Dynamic display of information for a vacuum or abatement system

Abstract

A dynamic display 11 for an apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system. The display comprises an input 19 to receive a signal from the apparatus indicative of it

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention relates to providing and displaying information relevant 5 to a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system. BACKGROUND Displays on apparatus such as vacuum pumps, pressure gauges or gas abatement systems are limited in the amount of information they can provide by 10 their size. There is an increasing amount of data that a device can generate and output and an increasing amount of information relevant to the functioning of the apparatus that can derived from that data. Providing a way of harvesting the data 15 identifying relevant portions and providing the information to a user is a challenge. SUMMARY One aspect provides a dynamic display configured to be linked to an apparatus, 20 said apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, said dynamic display comprising: an input configured to receive signals from said apparatus, at least one of said signals being indicative of a current state of said apparatus; processing circuitry configured to generate a machine-readable encoded representation of information relating to said 25 apparatus, said information comprising: data relevant to said apparatus said data comprising operational data derived from said received signal and a link to a service hosting material relevant to said apparatus, wherein said processing circuitry is configured to periodically update said generated representation; and an output means configured to display said representation. 30 Machine readable encoded representations of information are an effective way of providing a significant amount information within a limited area display. Furthermore, providing as part of that displayed information a link to a service that may host further material relevant to the apparatus allows further information to be made available. The service may be a web service or an application on a device used for reading the machine-readable encoded representation. The 5 information displayed includes current operational data that is periodically updated and provides a dynamic way of providing information that is relevant to the system and reflects current operating conditions. In effect enabling an operator to access an information rich screen via a machine-readable code from a small screen. Furthermore, it allows the collection of this operational data from 10 the device via the display without the requirement for a dedicated connection. The information relating to the apparatus may include data identifying the apparatus, such as data identifying the type or model of the apparatus and / or information identifying the particular apparatus, it may for example comprise a 15 serial number. The apparatus may be a vacuum pump, a vacuum pressure gauge or it may be a gas abatement system that is used for abating the gasses produced in semiconductor processing. 20 Although the machine-readable encoded representation may be any form of machine-readable code, preferably it is a representation that is readable by scanning the code. In some cases it may be a QR code. Providing the information in a representation that may be scanned allows a simple user device 25 such as a mobile phone to access the information in a straightforward manner. In some embodiments, said output means comprises an electronic paper display. The output means may be any sort of display or screen, but in some cases it comprises 30 an electronic paper display. Electronic paper can hold static text and images indefinitely without electricity. This makes it particularly effective where there is power failure for example as the information relating to the apparatus which includes operational data will be accessible without the need to power up the apparatus. In some embodiments, said operational data comprises at least one of: data received from sensors associated with said apparatus, user control inputs, configuration data, historic and current fault information, current and historic run data, and maintenance data. The operational data may comprise a number of things relevant to the operation of the vacuum pump, gauge or abatement system. The user control inputs may be current and / or historic user inputs and the run time data may include detected and derived parameters, such as machine run hours, pump and / or motor speed, temperature, pressure and / or humidity value(s), current, voltage and / or power, vibration sensor data, number of pump cycles, maintenance data such as time left before a particular service, run time for different portions of the pump, oil and / or bearing condition, valve status, analog and / or digital inputs and / or outputs. A further aspect provides a method of dynamically displaying data received from an apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, said method comprising: receiving signals from said apparatus, at least one of said signals being indicative of a current state of said apparatus; generating a machine-readable encoded representation of information relating to said apparatus, said information comprising: data relevant to said apparatus said data comprising operational data derived from said received signal and a link to a service hosting material relevant to said apparatus, wherein periodically updating said generated representation in response to said received signals; and outputting said representation. A yet further aspect provides a computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a computer are configured to control said computer to perform a method according a further aspect. Another aspect provides a method comprising: receiving a request comprising an identifier identifying an apparatus comprising one of vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system and further comprising operational data indicative of a current state of said apparatus: accessing a data store 5 storing information for said identified apparatus; selecting from said stored information, in dependence upon said received operational data, information for output; and outputting said selected information to be displayed to a user. The method may be performed on a cloud-based server and the selected 10 information may be output as a web page, alternatively the method may be performed as a local application on the user device that scanned the machine-readable encoded representation. In the latter case, the data store may be a remote data store that is accessed by the mobile device. 