Diagram to Application Engineering Element Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial process control and automation, application engineering often consumes significant resources due to the need for creating control strategies and display screens using standard or non-standard process and instrumentation diagrams, which require substantial engineering effort and include many application engineering elements.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for converting diagrams into application engineering elements by generating a graph representing diagram elements, identifying reference points and line directions, comparing these graphs to application engineering elements, and creating a meta file to match diagram elements with their corresponding application engineering counterparts, thereby simplifying the engineering process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual application engineering is performed for control strategies and display screens, then engineering precision and reliability are improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates graphical representations (graphs) that copy the essential structural and relational features of diagram elements. These graphs serve as intermediate representations that can be automatically processed and converted into application engineering elements, eliminating manual engineering while preserving the necessary design precision through faithful structural copying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms diagram elements by changing their representation parameters - converting visual diagram elements into graph structures with nodes and edges, extracting structural parameters (connections, positions, orientations) that can be automatically processed. This parameter transformation enables automated conversion while maintaining engineering quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If comprehensive diagram analysis is performed to ensure accurate conversion, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of diagram-to-application conversion into distinct processing stages: obtaining diagram information, generating graphs from diagram elements, comparing graphs to application engineering elements, and creating meta files. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by breaking down the conversion process into manageable, specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces graphs as an intermediary representation between diagram elements and application engineering elements. This intermediary structure simplifies the conversion process by providing a standardized intermediate form that facilitates accurate matching and conversion, reducing both complexity and improving precision.
3Productivity
If automated conversion is implemented, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical engineering processes with automated computational processing. Graph generation algorithms and automated comparison mechanisms substitute for manual diagram analysis and application engineering, dramatically improving productivity while maintaining precision through systematic, rule-based processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses graph structures to copy and preserve the essential structural relationships of diagram elements. This faithful copying ensures that automated processing maintains the same level of accuracy as manual engineering by preserving all critical structural and relational information in the graph representation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes obtaining information defining a diagram that contains a diagram element graphically representing a component of an industrial process control and automation system. The method also includes generating a graph representing the diagram element by identifying reference points in the diagram element, identifying at least one direction of each of multiple lines in the diagram element, and forming the graph using the at least one direction of each line and the reference points. The method further includes comparing the graph of the diagram element to one or more graphs of one or more application engineering elements. In addition, the method includes generating a meta file identifying a position of the diagram element in the diagram and the application engineering element that most closely matches the diagram element.