Pretreatment Apparatus Display Unit for Analysis System Workflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional analysis system setting screens do not provide a clear visualization of the entire workflow, making it difficult for users to recognize and set process steps, especially shutdown steps, and require cumbersome nested screens for inputting settings.

Innovation Solution

A pretreatment apparatus with a display unit that shows icons for each process step in a series, allowing users to specify the order and easily input settings, including first and second shutdown steps, without nested screens, and enabling settings for each process step regardless of their order, with a start button only accessible after all settings are input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional setting screen displays only an input screen for process step name and setting information, then the screen structure is simple, but the user cannot easily recognize which process step is set and cannot understand the workflow context

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of setting process stepsVSAvoidsetting screen structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The setting screen is segmented into multiple visual components: a workflow diagram showing the sequence of process steps, a highlighted indicator showing the currently selected process step, and an input area for setting information. This segmentation allows users to understand the workflow context while setting parameters, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and screen structure complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The workflow diagram acts as an intermediary visual element between the user and the process steps. It provides contextual information about the entire workflow while the highlighted indicator serves as a mediator to show which specific step is currently being configured, enabling users to easily recognize and set process steps without overwhelming complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the setting screen displays the entire workflow maximized, then the user can see all process steps, but shutdown steps cannot be displayed and settings for shutdown steps become nested and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of all process stepsVSAvoidease of setting shutdown steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The setting screen segments the workflow into visible process steps represented by icons or labels, with shutdown steps clearly distinguished. This segmentation allows all process steps including shutdown steps to be visible at the same level, eliminating the need for nested screens and making shutdown step settings as easy as other process step settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of hiding shutdown steps or nesting them within parent processes, the invention inverts the conventional approach by displaying shutdown steps as equal peers in the workflow diagram. This inversion makes shutdown steps as accessible and visible as regular process steps, eliminating the cumbersome nested structure and improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Manufacturing precision

If the setting screen shows process steps in a nested structure, then detailed settings can be accessed, but the user cannot easily recognize shutdown steps and must perform cumbersome operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetting configuration accuracyVSAvoidease of recognizing and setting shutdown steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The setting screen uses color changes or visual differentiation to highlight shutdown steps distinctively from regular process steps. This visual coding allows users to easily recognize shutdown steps at a glance while maintaining the ability to access detailed settings with the same ease as other process steps, resolving the contradiction between setting accuracy and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS11499984B2Pretreatment apparatus and analysis system comprising the same

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 SHIMADZU CORP

AI summary

A display unit of the present invention displays icons respectively for a series of process steps of a pretreatment unit and an analysis device on a setting screen. The display unit displays a first shutdown icon for a first shutdown step and a second shutdown icon for a second shutdown step in association with the icons respectively for the series of process steps, the first shutdown step being performed when the pretreatment unit and the analysis device end process steps without causing an error, the second shutdown step being performed when the pretreatment unit and the analysis device end the process steps as an error is caused while the process steps are performed. When a user selects any one of these icons, the display unit displays an input screen on the setting screen for inputting the setting information for the process step corresponding to the selected icon.