15 In some embodiments, said data store stores at least some of use, maintenance, operational and diagnostic information relevant for a type of apparatus that is the same type of apparatus as said apparatus, and said method comprises selecting and outputting for display at least one portion of said information in dependence upon said received operational data. 20 The data store may store information relevant to different types of apparatus. This information may be the type of information you find in an electronic manual or handbook providing information of how to use, maintain and repair a product. It may alternatively or additionally comprise a troubleshooting and / or diagnostic 25 algorithm or agreed solutions to certain conditions. In some embodiments, where said operational data comprises a warning indicating a potential fault condition and said at least one portion comprises information of how to recover from said fault condition. 30 In some embodiments, said operational data comprises operational or maintenance advice. One advantage of providing the information as a machine-encoded representation that provides access to a data store storing information relevant to the apparatus is that processing of the received operational data can be 5 performed with respect to this information such that information relevant to current operations may be selected and output to the user. This may include how to recover from a particular fault condition and / or general operation or maintenance advice relevant to the particular operational condition. This may include providing suggestions to the operator of relevant steps that might be 10 taken to mitigate for any detected faults or warnings. For example, where the temperature is deemed to be high, a suggestion of decreasing motor speed, or opening or closing a valve might be suggested. Alternatively, it might be suggested that the status of a valve should be checked, or perhaps lubricant added. 15 In some embodiments, said data store comprises a plurality of files of information for a plurality of different types of apparatus, said method comprises selecting a relevant file as a source of said information to be selected from and output in dependence upon said identifier. 20 In some embodiments, said method comprises determining from said operational data whether a repair or a service is required and where so generating and outputting an indication of the requirement. 25 The operational data and the information relating to the apparatus that is stored in the data store may indicate when analysed that a repair or a service is required and an indication may be output to the user indicating this. This may be simply displayed to the user. Alternatively, the indication that is output may comprise one of a displayed user input link that when activated sends a message 30 comprising at least some of said operational data to a service centre; or a message including at least some of said operational data to be output to a service centre. ln some embodiments, prior to generating the message or the user link the method may comprise determining whether the apparatus is subscribed to a service contract and only generating the message or user link where this is the 5 case. This may be determined from information stored in the data store associated with the apparatus identifier or from data in the received request. In some embodiments, said method comprises storing said received operational data in a data store. 10 In addition to accessing data relevant to the apparatus, the operational data that is received may be stored in a data store. This data store may be the same data store as that storing use, maintenance, operational and / or diagnostic information or it may be a different store. The data store may provide a source of information 15 relevant to a particular type of apparatus that is operating and this information may be used to update the maintenance, operational and / or diagnostic information that is stored for that particular type of apparatus and thereby dynamically improve this information and in particular, diagnostic, operational or maintenance advice. 20 In some embodiments, said data store stores operational data collected from a plurality of apparatus of a same type, at least one of said maintenance, operational and diagnostic information for said type of apparatus being dynamically updated by an algorithm as data is collected. 25 An algorithm such as a machine learning algorithm may be used to update the maintenance, operational and / or diagnostic information that is stored for a particular type of apparatus using information gleaned from the data collected from a number of these apparatus over time. In this way the maintenance advice 30 and suggestions provided may be improved. ln some embodiments, said method comprises analysing collected data from said plurality of apparatus of the same type and using an algorithm to update said at least one of said maintenance, operational and diagnostic information. The algorithm may be a machine learning algorithm, or it may be a statistical 5 algorithm. The method may include running the algorithm and updating the maintenance operational and diagnostic information stored in the data store. 