Causal Model Display for Faster Production Abnormality Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

In production facilities, identifying and addressing abnormalities can be delayed due to the need for manual investigation, which hinders timely resolution.

Innovation Solution

A display system that includes a control unit, display unit, and storage unit to visualize causal relationships between components, allowing users to select modes for detailed or grouped node displays, facilitating swift identification of abnormality-related components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If all nodes are displayed in the causal relationship model, then detailed component information is provided, but the overall picture becomes complex and difficult to grasp

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetail informationVSAvoidmodel complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the causal relationship model into multiple hierarchical levels. The first level displays grouped nodes representing major components or systems, while the second level allows expansion to show detailed individual nodes within each group. This hierarchical segmentation enables users to view either the overall system structure or detailed component information depending on their needs, resolving the contradiction between detail and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If manual investigation is performed to identify abnormality causes, then accurate diagnosis is achieved, but time is lost delaying resolution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnosis accuracyVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the causal relationship model that maps connections between components and potential abnormality sources. When an abnormality occurs, the system immediately displays the relevant portion of the pre-built model, allowing operators to quickly identify potential causes without performing manual investigation. This pre-prepared knowledge structure enables rapid response while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary - the causal relationship model display interface - that mediates between the complex facility data and the operator. Instead of requiring operators to manually investigate and analyze raw data, the system processes information through the causal model intermediary, which presents processed, meaningful relationships that guide operators directly to potential abnormality sources, reducing both time and cognitive load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the causal relationship model is displayed in grouped mode, then the overall picture is easier to grasp, but detailed component information is less visible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverview visibilityVSAvoidcomponent detail
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the display mode changeable based on user interaction. The system allows operators to switch between grouped view (for overview) and expanded view (for details) dynamically. This dynamic adaptability enables the same interface to serve both purposes: maintaining ease of operation through grouped display while preventing information loss by allowing on-demand access to detailed component information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4194981B1Display system, display method, and display program
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 OMRON CORP
  • EP4194981B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4194981B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4194981B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display system according to the present invention is a display system to be provided in a production facility that produces products and includes, as components, at least one driving means for driving the production facility and at least one monitoring means for monitoring the production, the display system including: a control unit; a display unit; and a storage unit. The storage unit is configured to store a relationship between two or more components of the plurality of components as a causal relationship model regarding an abnormality that may occur in the production facility, and the control unit is configured to: display, on the display unit, a model diagram that has nodes corresponding to the components and one or more edges connecting the nodes to each other, based on the causal relationship model; and in response to a request from a user, display the model diagram in either a first mode in which all the nodes are displayed, or a second mode in which the nodes are divided into a predetermined number of groups based on a predetermined criterion and the groups are displayed as nodes.