input data received from the input interface is submitted to the electrical device or system.

[0014] Furthermore, the computer program according to the present invention includes computer-executable instructions for controlling a programmable data processing system to perform: - Obtain second menu data from the memory system, the second menu data defining which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the functions of the electrical device, and - Control the display to present only those menu items that correspond to the function of the electrical device as valid and selectable menu items.

[0015] According to the present invention, a new computer program product is also provided. This computer program product includes a non-volatile computer-readable medium, such as an EEPROM or a USB memory, encoding a computer program according to the present invention.

[0016] According to the present invention, a novel user interface suitable for managing electrical devices or systems, such as motor drives, power converters, electrolyzers, protection and / or monitoring devices or systems, is also provided. Management performed using this user interface may include, for example, configuring, monitoring, and / or troubleshooting the electrical devices or systems. The user interface may be, for example, part of the electrical device or system to be managed, or it may be part of an external device (e.g., a laptop computer or smartphone) capable of connecting to the electrical device or system to be managed, or a portion of the user interface may be part of the electrical device or system to be managed, and another portion of the user interface may be part of the external device. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to any particular manner of implementing the user interface.

[0017] The user interface according to the present invention includes: - A display that is configured to present a menu structure to the user; - An input interface configured to enable a user to navigate within the menu structure and provide input data for the electrical device or system; - A memory system that stores first menu data defining the menu structure; and - A data processing system that is communicatively connected to the display, the input interface and the memory system.

[0018] The data processing system is configured to control the display to present the menu structure based on the first menu data and navigation input actions received from the input interface, and to submit the input data received from the input interface to the electrical device or system. Furthermore, the memory system is configured to store second menu data, which defines which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the functions of the considered electrical device or system. The data processing system is configured to control the display to present only those menu items corresponding to the functions of the electrical device or system as valid and selectable menu items.

[0019] According to the present invention, a novel power electronic converter is also provided, which may be, for example, a frequency converter, an active front-end "AFE" AC voltage to DC voltage "AC-DC" converter, or a DC voltage to AC voltage DC-AC inverter "INU". The power electronic converter includes: - A power electronic main circuit configured to convert one or more input voltages into one or more output voltages; - A control device configured to control the power electronic main circuit; and - User interface according to the present invention.

[0020] The user interface can be implemented, at least in part, with the same hardware as the control device described above, or the user interface can be implemented with hardware separate from the control device.

[0021] Exemplary and non-limiting embodiments are described in the appended dependent claims.

[0022] When read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the exemplary and non-limiting embodiments relating to the construction and operation methods, as well as their additional purposes and advantages, will be best understood in light of the following description of specific exemplary and non-limiting embodiments.

[0023] The verbs “include” and “contain” are used in this text as open-ended restrictions that neither exclude nor require the existence of undocumented features.

[0024] Unless otherwise expressly stated, the features recited in the dependent claims may be freely combined with each other.

[0025] Furthermore, it should be understood that the use of “one” or “a kind of” (i.e., the singular form) throughout this text does not preclude the plural form. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments and their advantages are explained in more detail below in an exemplary sense and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 A flowchart is shown, according to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, of a method for implementing a user interface suitable for managing electrical devices or systems.

[0028] Figure 2a The illustration shows details of an exemplary menu structure implemented using a method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments;

[0029] Figure 2b The illustration shows details of an exemplary menu structure implemented using a method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments; and

[0030] Figure 3 The illustration depicts a user interface for managing electrical appliances according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The specific examples provided in the following description should not be construed as limiting the scope and / or applicability of the invention. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the list and groups of examples provided in the description are not exhaustive.

