Measurement Control Device Two-Stage Help Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measurement control devices face challenges in providing sufficient help information efficiently, especially when dealing with a large number of functional components on the operation screen, leading to complex operations and limited visibility.
Innovation Solution
A measurement control device with a two-stage help function, featuring a help mode button that switches between normal and help display modes, displaying help icons associated with functional components, a summary description field, and a detail display button to access detailed descriptions in a separate window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If help information is displayed in a separate window with table of contents, then sufficient help information can be provided, but complicated operations are necessary to reach the desired item
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads and displays a table of contents in a dedicated help window, allowing users to immediately access the help structure without navigating through multiple screens. The table of contents is prepared in advance and made available for direct selection, eliminating the need for sequential navigation through operation screens to reach help information.
Solution Approach 2:
The help system is divided into two distinct parts: a table of contents window and detailed help content. This segmentation allows users to first access the structured overview in the table of contents window, then drill down to specific topics without cluttering the main operation screen, thus providing complete information while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If help mode buttons are provided near each functional component, then help information can be accessed easily, but the operation screen becomes complicated with many buttons
Solution Approach 1:
A single help window serves multiple functions: it displays a comprehensive table of contents, provides navigation to different help topics, and delivers detailed information for various functional components. This universal help window replaces the need for multiple individual help buttons scattered across the screen, maintaining ease of access while reducing visual complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The table of contents window acts as an intermediary between the user and the detailed help information for various functional components. Instead of placing help buttons directly on each component (which would clutter the screen), the intermediary table of contents provides centralized access to all help topics, simplifying the main operation screen while preserving easy help access.
3Ease of operation
If comment field is used to display help information, then help can be displayed on screen, but the field size is limited and sufficient help information cannot be displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The help system transitions from a two-dimensional limited comment field to a dedicated help window with extended dimensions. The help window provides sufficient vertical and horizontal space to display comprehensive help information, detailed descriptions, and structured content without the spatial constraints of inline comment fields, while maintaining on-screen accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement control device includes a screen interface and controls a measurement operation of a measurement machine through the screen interface, the measurement control device including: a normal display screen that forms a part of the screen interface; one or more functional components provided on the normal display screen; a help mode button provided on a part of the normal display screen to switch a normal display mode from/to a help display mode; one or more help icons displayed on the normal display screen in the help display mode in a manner each associated with corresponding one of the functional components; a summary description field displayed on a part of the normal display screen when one of the help icons is selected; a detail display button displayed on a part of the summary description field; and a detailed description field displayed when the detail display button is selected.