Multivalue Bar Graph Layout for Limited Display Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Limited display area in instrumentation systems restricts the simultaneous display of multiple bar graphs, requiring users to navigate through multiple screens or use multiple devices, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multivalue bar graph display system that superimposes subcomponent indicia, such as tics, over the bars to represent the relationship between overall and subcomponent measurements, allowing for real-time visualization of multiple signals within a single display area without the need for separate bars or additional screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple bars are displayed side-by-side or in tandem arrangement, then quantitative data comparison is improved, but the number of bars that can be displayed simultaneously is limited by available display area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places subcomponent indicia (tics) inside or overlaid on the bars, nesting multiple levels of information (overall bar + subcomponent tics) within the same visual space. This allows displaying both the main bar values and their subcomponents simultaneously without requiring additional display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a vertical dimension to the traditional horizontal bar comparison by stacking multiple bars vertically and placing subcomponent indicia at different vertical positions along each bar. This dimensional transformation allows more data to be displayed within the same display area.
2Quantity of substance
If the size scale of the image is reduced to permit multiple bars to be seen simultaneously, then the number of visible bars is improved, but the graduation marks and units of measurement become too small to be easily seen
Solution Approach 1:
Subcomponent indicia are nested within the bar structure itself, allowing multiple levels of measurement information to be displayed at appropriate scales within the same visual element without requiring reduction of overall image size.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the display have different scales and levels of detail - the bars provide overall quantitative comparison at one scale, while subcomponent indicia provide detailed measurement information at local positions along each bar, maintaining visibility and precision.
3Loss of information
If users navigate through multiple screens or use multiple separate display devices to view related data, then complete data review is improved, but costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data representations (overall bar values and subcomponent measurements) that would traditionally require separate screens or devices into a single integrated display, allowing complete data review on one screen without navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system provides multiple functions (displaying overall values, subcomponent values, and their relationships) within a single unified interface, eliminating the need for multiple separate display devices or screen transitions.
4Loss of information
If subcomponent indicia are placed inside or overlaid on the bars, then the relationship between overall and subcomponent measurements is visualized, but the display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display structure nests subcomponent indicia within the bar framework, creating a hierarchical visualization where overall bars contain subcomponent information. This nested structure systematically organizes complex information without requiring separate display elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Each bar is segmented into meaningful sections corresponding to subcomponents, with indicia placed at specific positions along the bar length. This segmentation provides clear visual separation of different measurement levels while maintaining an integrated display structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A display (10) for showing indicia in the form of a bar graph is provided. The display is configured so that each bar (14) of the bar graph depicts a numerical or other quantitative value of a parameter. Each bar (14) is provided with one or more additional indicia (16) representative of numerical values that are related to the numerical values represented by the bar(s) (14) shown in the bar graph. Each of the one or more additional indicia (16) is positioned to as to be superimposed over the respective bar (14) to which the additional indicia (16) correspond, and depict the relationship(s) between the value represented by the bar (14) and the value represented by the one or more additional indicia (16).