[0032] Figure 1A flowchart illustrating a method for implementing a user interface suitable for managing an electrical device or system, such as a motor drive, power converter, electrolyzer, protection and / or monitoring device or system, is shown according to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment. Management performed using this user interface may include, for example, configuring, monitoring, and / or troubleshooting the electrical device or system. The method includes the following actions: - Action 101: Maintain first menu data and second menu data in the memory system, the first menu data defining the menu structure and the second menu data defining which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the functions of the electrical device or system under consideration. - Action 102: Configure the data processing system to control the display to present a menu structure defined by the first menu data to the user, such that only those menu items that correspond to the function of the electrical device or system are presented as valid and selectable menu items; - Action 103: Configure the input interface to receive navigation input actions given by the user for navigating within the menu structure, and receive input data for electrical devices or systems, such as, for example, configuration data, monitoring commands, and / or troubleshooting commands; and - Action 104: Configure the data processing system to submit input data received from the input interface to the electrical device or system.

[0033] The method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments includes: configuring a data processing system to control a display to show each menu item, which does not correspond to the function of the electrical device or system, with a graphical appearance different from that of the effective and selectable menu items.

[0034] The method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments includes: configuring a data processing system to control a display to present a menu structure that does not contain each menu item that does not correspond to the function of an electrical device or system.

[0035] In the method according to the exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the input interface includes a keyboard having arrows and selection buttons for enabling a user to move within a menu structure, and alphanumeric buttons for enabling a user to feed an input data item when an input field for feeding an input data item has been activated.

[0036] In a method according to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the display includes a touchscreen serving as an input interface, and the method includes: configuring a data processing system to control the display to present virtual arrows and selection buttons that enable a user to move within a menu structure, and virtual alphanumeric buttons that enable a user to feed an input data item when an input field for feeding an input data item has been activated.

[0037] In the method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the menu structure includes a menu hierarchy defined by first menu data.

[0038] In the method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, menu items include: status of one or more components of an electrical device or system, logs and reports related to one or more components, events related to one or more components, setting and service data related to one or more components, data about the electrical device or system, and / or other suitable information related to the electrical device or system.

[0039] The aforementioned data processing system may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or another processing unit of the electrical device or system to be managed (e.g., the CPU of a frequency converter for an electric motor drive). Alternatively, the data processing system may be an external device communicatively connected to the CPU or another processing unit of the electrical device or system to be managed, such as the processor of a laptop computer or smartphone. Accordingly, the display and / or input interface may be one or more components of the electrical device or system to be configured (e.g., a frequency converter), or alternatively, the display and / or input interface may be an external device communicatively connected to the CPU or another processing unit of the electrical device or system to be managed, such as a laptop computer or smartphone.

[0040] A computer program for implementing a user interface suitable for managing electrical devices or systems, according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, includes computer-executable instructions for controlling a programmable data processing system to perform actions related to the method according to any of the embodiments described above.

[0041] A computer program according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments includes software modules for implementing a user interface suitable for managing electrical devices or systems. The software modules include computer-executable instructions for controlling a programmable data processing system to: - Obtain first menu data and second menu data from the memory system, the first menu data defining the menu structure and the second menu data defining which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the functions of the electrical device or system under consideration; - Control the display to present a menu structure defined by the first menu data to the user, such that only those menu items that correspond to the function of the electrical device or system are presented as valid and selectable menu items; - Receives navigation input actions from the user via the input interface for navigating within the menu structure, and receives input data for electrical devices or systems, such as configuration data, monitoring commands, and / or troubleshooting commands; and - Submits the input data received from the input interface to the electrical device or system.

[0042] Software modules can be, for example, subroutines or functions implemented using programming tools suitable for programmable data processing systems.

[0043] Computer program products according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments include computer-readable media, such as "EEPROM" or USB memory, that encode a computer program according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] Signals according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments are encoded to carry information defining a computer program according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] A non-volatile computer-readable medium (e.g., "EEPROM" or USB memory) according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments is encoded with a computer program according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 2a The illustration details an exemplary menu structure implemented using a method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments. In this exemplary embodiment, the display includes a touchscreen serving as an input interface, and a data processing system is configured to control the display to present virtual alphanumeric buttons 214 to enable a user to feed input data. The main menu is shown in a first menu view 210. Figure 2a In the exemplary case shown, the menu item "Settings and Services" has been selected from the first menu view 210, thus leading to the second menu view 211. Figure 2a In the exemplary case shown, the menu item "Settings" has been selected from the second menu view 211, thus leading to the third menu view 212. Figure 2a In the exemplary case shown, the menu item "AC current limit" has been selected from the third menu view 212, thereby leading to view 213, which includes the aforementioned virtual alphanumeric button 214, allowing the user to set the value of the AC current limit.

