Control Program Display With State-Coded Signal Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult to determine which portion of a control program corresponds to a specific signal output from an apparatus when it is in a steady or unsteady state, making it hard to understand the signal values and their corresponding states.
Innovation Solution
A display control device acquires signal values from apparatuses and displays the control program alongside the signal values, using a format that distinguishes the state of the apparatus, allowing for easy identification of signal outputs in relation to the program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If signal values are displayed without state distinction, then the display is simple, but it is difficult to understand which signal corresponds to which program portion and apparatus state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to distinguish apparatus states in the display. Different colors are used to represent different states (e.g., normal operation vs. abnormal operation), allowing users to quickly identify the state associated with each signal value without complex additional interfaces or explanations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a visual dimension (color coding) to the display to encode state information. This transforms a one-dimensional signal value display into a two-dimensional display that simultaneously shows signal values and apparatus states, enabling comprehensive understanding without increasing textual or structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If detailed state information is displayed for each signal, then understanding of signal states is improved, but the display becomes complex and hard to read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded annotations directly on or near the signal values to indicate apparatus states. This visual encoding provides immediate state information without requiring additional text descriptions, tables, or complex interfaces, thus maintaining display simplicity while improving understandability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the display into distinct visual elements: signal values, program portion indicators, and state indicators. Each element is visually separated and coded (particularly the state indicators using colors), allowing users to quickly parse and understand the relationship between signals, program portions, and apparatus states without being overwhelmed by a monolithic complex display.
Data Source
AI summary
In a display control device (10), an acquisition unit (21) acquires a value of a signal outputted from an apparatus (60) during execution of a control program (52) which controls the apparatus (60). A control unit (22) controls a display device (30) to display a code of the control program (52) on a screen (54), and to display the value of the signal acquired by the acquisition unit (21), on a portion in the code of the control program (52) which corresponds to the signal, in a format that enables distinction of a state of the apparatus (60) of the time the value of the signal is outputted.