Agricultural Vehicle Display Unit for Parameter Change Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural working vehicles, such as combine harvesters, face challenges in determining the impact of setting parameter changes on work results due to complex and non-linear relationships between parameters, leading to difficulties in assessing the effectiveness of adjustments and potential time delays, which existing display units fail to clearly represent.

Innovation Solution

A display unit that simultaneously shows the original and changed values of operating parameters using visual indicators like color or fill patterns to directly relate changes, allowing operators to assess the relevance and magnitude of changes, and includes real-time updates and storage for setting parameter adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a display unit shows only current operating parameter values, then the display is simple and clear, but the operator cannot assess the impact of parameter changes on work results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about parameter change impactVSAvoiddisplay unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit is segmented into multiple display regions: a first display region showing the original operating parameter value and a second display region showing the changed operating parameter value. This segmentation allows simultaneous presentation of before-and-after states without overwhelming the operator, resolving the contradiction by organizing information spatially rather than temporally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from displaying only current values (one-dimensional time display) to displaying both original and changed values simultaneously (two-dimensional spatial display). By adding the dimension of spatial arrangement with visual indicators like color coding and graphical representations, the system provides comprehensive information without increasing temporal complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If the display unit shows detailed changes in operating parameters, then the operator can assess parameter impact, but the display becomes complex and harder to interpret quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about parameter change magnitudeVSAvoidease of quick assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs color changes as visual indicators to represent the direction and magnitude of parameter changes. Color-coded graphical elements (e.g., green for improvement, red for deterioration) allow operators to instantly grasp the impact of parameter changes without analyzing numerical data, resolving the contradiction by translating complex information into intuitive visual signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses graphical representations with varying dimensions (such as bar lengths or area sizes) to visually encode the magnitude of parameter changes. These visual elements dynamically adjust their properties based on the extent of change, providing immediate quantitative assessment without requiring numerical interpretation, thus maintaining ease of operation while conveying detailed information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Productivity

If the display unit provides comprehensive feedback on parameter changes, then optimization is facilitated, but the time to process and display information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimization speedVSAvoidtime for parameter assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit prepares and displays both the original and changed parameter values simultaneously before the operator needs to make an assessment. By pre-processing and presenting all relevant information in a ready-to-analyze format with visual indicators, the system eliminates sequential processing delays, allowing immediate optimization decisions without time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2220925B1Agricultural vehicle and display unit for same
Publication Date: 2016.01.06 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP2220925B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2220925B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2220925B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A display unit for an agricultural work vehicle is provided for displaying at least one operating parameter of the work vehicle that is variable depending on one or more setting parameters of the work vehicle. The display unit is configured to indicate a change (43; 45; 47; 49) in the operating parameter resulting from a change in at least one of the setting parameters.