[0047] exist Figure 2a In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the data processing system is configured to control the display to show each menu item, which does not correspond to the function of the electrical device or system (e.g., motor driver, motor inverter, or AFE converter, etc.), with a different graphical appearance than the actual selectable menu items. Figure 2aIn the diagram, menu items "Grid Frequency" and "Grid Voltage" that do not correspond to the functions of the electrical device or system are indicated by reference numerals 230 and 231. For example... Figure 2a As shown, these menu items 230 and 231 are displayed in the third menu view 212 with a different graphical appearance than the other menu items.

[0048] Figure 2b The illustration shows details of an exemplary menu structure implemented using a method according to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments. Menu views 220, 221, and 223 are respectively associated with... Figure 2a The menu views 210, 211, and 213 shown are the same. Figure 2b In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the data processing system is configured to control the display to present a menu structure that does not contain each menu item that does not correspond to the function of the electrical device. Therefore, Figure 2b The menu view 222 shown is... Figure 2a The difference between menu view 212 shown is that menu view 222 does not include menu item 230 "Grid Frequency" and menu item 231 "Grid Voltage".

[0049] Figure 2a The advantage of the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiments is that the menu structures of the different electrical devices are not different from each other; however, the disadvantage is that invalid menu items, such as menu items 230 and 231, are shown in the menu structures. Figure 2b The advantage of the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiments is that invalid menu items are not shown in the menu structure; however, the disadvantage is that the menu structures of different electrical devices differ from one another—although the menu structures have a substantially similar appearance.

[0050] exist Figure 2a and Figure 2b In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, the menu structure includes a menu hierarchy defined by first menu data. Second menu data defines which menu items in these menus are displayed as valid and selectable. Figure 2a and Figure 2b In the illustrated exemplary case, the second menu data limits menu item 230 "Grid Frequency" and menu item 231 "Grid Voltage" to not being presented as valid and selectable menu items.

[0051] like Figure 2a and Figure 2b As shown, menu items may include, for example: the status of one or more components of an electrical appliance or system, logs and reports related to one or more components, events related to one or more components, settings and service data related to one or more components, data about the electrical appliance or system, and / or other suitable information related to the electrical appliance or system.

[0052] Figure 3 The illustration depicts a user interface for controlling an electrical system 301 according to an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment. Figure 3 In the exemplary embodiment shown, electrical system 301 is an AC motor driver including an AC electric motor 308 and a power electronic converter 309, which in this case is an inverter for converting DC voltage into a controllable three-phase AC voltage suitable for use with the AC electric motor 308. However, as mentioned earlier in this document, this is merely an example. In this exemplary embodiment, the power electronic converter 309 includes a power electronic main circuit 330 configured to convert DC voltage into a controllable three-phase AC voltage, and a control device configured to control the power electronic main circuit 330.

[0053] The user interface includes a display 302 configured to present a menu structure to the user. The display 302 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display 302 may be part of the user interface of the electrical system 301, such as part of the user interface of the power electronic converter 309, or the display 302 may be part of an external device (e.g., a laptop computer or smartphone) that is communicatively connected to the control and management tools of the electrical system 301.

[0054] The user interface includes an input interface 303 configured to allow a user to navigate within a menu structure and provide input data to the electrical system 301. The input interface 303 may be part of the user interface of the electrical system 301, such as part of the user interface of a power electronic converter 309, or it may be part of an external device (e.g., a laptop computer or smartphone) communicatively connected to a control and management tool of the electrical system 301. In this exemplary embodiment, the input interface 303 includes a keyboard with arrows and selection buttons for enabling the user to move within the menu structure, and alphanumeric buttons for feeding input data items (e.g., current limits, speed limits, etc.) when a menu item for feeding input data items has been selected.