10 In some embodiments, said received operational data is encrypted and said method comprises decrypting said operational data. In some embodiments, said received operational data comprises an error detecting code and said method comprises determining whether said data has 15 been corrupted. In some embodiments, said error correcting code comprises a cyclic redundancy code. 20 A further aspect provides a computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a computer are configured to control said computer to perform a method according to the another aspect. An additional aspect provides an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; 25 and at least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform: a method according to the another aspect. A yet further aspect provides a system comprising a dynamic display according to 30 one aspect and a service comprising a computer program according to the further aspect. A yet further aspect provides a method of providing information indicative of a state of an apparatus, said apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, said method comprising: providing said apparatus with a display according to one aspect, providing a service with an 5 application comprising a computer program according to another aspect; displaying on said display a machine readable encoded representation of information relating to said apparatus, said information comprising: operational data derived from signals received from said apparatus and indicative of a current state of said apparatus and a link to said service; reading said encoded 10 representation with a user device; transmitting from said user device a request to said service identified by said link, said request comprising said operational data; and receiving from said service and displaying at said user device information regarding said apparatus relevant to said operational data. 15 A yet further aspect provides a dynamic display configured to be linked to an apparatus, said apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, said dynamic display comprising: an input configured to receive signals from said apparatus, at least one of said signals being indicative of a current state of said apparatus; processing circuitry configured to 20 generate a representation of information relating to said apparatus, said information comprising: data relevant to said apparatus said data including operational data derived from said received signal and indicative of a current state of said apparatus, wherein said processing circuitry is configured to periodically update said generated representation; and an output means 25 comprising an electronic display for displaying said representation, said output means being configured to provide said display when powered and when not powered. Providing information on a display associated with a vacuum system apparatus, 30 the information comprising data indicative of the current state of the apparatus and the display comprising electronic paper allows this information to be available even if there is power failure of the apparatus. This means that the information can be accessed without requiring the apparatus to be powered up which might not be appropriate in certain situations such as a fault causing the power down. In some embodiments, said processing circuitry is configured to generate both a 5 machine-readable representation and a person readable representation of said information, said processing circuitry being configured to output at least one of said representations to a display. The electronic display may generate both machine readable representation and a 10 person readable representation and may display both or one or the other of these. In some cases a user may select which of those is to be displayed. In this regard, where the apparatus is within a location where scanning devices are not allowed then a person readable representation would be more useful. If however, scanning apparatus are allowed then a machine readable 15 representation can provide far more information and may be more helpful. In some embodiments, said dynamic display further comprises a local power source. In some embodiments, said local power source comprises a super capacitor. A local power source, may allow for a final update of the status of the 20 machine on power down. The local power source may power control circuitry associated with the dynamic display, the control circuitry may control transmission of an indication of a status of said vacuum pump on detection of a power fail or imminent power fail condition. 25 A further aspect provides a vacuum pump comprising a dynamic display according to a yet further aspect, said vacuum pump control circuitry configured to periodically transmit signals from sensors associated with said vacuum pump to said dynamic display, said control circuitry being further configured on detection of a power fail condition to transmit details of a last known state of said 30 vacuum pump to said display. In some embodiments, the local power supply may be used in a power fail condition to maintain power to the dynamic display for long enough for an indication of the final state of the vacuum pump prior to power fail, to be transmitted to and displayed by the dynamic display. 5 Further particular and preferred aspects are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. 10 Where an apparatus feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be appreciated that this includes an apparatus feature which provides that function or which is adapted or configured to provide that function. