Agricultural Machine Display Segmentation for Operator Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural machine displays overwhelm operators with excessive information, leading to sensory overload and difficulty in orientation due to constantly changing layouts and unnecessary information visualization.

Innovation Solution

A touchscreen monitor is divided into visualization areas, allowing independent editing and navigation through horizontal and vertical scrolling, with context-relevant parameters displayed and rapid menu level transitions using touchscreen functions, including two-finger gestures for zooming and scrolling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If all machine parameters are visualized on the display, then complete information availability is achieved, but sensory overload and difficulty in orientation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidoperator orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into multiple visualization areas (first visualization area for work phase parameters, second visualization area for tool parameters, third visualization area for machine status). This segmentation allows operators to view different parameter groups in separate regions, preventing information overload while maintaining comprehensive information availability. Each area can be independently configured and scrolled, enabling focused attention on specific parameter sets without being overwhelmed by the entire parameter set simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If multiple display windows are activated simultaneously, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but screen layout constantly changes causing orientation difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoidscreen orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The visualization areas are designed to be dynamically scrollable and independently movable. When one visualization area is scrolled or moved, other areas remain stable in their positions. This dynamic design allows comprehensive monitoring of multiple parameter sets while maintaining stable spatial orientation, as each area can be independently adjusted without causing layout shifts in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If extensive information is displayed in each visualization area, then detailed parameter monitoring is achieved, but rapid navigation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter detailVSAvoidnavigation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Each visualization area is segmented into multiple scrollable regions containing different parameter groups. This segmentation enables rapid navigation through extensive information by allowing operators to scroll through specific areas independently, rather than searching through a single large display. The segmented structure maintains detailed parameter information while enabling quick access to different parameter sets through independent scrolling of each visualization area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If context-relevant parameters are selectively visualized, then sensory overload is reduced, but information completeness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation clarityVSAvoidparameter completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Different visualization areas are assigned different quality characteristics based on their purpose. The first visualization area displays work phase parameters with high detail, the second area displays tool parameters with moderate detail, and the third area displays machine status with summary information. This local quality differentiation allows context-relevant parameters to be prominently displayed in each area while maintaining overall information completeness across all areas, reducing sensory overload while preserving parameter completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4231128B1Display device for agricultural machines
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP4231128B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4231128B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4231128B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electronic operating and display unit (8) with at least one display (18) comprising a touchscreen monitor (21) and at least one operating unit (22, 23), wherein the display (18) has a plurality of visualization areas (32, 33, 37, 38, 46, 47) comprising visualization content (58) and the touchscreen monitor (21) associated with the display (18) is divided into visualization areas (32, 33, 37, 38, 46, 47), wherein the visualization content (58) of each visualization area (32, 33, 37, 38, 46, 47) can be edited independently of the visualization content (58) of the other visualization areas (32, 33, 37, 38, 46, 47) by means of available touchscreen functions (59).