[0055] The user interface includes a memory system 304 that stores first menu data 306, i.e., general menu data, defining the menu structure described above. The memory system 304 may include one or more memory circuits, such as one or more electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) circuits or one or more other suitable memory circuits for storing data that must not be lost in the event of a power outage. Furthermore, the memory system 304 may include one or more random access memory (RAM) circuits for working memory. The memory system 304 may be part of an electrical system 301, such as part of a power electronic converter 309, or it may be part of an external device (e.g., a laptop computer or smartphone) that is communicatively connected to the control and management tools of the electrical system 301.

[0056] The user interface includes a data processing system 305, which is communicatively connected to a display 302, an input interface 303, and a memory system 304. The data processing system 305 may be part of the electrical system 301 (e.g., a central processing unit "CPU") or another processing unit of the power electronic converter 309, or it may be part of an external device (e.g., a laptop computer or smartphone) that is communicatively connected to the control and management tools of the electrical system 301. Typically, the user interface for managing the electrical system 301 is part of the electrical system 301, but in… Figure 3 For the sake of illustration, the user interface is depicted using individual functional elements.

[0057] Data processing system 305 is configured to control display 302 to present a menu structure based on the first menu data described above and navigation input actions received from input interface 303. Data processing system 305 is configured to submit input data received via input interface 303 to electrical system 301. Input data may include, for example, configuration data, monitoring instructions, and / or troubleshooting instructions. Memory system 304 is configured to store second menu data 307 (i.e., device or system type-specific menu data) that defines which menu items among those defined by first menu data 306 correspond to the functions of the considered electrical system 301. Data processing system 305 is configured to control display 302 to present only those menu items corresponding to the functions of electrical system 301 as valid and selectable menu items.

[0058] The menu structure defined by the first menu data 306 may include, for example, menu items such as "rotation speed," "reactive power supplied to the AC grid," and "DC current." The second menu data 307 described above may be specific to the type of electrical system 301. Figure 3In the exemplary case shown, where electrical device 301 includes a power electronic converter 309 between motor 308 and DC power supply, the menu item "Reactive power supplied to AC grid" does not correspond to the function of electrical system 301, while the menu items "Rotation speed" and "DC current" correspond to the function of electrical system 301. Therefore, the second menu data associated with electrical system 301 indicates that the menu items "Rotation speed" and "DC current" correspond to the function of electrical system 301, and the menu item "Reactive power supplied to AC grid" does not correspond to the function of electrical system 301.

[0059] Since the menu structure defined by the first menu data 306 above can be a general menu structure that can be used in conjunction with different electrical devices and systems, the menu structures of these electrical devices and systems can be similar and have a consistent appearance, so that the icons, menu items and their names can be similar on these electrical devices and systems.

[0060] The implementation of the data processing system 305 can be based on one or more analog circuits, one or more digital processing circuits, or a combination thereof. Each digital processing circuit can be a programmable processor circuit with appropriate software, a dedicated hardware processor (such as, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit "ASIC"), or a configurable hardware processor (such as, for example, a field-programmable gate array "FPGA"). Furthermore, the data processing system 305 may include working memory that can be implemented using one or more random access memory "RAM" circuits.

[0061] The specific examples provided in the description above should not be construed as limiting the scope and / or applicability of the invention. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the list and groups of examples provided in the description above are not exhaustive.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a user interface suitable for managing electrical installations or systems (301), the method comprising: - Maintain (101) the first menu data defining the menu structure in the memory system (304); - Configure (102) the data processing system (305) to control the display (302) to present the menu structure defined by the first menu data to the user; - Configure (103) input interface (303) to receive navigation input actions given by the user for navigating within the menu structure, and to receive input data for the electrical device or system; as well as - Configure (104) the data processing system to submit the input data received from the input interface to the electrical device or system, The method is characterized by comprising: - Maintain (101) second menu data in the memory system, the second menu data defining which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the functions of the electrical device or system; and - Configure (102) data processing system (305) to control the display to present only those menu items that correspond to the function of the electrical device or system as valid and selectable menu items.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The method includes: configuring the data processing system to control the display to show each menu item, which does not correspond to the function of the electrical device, with a different graphical appearance than the valid and selectable menu items.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The method includes: configuring the data processing system to control the display to present a menu structure that does not contain each menu item that does not correspond to the function of the electrical device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The input interface includes a keyboard with arrows and selection buttons for enabling the user to move within the menu structure, and alphanumeric buttons for enabling the user to feed input data items when an input field for feeding input data items has been activated.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The display includes a touchscreen serving as the input interface, and the method includes: configuring the data processing system to control the display to present virtual arrows and selection buttons that enable the user to move within the menu structure, and virtual alphanumeric buttons that enable the user to feed input data items when an input field for feeding input data items has been activated.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The menu structure includes menu levels defined by the first menu data.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The menu item includes one or more of the following i to iv: i) the status of one or more components of the electrical device or system; ii) Logs and reports related to one or more of the aforementioned components; iii) Events related to one or more of the components; and iv) settings and service data related to the one or more of the aforementioned components.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The electrical device or system is a frequency converter.