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described further, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an example of a machine-readable representation of data displayed according to an embodiment; 20 Figure 2 schematically shows a system comprising an apparatus, display, scanning device and service according to an embodiment; Figure 3 schematically shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method performed at a display according to an embodiment; Figure 4 schematically shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method 25 performed at a service according to an embodiment; Figure 5 schematically shows an electronic paper display according to an embodiment; and Figure 6 shows the electronic display mounted on a vacuum pump. 30 DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Before discussing the embodiments in any more detail, first an overview will be provided. Embodiments provide a display for a vacuum pump, a gas abatement system or a vacuum pressure gauge, whereby a machine-readable encoded representation of information relating to the apparatus perhaps in the form of a QR code is 5 displayed. This information is periodically updated and includes operational data received from the apparatus along in some cases to a link to a service. The service may be an application on the device used to scan the machine-readable representation or it may be a web service. 10 An operator with a device such as a mobile phone can scan the code and where the link is to a web service, this results in the data associated with the code being transmitted to the web service and a web page being opened. The web page that is opened may depend on the operational data and may be a relevant portion of an electronic manual for the apparatus or may be a dynamically created help 15 page. In other embodiments, the service may be an application on the scanning device and the data associated with the code may be decoded and consumed by the application which application may then access the data store to retrieve further relevant material and select relevant information and data to be displayed. The operational data may be stored in a data store associated with the web 20 service or application. All the data may be stored or a subset of the data may be stored. Where the operational data includes an indication of a fault or a service requirement then the incident may be logged or linked to a customer record. In some cases relevant stakeholders such as a service centre may be informed. 25 In summary an operator can open an information rich page via a machine-readable code from a small screen. The display may also provide a means of gathering data from a device where no online connectivity is available. The operational data present in the machine-readable code, may be decoded locally on the scanning device and displayed. It may also be transmitted to a data store 30 and stored. The machine-readable representation may be a QR codes encoding the data. These codes have become ubiquitous in recent years and most smart phones have cameras that will decode them and allow the user to open web pages or perform other actions such as emailing or texting. 5 QR Codes run through versions 1 to 40, where 40 is the largest size and capacity. QR codes also support error correction, so a section (percentage area) of the code can be lost and there will be no data loss on scanning. The data capacity ranges from 26 characters through to 4,296 characters at the lowest io error correction level. Embodiments may use the QR Code to generate a URL (URL) with the addition of encoded error, status or operating data. The QR Code is rendered onto a display and can then be considered as having 2 distinct components : the link to 15 the service, in some cases a URL and the Payload (figure 1). Where the link is a URL (https: / / www.edwardsvacuum.com / qr / ) it will navigate the user to the desired web resource and the Payload can then be ingested by a cloud application and decoded to provide instructions or further information. 20 There are different types of QR Code and embodiments propose using the Alphanumeric type which can encode up to 4,296 characters, as URLs require alphanumeric information. A trade-off is required between the display used to show the QR code, the quality of the QR code scanner (the user’s mobile device) 25 and the volume of data required to provide utility. Embodiments propose encoding vacuum device data into the payload and consume this at an application to produce a customised solution for the customer. 30 The following details can be encoded and a machine-readable representation such as a QR Code generated. The data encoded may include: Serial No. The serial number can be used to query a product database to determine: 5 Product type along with manufacturing date Owner along with any service agreement, which could trigger a service call Firmware Version - Current installed version &revision Parameter Id. - An identity of the parameter set being used Status - This can be decoded for the operator - meaning that instead of a 10 numeric code written sentences and explanations are provided Errors &Warnings On Scanning: • The web page or application will ingest the above information and decode 15 it for the user. There is therefore no need for the user to refer to manuals and tables. • Device health can be monitored e.g. any non-critical warnings can be assessed that may indicate intervention. • Service requirements can be determined with automatic generation of 20 service calls / appointments. • Where errors are present (most likely when the QR will be scanned) a rich troubleshooting page can be generated. Since the process of generating the troubleshooting page may reside off-device, this page can change and be updated as knowledge and understanding of faults and apparatus use develops. 