HMI Piping Overlap Detection and Visual Marking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial systems require effective visualization of complex piping connections, but existing technologies struggle to accurately represent overlapping pipes in a way that maintains visual clarity and allows for easy customization of diagrams to show multiple connections simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A pipe interface system that determines overlap between pipe data objects and renders visual indications of separation, enabling users to combine pipes into a single object, updating the rendering to maintain clarity and consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple pipe connections are rendered simultaneously in the diagram, then the completeness of system representation is improved, but the visual clarity of conduits and connections deteriorates due to overlapping pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes and visual markings to differentiate overlapping pipes. When pipes overlap in the diagram, the system renders them with distinct visual characteristics such as different colors, patterns, or transparency levels, allowing users to distinguish between multiple connections while maintaining complete system representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual dimensionality through markings and rendering techniques that indicate the spatial relationship of overlapping pipes. By adding visual layers such as dashed lines, transparency effects, or elevation indicators, the system represents three-dimensional pipe arrangements in a two-dimensional diagram without sacrificing clarity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the diagram is customized to show many connections, then the comprehensiveness of industrial process flow representation is improved, but the ability to keep conduits visually clear and separate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic rendering that automatically adjusts visual markings based on the number and arrangement of pipe connections. As users customize the diagram to include more connections, the system dynamically applies appropriate visual differentiation techniques, such as increasing transparency, adding markers, or adjusting line styles, to maintain visual clarity throughout the customization process.
3Device complexity
If overlapping pipes are rendered without visual indication, then the simplicity of rendering is maintained, but the accuracy of representing pipe separation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rendering process into distinct detection and rendering phases. The system first detects overlapping pipe segments through coordinate analysis, then applies visual markings only to the specific portions where overlap occurs. This segmented approach maintains rendering simplicity for non-overlapping pipes while ensuring accurate representation of pipe separation where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface system generates interfaces for visualizing human-machine interactions including piping systems. The interface system receives, as input, parameters describing a first pipe data object and a second pipe data object. The pipe data objects can be diagrams representing physical piping in an industrial system. Using the parameters of the first and second pipe data objects, the system determines whether images of the pipes in the interface will overlap. When the system renders vector graphic images of the first pipe data object and the second pipe data object, the second pipe data object is rendered with markings that provide a visual indication that the two pipes overlap and are not connected. The interface system further enables a user to edit the piping diagram to combine the first and second pipe data objects into a single combined pipe data object and updates the rendered images for display.