9. A computer program for implementing a user interface suitable for managing electrical installations or systems, the computer program comprising computer-executable instructions for controlling a programmable data processing system to perform: - Retrieve the first menu data with a defined menu structure from the memory system; - Control the display to present the menu structure defined by the first menu data to the user; - Receive navigation input actions given by the user for navigating within the menu structure, and input data for the electrical device from the input interface; as well as - The input data received from the input interface is submitted to the electrical device or system. The computer program is characterized in that it includes computer-executable instructions for controlling the programmable data processing system to perform: - Obtain second menu data from the memory system, the second menu data defining which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the functions of the electrical device or system, and - Control the display to present only those menu items that correspond to the function of the electrical device or system as valid and selectable menu items.

10. A non-volatile computer-readable medium, said non-volatile computer-readable medium being encoded with a computer program according to claim 9.

11. A user interface for managing electrical installations or systems (301), the user interface comprising: - Display (302), which is configured to present a menu structure to the user; - An input interface (303) configured to enable the user to navigate within the menu structure and provide input data to the electrical device or system; - A memory system (304) storing first menu data (306) defining the menu structure; and - A data processing system (305) communicatively connected to the display, the input interface, and the memory system. The data processing system is configured to control the display to present the menu structure based on the first menu data and navigation input actions received from the input interface, and to submit the input data received from the input interface to the electrical device or system. The feature is that the memory system is configured to store second menu data (307), the second menu data (307) defining which menu items among the menu items defined by the first menu data correspond to the function of the electrical device or system; and the data processing system is configured to control the display to present only those menu items that correspond to the function of the electrical device or system as valid and selectable menu items.

12. The user interface according to claim 11, wherein, The data processing system is configured to control the display to show each menu item (230, 231) that does not correspond to the function of the electrical device with a different graphical appearance than the valid and selectable menu items.

13. The user interface according to claim 11, wherein, The data processing system is configured to control the display to present a menu structure that does not contain each menu item (230, 231) that does not correspond to the function of the electrical device.

14. The user interface according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, The input interface (303) includes a keyboard having arrows and selection buttons for enabling the user to move within the menu structure, and alphanumeric buttons for enabling the user to feed input data items when an input field for feeding input data items has been activated.

15. The user interface according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, The display includes a touchscreen serving as the input interface, and the data processing system is configured to control the display to present virtual arrows and selection buttons that enable the user to move within the menu structure, and virtual alphanumeric buttons that enable the user to feed input data items when an input field for feeding input data items has been activated.

16. The user interface according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein, The menu structure includes menu levels (210, 211, 212) defined by the first menu data.

17. The user interface according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein, The menu item includes one or more of the following i to iv: i) the status of one or more components of the electrical device or system; ii) Logs and reports related to one or more of the aforementioned components; iii) Events related to one or more of the components; and iv) settings and service data related to the one or more of the aforementioned components.

18. A power electronic converter, comprising: - A power electronic main circuit (330) configured to convert one or more input voltages into one or more output voltages; - A control device configured to control the power electronic main circuit; and - The user interface according to any one of claims 11 to 17.

19. The power electronic converter according to claim 18, wherein, The power electronic converter is a frequency converter.