3D Plant Component Retrieval via Symbol-Based Screen Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators face difficulty in finding design materials for plant components due to the large number of components and the need to know the model name or number, and existing technologies do not easily allow recognition of spatial positions of components.
Innovation Solution
A component information retrieval device that displays a simulated system screen with symbols representing components, allowing users to select symbols and view three-dimensional plant models with emphasized component models, enabling easy access to component information without inputting model names or numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the operator refers to design materials using model names or model numbers, then the operator can access component information, but it becomes difficult to find the correct design material among the large amount of design materials due to the massive number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a three-dimensional virtual copy of the actual plant that replicates the spatial arrangement of components. This virtual model allows operators to visually locate components in three-dimensional space without needing to know model names or numbers, thereby improving both retrieval accuracy and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional system screens to three-dimensional virtual models for component representation. This dimensional enhancement provides operators with spatial context and visual cues, making it easier to identify and retrieve information about specific components without relying on model names or numbers
2Loss of information
If the operator operates the simulator to know the spatial position of the component, then the operator can recognize the actual spatial positional relationship, but the operator cannot easily know the spatial position without first knowing the operation of the simulator
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic highlighting of the selected component in the three-dimensional virtual model when the operator selects a component on the system screen. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for operators to learn complex simulator operations, as the system automatically presents spatial position information through visual highlighting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes and visual highlighting in the three-dimensional virtual model to indicate the selected component. When an operator selects a component on the system screen, the corresponding component in the virtual model is highlighted with different colors or visual effects, making spatial position immediately recognizable without requiring knowledge of simulator operations
3Ease of operation
If the system screen displays only symbols representing components, then the screen remains simple and readable, but the operator cannot recognize the actual spatial positional relationship between components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two-dimensional system screen with a three-dimensional virtual model display. The system screen maintains its simplicity with symbols for readability, while the three-dimensional virtual model is displayed alongside or integrated with it, providing spatial positional relationship information without compromising the readability of the system screen
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a three-dimensional dimension to the traditional two-dimensional system screen by displaying a three-dimensional virtual model of the plant. This allows operators to view both the simplified symbolic representation and the spatial arrangement simultaneously, preserving screen readability while adding spatial context
Data Source
AI summary
A system display control unit causes a display unit to display a simulated system screen. A symbol selection unit receives a selection of a symbol from a user. A model display control unit causes the display unit to display a plant model in which a component model corresponding to the component represented by the selected symbol is emphasized. A model selection unit receives a selection of a component model from the user. A component information display control unit causes the display unit to display information about the component represented by the selected model.