Adaptable HMI Components for Industrial Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial control systems face challenges in interoperability and complexity, leading to high integration costs and delays due to limited consistency between products from different vendors, requiring engineers to focus on low-level technical details rather than functional requirements, and lacking efficient mechanisms for system configuration and management.
Innovation Solution
Adaptable human machine interface (HMI) components that interact with logical modules, providing variable interface capabilities based on user type and module application, hiding internal interfaces and logic while offering standard interfaces to external systems, allowing for efficient interaction and reduced costs by focusing on current user needs and system states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple products from different vendors are integrated, then system functionality and capabilities are improved, but interoperability and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal module interface architecture where diverse I/O modules (discrete, analog, communication, etc.) are standardized through a common interface definition. This allows modules from different vendors to be integrated into a unified control system without requiring vendor-specific programming or configuration, resolving the interoperability complexity while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary layer between the diverse I/O modules and the higher-level computing systems. It provides a standardized interface that translates and manages communications from various module types, enabling interoperability without requiring direct integration between incompatible components.
2Ease of manufacture
If engineers focus on low-level technical details and integration, then system integration capability is improved, but productivity and time to market deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The module interface architecture is pre-defined and standardized before system integration begins. Interface definitions, communication protocols, and data structures are established in advance, allowing engineers to rapidly integrate modules without performing complex low-level configuration or adaptation work during the integration phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into independent, standardized modules with clearly defined interfaces. This modular architecture allows engineers to work with discrete functional units rather than monolithic systems, reducing integration complexity and accelerating time to market through parallel development and testing.
3Manufacturing precision
If HMI provides detailed internal interfaces and logic, then system control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The HMI provides different levels of interface detail based on user needs and context. Standard users interact with high-level functional interfaces, while authorized personnel can access detailed internal logic and configuration. This localized quality of information presentation maintains simplicity for most users while preserving access to precise control mechanisms when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The HMI interface dynamically adapts its level of detail based on user role, operational context, and system state. It transitions between simplified operational views and detailed technical views as needed, providing ease of operation for routine tasks while enabling precise control when required by the situation or user authorization.
Data Source
AI summary
A human machine interface (HMI) interface for an industrial automation system is provided. A module is provided that employs resources and logic to expose functionality of the module while providing generic interfaces to external components of the module. A human machine interface (HMI) component associated with the module adapts functionality of a display based at least in part on a type of user or application. In addition to the display, the HMI component adapts functionality of one or more interface inputs based in part on the type of user or application.