Manipulable Curve Sections for Process Control Trend Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing process control systems face challenges in efficiently searching and comparing complex curves for anomaly diagnosis, problem-solving, and optimization due to difficulties in locating desired curve shapes within databases, which often require cumbersome navigation and manual adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A user terminal equipped with a processor that allows users to manipulate points on a curve section, enabling changes to the curve shape directly, and apply the modified curve as an input for operations within the process control system, facilitating efficient searching and simulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users manually search through historical trends to find similar curve shapes, then they can locate desired curves for comparison, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurve shape matching accuracyVSAvoidtime to locate desired curve
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-processes historical trend data and stores it in a database with metadata that enables quick retrieval. When a user needs to find similar curves, the system can rapidly search and compare against pre-organized historical data, eliminating the need for manual scrolling and visual comparison of entire trend histories.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical searching (scrolling through trends, visually comparing curves) with an automated computer-based search system. The processor automatically retrieves historical trends from the database, compares curve shapes using algorithms, and presents matching results to the user, substituting manual effort with automated computational processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the system provides extensive curve searching capabilities, then users can find desired curve shapes more accurately, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurve shape matching accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the curve shape comparison functionality into a separate, dedicated module within the user terminal. This extraction allows the complex searching and comparison algorithms to be isolated from the rest of the process control system, making the overall system architecture more manageable while providing advanced capabilities where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates simplified representations or models of complex curve shapes for comparison purposes. By working with extracted features or simplified curve models rather than entire historical trend datasets, the system reduces computational complexity while maintaining the ability to accurately identify and compare curve shape characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Loss of information

If users need to compare multiple parameters in complex trends, then comprehensive analysis is achieved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring desired patterns increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completeness in trend analysisVSAvoiddifficulty of locating desired curve shape
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex multi-parameter trend data into individual parameter curves that can be separately analyzed and compared. The system can retrieve and display specific parameter trends from historical data, allowing users to focus on individual parameter patterns while maintaining the ability to access complete multi-parameter information when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different analysis methods or comparison criteria to different parameter curves based on their specific characteristics. Each parameter can be searched and compared using methods optimized for its nature, while the integrated system maintains comprehensive information about all parameters, allowing localized optimization of detection methods without losing overall information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4330776B1Use of a curve section in a process control system
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4330776B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4330776B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4330776B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A user terminal for a process control system obtains a first curve of a detected physical quantity (Q) of a piece of process control equipment in the process control system, where the first curve comprises points with values of the physical quantity (Q) at various time instances, provides at least one of the points in a section of the first curve as a manipulable point (P1, P2, P3, P4) that a user can change, receives from the user a change of at least one of the manipulable points in the section, thereby changing the section of the first curve (C1'), and applies the changed section of the first curve (C1') as an input to an operation in the process control system.