Mechanical Equipment Control Interface for Reliable Manual Inching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mechanical equipment control systems, portable operation terminals with small screens make it difficult to perform operations reliably due to increased imaginary operation switches and potential time lags in wireless communication, especially when fine movements or inching operations are required.
Innovation Solution
A control system with a manual operation means, a portable operation assistance terminal, and a communication means that transmits a mechanical equipment identification signal, allowing the terminal to display a manual operation assistance screen for selecting and controlling devices, enabling physical operation of actual switches rather than imaginary ones, reducing time lag and errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a portable operation terminal with a small screen is used to manually operate mechanical equipment, then the equipment cost is significantly decreased, but the operator finds it difficult to perform operations reliably and accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The operation interface is segmented into two parts: virtual operation switches on the portable terminal screen for selection, and physical operation switches on the mechanical equipment for final actuation. This segmentation allows the terminal to provide flexible access while the physical switches provide reliable operation, resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and operation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable operation terminal acts as an intermediary device that transmits operation signals from the operator to the mechanical equipment. It mediates between the operator's intent and the equipment's response, enabling cost-effective operation while maintaining reliability through the supplementary physical switches.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication means is used to connect the portable operation terminal and the control device, then the equipment flexibility is improved, but time lag occurs between operation and actual movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing wireless communication channels and pre-positioning the portable operation terminal near the mechanical equipment. This allows operation signals to be transmitted with minimal delay, reducing the perceived time lag while maintaining flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of operation switches is increased on the portable terminal screen, then more control functions are available, but it becomes more difficult to perform operations without fail
Solution Approach 1:
The operation switches are segmented between the portable terminal screen and the mechanical equipment. The terminal displays virtual switches for selection, while the equipment provides physical switches for confirmation. This segmentation distributes the complexity, allowing comprehensive control functions while maintaining operational reliability through tactile feedback on physical switches.
Solution Approach 2:
Different qualities are applied to different parts of the operation interface: the portable terminal provides visual display with flexible layout for comprehensive control functions, while the mechanical equipment provides tactile physical switches for reliable local operation. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between comprehensive control and operational accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
This control system for mechanical equipment is provided with: a manual operation means (5) provided with a minimum required number of operation switches (6), (7) and a mechanical equipment identification signal transmission unit (11) for transmitting a mechanical equipment identification signal that identifies mechanical equipment; an operation assistance terminal (30) in which the mechanical equipment identification signal received from the transmission unit (11) is used as a basis to display a manual operation assistance screen comprising a manually operated device selection section and a control content display section that displays control content assigned to the operation switches of the manual operation means (5) for a selected manually operated device; and a control device (28) that connects the control unit of an identified control target device and the operation switches of the manual operation means (5) by receiving a control target device switching signal (35) identified by operation of the manually operated device selection section.