Process Stability Trajectory Visualization With Context Factors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for visualizing the stability of a production plant's process state, particularly in cyclic molding machines, often lead to misinterpretation of instability due to the lack of clear information on external factors influencing stability, making it difficult to distinguish between intrinsic issues and transient responses.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that continuously or discretely determine the deviations and change rates of selected process variables, visualizing the stability trajectory over time and highlighting relevant factors such as operating modes, target value changes, and maintenance activities to provide transparency and clarify instability causes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If stability visualization is provided without additional reference information, then the visualization is simple and clear, but misinterpretation of instability occurs due to lack of context about external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stability trajectory visualization with reference information about external factors (operating modes, target value changes, maintenance activities) into a single integrated display. This merging allows the system to provide comprehensive information without requiring separate systems, thus reducing information loss while controlling complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computing unit as an intermediary that processes raw process data, determines stability trajectories, correlates them with reference information, and presents the integrated visualization. This intermediary handles the complexity of data processing and correlation, allowing the display to show comprehensive information without the display device itself becoming overly complex.
2Measurement precision
If multiple process variables are monitored to accurately determine stability, then measurement precision improves, but the complexity of data processing and visualization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stability assessment by monitoring multiple individual process variables separately, then processing and visualizing them as distinct trajectories. This segmentation allows precise monitoring of each variable while organizing the complexity through separate, manageable data streams that can be independently processed and displayed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms multiple process variables from separate measurements into a unified temporal dimension by plotting them as trajectories over time. This dimensional transformation allows the system to handle multiple variables systematically, converting complex multi-variable data into a visual format where stability patterns emerge across the time dimension without overwhelming processing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If stability is evaluated based on multiple deviations and change rates, then assessment accuracy improves, but the time required for analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous or discrete determination of stability trajectories and reference information, allowing real-time or near-real-time assessment. This continuous processing eliminates the need for batch analysis, maintaining high assessment accuracy through ongoing monitoring of multiple deviations and change rates while minimizing analysis time by providing immediate feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual analysis of multiple process variables with an automated computing unit that calculates stability trajectories, correlates reference information, and generates visualizations automatically. This substitution of automated computation for manual analysis maintains high assessment accuracy through systematic processing of multiple parameters while dramatically reducing the time required for stability evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining the value of a plurality of selected process variables. Preferably, the respective current value of each selected process variable or a variable derived therefrom is compared with one or more reference values, and in each case at least one deviation or at least one rate of change is determined. On the basis of the determined plurality of deviations and/or rates of change, a stability of a current process state is determined. A computing unit visualizes a process states determined for different points in time and/or cycles by a chart such that a trajectory of the stability of process states for a predetermined period of time and/or over multiple cycles is visible in the chart. The computing unit visualizes a reference that, at a certain point in time, at least one factor was existing which is relevant for an evaluation of the result of the stability's trajectory.