25 Figure 1 shows an example of a machine-readable representation of information relating to the apparatus that is displayed on the display. Machine-readable encoded representation 15 comprises a QR code and within the QR code there is encoded a web address 13 that links to the web service provided by an 30 embodiment along with the data payload 14 which comprises operational data derived from signals received from the apparatus that the display is mounted on or adjacent to. In some cases the data payload may be encrypted and in some cases an error detection code such as a CRC code may be added prior to transmission. This operational data may include data output by sensors, indications of faults or warnings where these readings exceed thresholds and other operational data such as user inputs. The operational data may include 5 both current and historic data relevant to the apparatus. The web service may have a secure access function requiring a login and password to be input prior to allowing access to certain features such as diagnostic information. In some embodiments, current status information may be displayed without requiring additional login credentials. 10 Figure 2 schematically shows a system according to an embodiment. In this system, there is vacuum pump 10 with a dynamic display 11 mounted thereon. Dynamic display 11 comprises processing circuitry 17 and an input 19 for receiving signals from the vacuum pump 10, the dynamic display 11 outputs to 15 output means or display 12 a coded machine-readable representation of information contained in the signals that relate to operational data of the vacuum pump along with a link to a service provided with the display for decoding and interpreting the data and providing additional information. This service may be a web service and the encoded information may include a link to the web service. 20 A user may use a device such as a mobile phone 20 for scanning the machine-readable representation displayed on display 12 and this links to the service and will load a page on the display of the user device 20. Where the service is a web service, it will be provided in the cloud and may comprise a server 30 with processing circuitry 33 which is configured to run a computer program which on 25 receipt of the data payload from the machine-readable representation 15 controls the computer to access a data store 32. Where the data payload is encrypted the server 30 may decrypt the data prior to accessing the data store 32. Where the data payload has an error detecting code, the server 30 may check that the data has not been corrupted prior to accessing the data store 32. Where the service 30 is an application or computer program on the phone itself then the computer program will control processing circuitry on the phone to access data store 32 and retrieve and display relevant data. The data payload may identify the vacuum pump 10 and it may comprise an indication of the operational conditions including perhaps some fault conditions. The processing circuitry will extract from the data store 32 information relevant 5 both to the vacuum pump 10 and to the received operational data and the mobile phone 20 will display this relevant information. In some embodiments, the data store 32 may store one or more sets of maintenance, operational and diagnostic information for a type of apparatus. Thus, processing circuitry 33 will identify the type of vacuum pump 10 and will retrieve the appropriate information. It will then io identify the portion of the information that is relevant to the operational state of the vacuum pump 10 derived from the operational data and display this. For example, it may display fault codes or service information. Where it determines that maintenance is required it may output this to the user 15 device and in some cases it may transmit a message to a service centre indicating that this particular device requires servicing. The message may include operational data relevant to the fault or maintenance requirement. In some cases, it may determine whether the identified device has subscribed to the service contract prior to performing such a step. 20 In some cases, the processing circuitry 33 may transmit the received operational data to the data store 32 where it is stored. In this way, operational data retrieved from a vacuum pump 10 may be uploaded to a remote location via an intermediate device without the requirement for the vacuum pump to have any 25 dedicated connections. The operational data that is collected in this way may be used to improve and update the diagnostic information stored on the data store for that type of apparatus. Figure 3 shows steps in a method performed at a display according to an 30 embodiment. In a first step S10 signals are received from an apparatus, such as a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system. The signals are indicative of the current state of the apparatus. At step S20 processing circuitry within the display generates a machine-readable encoded representation of information relating to the apparatus. This information includes the operational data derived from the received signals along with a link to a service hosting material relevant to the apparatus. At step S30 the generated representation is 5 displayed. The processing circuitry then determines at step D5 whether any further signals have been received. If yes it is determined at step D15 if the update time period has expired. If yes then the method proceeds to S40 where a periodic update of the generated representation is performed. The method then returns to step S30 to display the generated representation. In this way as 10 signals are received and time passes, the displayed representation is periodically updated. Figure 4 schematically illustrates steps performed by a method provided by the service that the link in the display provides access to. At step S100 a request is 15 received at the service that comprises an identifier identifying an apparatus sending the request, the apparatus may be one of a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or a gas abatement system. The request further comprises operational data indicative of a current state of the apparatus. At step S110 the service accesses a data store storing information regarding the identified 20 apparatus and at step S120 it selects from the stored information in dependence upon the