Industrial HMI Multi-Touch Input to Prevent Inadvertent Commands
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial distributed control systems, ruggedized human-machine interfaces (HMIs) with dense graphical displays and controls are prone to unintended touch errors due to harsh and crowded environments, leading to operational mistakes and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'Land and Tap' input method on touch-screen HMIs, where multiple touch inputs are required to trigger commands, such as placing a finger near and tapping on a control button, to prevent accidental activations and ensure intentional operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single touch input is used to trigger commands on the HMI, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to unintended touch errors in dense display environments
Solution Approach 1:
The touch input operation is segmented into two distinct phases: a first touch input phase and a second touch input phase. The command is only executed when both phases are completed in sequence, with the first touch initiating the operation and the second touch confirming it. This segmentation prevents accidental executions while maintaining ease of use through intuitive gesture-based interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The first touch input serves as a preliminary action that prepares the system for command execution without actually triggering it. The system enters a waiting state after the first touch, allowing the operator to confirm or cancel the intended action with a second touch. This preliminary action mechanism prevents unintended commands while keeping the interface responsive and easy to operate.
2Reliability
If multiple touch inputs are required to trigger commands, then the reliability is improved by preventing accidental activations, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased input steps
Solution Approach 1:
The HMI interface dynamically adapts its responsiveness based on the touch input sequence. After the first touch input, the system enters a dynamic waiting state where it monitors for a second touch input within a specified time window. The interface updates in real-time to reflect the current operational state, providing visual feedback that guides the operator through the two-phase process, thereby maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate visual feedback after each touch input to guide the operator through the two-phase command execution process. The display updates to show whether the system is waiting for confirmation or has successfully executed the command. This feedback mechanism makes the additional input step feel natural and intuitive, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If the HMI display is densely arranged with multiple controls, then the productivity is improved by providing comprehensive control access, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of inadvertent touches
Solution Approach 1:
The command execution process is segmented into initiation and confirmation phases, where the first touch initiates the command and the second touch confirms it. This segmentation ensures that even in densely arranged displays where inadvertent touches may occur, the command will not execute unless deliberately confirmed by a second touch input, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving comprehensive control access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by requiring a confirmation step before executing commands. The first touch input is countered by a required second touch input that must be deliberately performed to confirm the intended action. This preliminary anti-action mechanism prevents inadvertent command execution while allowing comprehensive control functionality to be accessed through the dense display arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplified methods and systems provide a graphical HMI having an interface that mitigate or prevent touch errors and/or inadvertent touches through the use of multiple touch inputs, at a graphical user interface, of a touch-screen input device, to trigger an associated user interface command. In some embodiments, the multiple touch inputs comprise an input at two locations, one in relative association, with a displayed interface command, to trigger the command.