Dynamic Machine-Readable Indicia for Industrial Automation Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial automation systems lack effective methods for dynamically updating machine-readable indicia to provide accurate and up-to-date information about components, hindering data retrieval and analysis for technicians.

Innovation Solution

An industrial automation component with an electronic display and processor that generates and updates machine-readable indicia based on connection data, authentication data, and operational data, allowing for real-time display of changes such as new device connections or software updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If machine-readable indicia are statically displayed on industrial automation components, then the information is simple to retrieve, but the data becomes outdated quickly and requires manual updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic machine-readable indicia that automatically update their content based on real-time operational data, connection status, and authentication information from industrial automation components. This transforms static display elements into dynamic information sources that reflect current system state without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the electronic display continuously receives updated data from the industrial automation component's processor and refreshes the machine-readable indicia accordingly. This ensures the displayed information always reflects the current operational state, maintaining data accuracy through automatic feedback-driven updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If machine-readable indicia are updated in real-time to reflect operational changes, then data accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation reliabilityVSAvoidcomponent complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into a single electronic display system: displaying machine-readable indicia, updating operational status information, showing connection data, presenting authentication credentials, and providing diagnostic information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while maintaining high information reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-updating capabilities where the electronic display automatically retrieves and displays updated information from the industrial automation component without external intervention. The display serves itself by continuously monitoring and reflecting system state changes, eliminating the need for manual updates while ensuring information reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If multiple types of data are embedded in machine-readable indicia for comprehensive information retrieval, then data completeness is improved, but the scanning and processing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddata scanning difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments comprehensive operational data into distinct, organized categories within the machine-readable indicia, including operational parameters, connection status, authentication information, and diagnostic data. This structured segmentation allows scanning devices to efficiently locate and process specific information types without being overwhelmed by data volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system organizes multiple data types in a hierarchical or layered structure within the machine-readable indicia, allowing scanning devices to access information at different levels of detail. This dimensional organization enables efficient data retrieval by permitting selective reading of summary information or detailed parameters based on scanning depth and device capabilities.

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

Data Source

PatentUS20240094708A1Systems and methods for dynamically updating machine-readable indicia for industrial automation components
Publication Date: 2024.03.21 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC
  • US20240094708A1 patent drawing
  • US20240094708A1 patent drawing
  • US20240094708A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An industrial automation component includes an electronic display that displays machine-readable indicia. The machine readable-indicia may be scanned by an image sensor. The industrial automation component also includes a processor communicatively coupled to the electronic display. The processor receives data associated with the industrial automation component and generates a first machine-readable indicia based on the data. The first machine-readable indicia may be displayed via the electronic display. The processor also receives updated data associated with the industrial automation component and generates a second machine-readable indicia based on the updated data. The second machine-readable indicia may be displayed via the electronic display.