received operational data information for output. At step S130 the selected information is output to be displayed to a user. In a further embodiment, the display comprises an electronic paper display which 25 provides a means of displaying data even when not powered. This allows it to continue to display the data that it received prior to the apparatus entering a power down or power-fail condition. The nature of e-paper technology means that once the display information is applied to the screen it will persist without power, providing an operator with information on the last known status of the 30 equipment even when no power is available. The display may display human readable or machine-readable information or both and / or it may swich between the two in response to a user input. It may be that some locations do not allow scanning devices within the location, such that machine-readable representation of the information is not appropriate and providing both or being able to switch between the two enables the display to be used appropriately in different locations with different requirements. 5 Obtaining information from an electronic device when the power is off often requires a source of power and additional hardware. This invention removes that requirement. An operator can read a display for the last status and any error of a device even though no power is present. 10 Embodiments with an electronic paper display provide • Persistent display - with no need for power. • Provides an operator with the status of a device (when in operation) or, status and / or error prior to power failure when no power is present on the device 15 - the information on the display remains without power. • Are available in Bi-Colour (black-white,) tri-colour (black, red and white or black, yellow, and white) or multi-colour (7 colours.) Embodiments use an electronic paper display to provide a means of displaying 20 the last known status or error condition prior to a power-fail condition of a vacuum equipment device. The nature of e-paper technology means that once the display information is applied to the screen it will persist without power, providing an operator with information on the last known status of the equipment even though no power is available. 25 Such a display may be small approximately 60mm x 30mm x 5mm and able to be affixed to a suitable area on a vacuum equipment device. It may be flexible allowing it to be affixed to a curved surface. 30 An example of an electronic paper display is illustrated in figure 5. The device comprises a hardware interface 17 for sending and processing signals received from the vacuum pump, an e-paper display 12 and in this case a (super)capacitor 18. The hardware interface 17 comprises processing circuitry in the form of a microcontroller 17 which acts as the driver for the e-paper display as well as the communications interface to the vacuum pump. The capacitor 18 provides sufficient power reserve to power the microcontroller allowing it to control the 5 display 12 to display an update on a power fail. Communication to the host may be via interface 19 and may be achieved using existing protocols of I2C, SPI or RS232 with a custom designed software protocol. The purpose of the (super)capacitor is to provide power to complete the communications and update the display prior to total power failure. io The display 12 may be utilised during operation to display current operating information. E-paper displays may not be suitable for fast changing data having a relatively slow refresh rate of, but they can be used for any information that does not require updating more quickly than every few seconds. 15 The device 12 is small and affixable to a vacuum device 10 to which it interfaces (figure 6). Depending on the properties of the e-paper display, whether they are fixed or flexible, the device could be placed on flat or curved surfaces. 20 In summary an E- paper display with a small microcontroller may be connected to a host device via a cable such as flat cable 19 (of figure 5). On a power down condition a super capacitor may provide energy for the display to be refreshed prior to power loss. 25 Figure 6 illustrates the dynamic display 12 fitted to a piece of vacuum equipment. 10. The super-capacitor may not be present and indeed may not add value in some cases such as on a turbo-molecular pump that supports power regeneration. 30 The primary advantage of an e- paper display is the persistence of the image. Once an image has been set it does not require power to maintain the display. A local power source may be provided such that on detection of a power fail condition, details of the apparatus’s last known state and error code(s) may be transmitted and displayed. When the power is off the image of the last known status and error will be visible for an operator to view. The display can be fitted to any vacuum related device. 5 A person of skill in the art would readily recognize that steps of various above-described methods can be performed by programmed computers. Herein, some embodiments are also intended to cover program storage devices, e.g., digital data storage media, which are machine or computer readable and encode 10 machine-executable or computer-executable programs of instructions, wherein said instructions perform some or all of the steps of said above-described methods. As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of 15 the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with 20 software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion 25 of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the 30 invention is not limited to the precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. REFERENCE SIGNS 10 vacuum pump 11 dynamic display 12 output means / display 5 13 link 14 data payload 15 QR code 17 processing circuitry / controller 18 local power source io 19 user input 20 mobile phone 30 server 32 data store 33 processing circuitry 15

