Multi-Module Process Control Strategy Diagram
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional process control systems fragment process control strategies into individual modules, making it difficult to understand the overall strategy, troubleshoot, and debug complex processes, as they lack a holistic representation of interconnected control modules.
Innovation Solution
The development of a multi-module control strategy diagram that allows for the representation, connection, and configuration of multiple control modules in a multi-module view, enabling a top-down approach to designing and troubleshooting process control strategies, with a single-module view for detailed editing and configuration of selected modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If process control strategies are fragmented into individual modules for detailed control, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but loss of information about the overall strategy occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the process control strategy into hierarchical levels: a high-level multi-module view showing interconnected control modules, and detailed single-module views for individual configuration. This segmentation allows operators to work with manageable portions while preserving awareness of the complete system through the hierarchical structure and navigation capabilities between views.
2Loss of information
If a multi-module view is provided to show overall control strategy, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the interface, organizing control modules across multiple levels of abstraction. The multi-module view presents a high-level overview, while the single-module view provides detailed configuration options. This dimensional organization allows comprehensive information display without overwhelming the operator with all details simultaneously.
3Ease of manufacture
If detailed single-module views are provided for each control module, then ease of configuration is improved, but loss of context about interconnected modules occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts individual control modules from the complete system view for detailed configuration, but maintains contextual connection through navigation capabilities. When a module is selected for detailed viewing, the system allows operators to return to the multi-module view, preserving awareness of how the configured module fits into the overall control strategy while enabling focused detailed work.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed for multi-module process control management. A multi-module view is presented, via a user interface, including a plurality of control modules corresponding to functions of a control process. The multi-module view provides a first set of configuration capabilities associated with the control modules, including the capability to logically connect respective ones of the control modules. In response to the selection of one of the control modules of the multi-module view, a single-module view is presented, via the user interface, including a functional block associated with the selected one of the control modules of the multi-module view. The single-module view provides a second set of configuration capabilities associated with the functional block, including the capability to logically connect the functional block to a respective one of the control modules.