Motor Drive Human Interface for Hierarchical Parameter Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation equipment, such as motor drives, often present inconsistent and confusing data to users, leading to difficulties in efficiently operating manufacturing equipment.
Innovation Solution
An industrial motor drive system with a human interface module featuring a display, keypad, and processing circuitry, which allows users to input alphanumeric characters to navigate and modify control parameters, including suggesting optimal parameters based on user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional industrial automation equipment interfaces are used, then equipment control functionality is maintained, but user experience deteriorates due to inconsistent and confusing data presentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms control parameters from inconsistent equipment-specific codes into a unified hierarchical structure with general categories (motion control, I/O configuration, etc.) and specific parameters. This parameter reorganization improves data consistency while maintaining full control functionality, directly addressing the contradiction between ease of operation and information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer between the user interface and equipment control parameters. This intermediary maps user-friendly hierarchical selections to equipment-specific parameter codes, eliminating the need for users to memorize inconsistent equipment codes while preserving precise control capability. This resolves the contradiction by mediating between simplified operation and accurate parameter control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive control parameters are displayed, then complete control capability is provided, but interface complexity increases making it harder to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive control parameters into hierarchical groups (general parameters, motion control, I/O configuration, etc.), with each group containing specific actionable parameters. This segmentation allows the interface to present only relevant parameters at each level, reducing perceived complexity while maintaining complete control capability. Users navigate through segmented categories rather than facing a wall of undifferentiated parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic parameter display where the available parameters change based on previous user selections and current equipment state. As users navigate the hierarchical structure and make selections, the interface dynamically updates to show only relevant subsequent parameters, reducing interface complexity at each step while preserving access to the complete control capability through the hierarchical path.
3Measurement precision
If users must memorize equipment-specific codes, then precise parameter access is achieved, but operational efficiency decreases due to reliance on muscle memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an autofill feature that acts as a self-service mechanism. When users begin typing a parameter name, the system automatically suggests and completes the full parameter code, eliminating the need for users to memorize complete equipment-specific codes. This maintains precise parameter access through accurate code completion while significantly improving operational efficiency by reducing memory burden and input time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the relationships between user-friendly parameter names and equipment-specific codes. The system prepares translation mappings in advance, so when users interact with the interface, the precise code translation occurs automatically without requiring user memorization. This preliminary preparation enables precise parameter access through simple user input while improving operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial motor drive and associated human interface module (HIM) for interfacing with the industrial motor drive to control operation of a motor in an industrial operation. The human interface module receives inputs from a human related to control parameters associated with the industrial motor drive and presents progressively narrowing lists and suggestions to assist the user in accessing and modifying control parameters associated with the industrial motor drive. Based on a modification to a control parameter, the industrial motor drive controls the operation of the motor in the industrial operation accordingly.