Claims

1. A dynamic display configured to be linked to an apparatus, said apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, said dynamic display comprising:5 an input configured to receive signals from said apparatus, at least one ofsaid signals being indicative of a current state of said apparatus;processing circuitry configured to generate a machine-readable encoded representation of information relating to said apparatus, said information comprising: data relevant to said apparatus said data comprising operational data io derived from said received signal and a link to a service hosting material relevant to said apparatus, whereinsaid processing circuitry is configured to periodically update said generated representation; andan output means configured to display said representation.

152. A dynamic display according to claim 1, wherein said machine-readable encoded representation is readable by scanning.

3. A dynamic display according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said output means 20 comprises an electronic paper display.

4. A dynamic display according to any preceding claim, wherein said operational data comprises at least one of: data received from sensors associated with said apparatus, user control inputs, configuration data, historic 25 and current fault information, current and historic run data, and maintenance data.

5. A method of dynamically displaying data received from an apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, 30 said method comprising:receiving signals from said apparatus, at least one of said signals being indicative of a current state of said apparatus;generating a machine-readable encoded representation of information relating to said apparatus, said information comprising: data relevant to said apparatus said data comprising operational data derived from said received signal and a link to a service hosting material relevant to said apparatus;5 periodically updating said generated representation in response to saidreceived signals; andoutputting said representation.

6. A computer program comprising computer readable instructions which io when executed by a computer are configured to control said computer to perform a method according to claim 5.

7. A method comprising:receiving a request comprising an identifier identifying an apparatus15 comprising one of vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system and further comprising operational data indicative of a current state of said apparatus:accessing a data store storing information for said identified apparatus;selecting from said stored information, in dependence upon said received 20 operational data, information for output; andoutputting said selected information to be displayed to a user.

8. A method according to claim 7,wherein said data store stores at least some of use, maintenance,25 operational and diagnostic information relevant for a type of apparatus that is the same type of apparatus as said apparatus, and said method comprises selecting and outputting for display at least one portion of said information in dependence upon said received operational data.30 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein where said operational datacomprises a warning indicating a potential fault condition said at least one portion comprises information on how to recover from said fault condition.

10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said information comprises operational or maintenance advice.5 11. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said data storecomprises a plurality of files of information for a plurality of different types of apparatus, said method comprises selecting a relevant file as a source of said information to be selected from and output in dependence upon said identifier.io 12. A method to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein said method comprises determining from said operational data whether a repair or a service is required and where so generating and outputting an indication of the requirement.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said indication that is output15 comprise one of:a displayed user input link that when activated sends a message comprising at least some of said operational to a service centre; ora message comprising at least some of said operational to be output to a service centre.2014. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein said method comprises storing said received operational data in a data store.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said data store stores25 operational data collected from a plurality of apparatus of a same type, at least one of maintenance, operational and diagnostic information for said type of apparatus being dynamically updated by an algorithm as data is collected.

16. A method according to claim 15, said method comprising analysing30 collected data from said plurality of apparatus of the same type and using an algorithm to update said at least one of said maintenance, operational and diagnostic information.

17. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 16, wherein said received operational data is encrypted and said method comprises decrypting said operational data.

518. A computer program comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a computer are configured to control said computer to perform a method according to any one of claims 7 to 17.io 19. An apparatus comprisingat least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform:a method according to any one of claims 7 to 17.1520. A system comprising a dynamic display according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a service comprising a computer program according to claim 18.

21. A method of providing information indicative of a state of an apparatus,20 said apparatus comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, said method comprising:providing said apparatus with a display according to any one of claims 1 to 4.providing a service with an application comprising a computer program25 according to claim 18;displaying on said display a machine-readable encoded representation of information relating to said apparatus, said information comprising: operational data derived from signals received from said apparatus and indicative of a current state of said apparatus and a link to said service;30 reading said encoded representation with a user device;transmitting from said user device a request to said service identified by said link, said request comprising said operational data; andreceiving from said service and displaying at said user device information regarding said apparatus relevant to said operational data.

22. A dynamic display configured to be linked to an apparatus, said apparatus 5 comprising a vacuum pump, vacuum pressure gauge or gas abatement system, said dynamic display comprising:an input configured to receive signals from said apparatus, at least one of said signals being indicative of a current state of said apparatus;processing circuitry configured to generate a representation of information io relating to said apparatus, said information comprising: data relevant to saidapparatus said data including operational data derived from said received signal and indicative of a current state of said apparatus, whereinsaid processing circuitry is configured to periodically update said generated representation; and15 an output means comprising an electronic paper display for displaying saidrepresentation, said output means being configured to provide said display when powered and when not powered.

23. A dynamic display according to claim 3 or 22, wherein said processing 20 circuitry is configured to generate both a machine-readable representation and a person readable representation of said information, said processing circuitry being configured to output at least one of said representations to a display.

24. A dynamic display according to claim 3 or 22, wherein said dynamic 25 display further comprises a local power source.

25. A vacuum pump comprising a dynamic display according to any one of claims 22 to 24 and control circuitry, said control circuitry being configured to periodically transmit signals from sensors associated with said vacuum pump to 30 said dynamic display, said control circuitry being further configured on detection of a power fail condition to transmit details of a last known state of said vacuum pump to said display.

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