Field Device Maintenance Apparatus Parameter Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field device maintenance is cumbersome and error-prone due to the increasing number of parameters, requiring workers to sift through all displayed parameters to find those that need to be changed, leading to a heavy burden and potential mistakes.
Innovation Solution
A field device maintenance apparatus that communicates with field devices to display only parameters marked as changeable, using a portable recording medium for work instructions and parameter attributes, preventing unchangeable parameters from being altered and simplifying the reporting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all parameters of the field device are displayed on the maintenance tool, then the worker can access complete information, but the worker must sift through all parameters to find those that need to be changed, increasing the burden and time required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and displays only the specific parameters that need to be changed for maintenance, rather than showing all parameters. The control unit determines which parameters are relevant based on maintenance type and work instructions, extracting only necessary information from the complete parameter set to reduce search time and burden on workers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the parameter display into different categories or groups based on maintenance requirements. Parameters are divided into those that need to be changed and those that don't, with only the relevant segments being prominently displayed or highlighted to guide the worker efficiently
2Ease of operation
If all parameters are displayed and editable, then the worker has full access to modify any parameter, but the worker may accidentally change parameters that should not be modified, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parameters based on their maintenance relevance. Parameters that need to be changed are marked as editable with appropriate visual indicators, while parameters that should not be changed are marked as read-only or hidden. This local differentiation of editability ensures workers can easily identify which parameters are safe to modify without accidentally changing protected parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit preliminarily determines and marks which parameters are editable before the worker attempts to modify them. Based on the maintenance type and work instructions, the system pre-identifies acceptable parameter changes and sets their editability status, preventing workers from accidentally modifying parameters that should remain unchanged
3Loss of information
If the maintenance tool displays all parameters, then complete device information is available, but the increasing number of parameters with increasing device functionality creates a heavier burden on workers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary parameters relevant to the current maintenance task from the complete set of device parameters. The control unit filters out irrelevant parameters based on maintenance type and work instructions, presenting only the essential subset to the worker. This extraction approach maintains access to complete device information while reducing the operational complexity workers face
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the parameter display dynamic by adapting it to the specific maintenance context. The control unit dynamically determines which parameters to display and how to present them based on the maintenance type, work instructions, and device state. This dynamic adaptation reduces complexity by showing only relevant parameters for each maintenance scenario rather than a static display of all parameters
Data Source
AI summary
A field device maintenance apparatus includes a field device connection unit that communicates with a field device whose operation contents are defined by parameters; a work-information acquisition unit that acquires parameter attribute information including whether or not the individual parameters are displayable and work instruction information that shows work contents; a display unit that displays one or more of the parameters of the field device depending on whether or not the individual parameters are displayable according to the parameter attribute information; an operation accepting unit that accepts a changing operation for changing one or more of the parameters displayed by the display unit; and an operation-history-information recording unit that records a history of operations accepted by the operation accepting unit.