Touchscreen Capacitor Control Interface for Hazardous Environment Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional capacitor control systems pose hazards to technicians due to the need for manual interaction with physical controls in adverse environments, and they lack the ability to dynamically adjust settings based on environmental or operational criteria, limiting their operational efficiency and safety.

Innovation Solution

An interactive dynamic interface wireless distributed capacitor control system featuring a touchscreen display that eliminates conventional dials and switches, enabling local, remote, or autonomous configuration of 'personality' settings for capacitor control, with autonomous voltage, temperature, and var control capabilities, and wireless connectivity for enhanced flexibility and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional dials and switches are used for capacitor control, then the control interface is simple and robust, but user interaction time increases and exposure to hazardous environments occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction timeVSAvoidremote configuration capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical dials and switches with a touchscreen display interface, eliminating the need for physical manipulation of controls. This allows users to configure capacitor settings remotely without climbing utility poles or accessing equipment in hazardous environments, directly reducing both interaction time and exposure to dangerous conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touchscreen interface acts as an intermediary between the user and the capacitor control system, enabling remote configuration through a graphical interface. This mediator allows settings to be changed without direct physical contact with the equipment, solving the contradiction between ease of remote operation and safety from hazardous environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If fixed control settings are used, then the system is simple to manufacture, but adaptability to different operating conditions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic setting adjustmentVSAvoidcontrol interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control settings that can be adjusted in real-time based on operating conditions. The touchscreen interface allows users to modify capacitor bank configurations, voltage thresholds, and operational parameters dynamically, enabling the system to adapt to varying electrical loads and environmental conditions while maintaining a user-friendly interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The touchscreen control interface serves multiple functions including configuration, monitoring, and dynamic adjustment of capacitor settings. This multi-functional interface consolidates various control operations into a single adaptable system that can handle different operating scenarios without requiring multiple specialized controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If manual configuration is required for each capacitor control unit, then customization is precise, but productivity and deployment speed decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration speedVSAvoidconfiguration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows preconfiguration of capacitor control parameters through the touchscreen interface before deployment. Users can set up operational profiles, voltage thresholds, and control logic in advance, then quickly deploy multiple units with consistent configurations, significantly improving productivity while maintaining configuration accuracy through the precise touchscreen interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11573545B2Interactive dynamic interface for capacitor control

Publication Date: 2023.02.07 ADVANCED CONTROL SYST CORP

AI summary

A system, method and apparatus for an interactive dynamic interface for wireless distributed capacitor control that comprises a touchscreen display that eliminates the conventional dials and switches that are part of a conventional control, and with these efficiencies can locally, remotely or autonomously implement “personality” settings for the capacitor control that speeds and simplifies custom configurations and recovery in relation to user, electrical and environmental input that meets certain operating criteria, including after a shut-down event, thereby improving the of the capacitor control system to function more appropriately, effectively, and efficiently under a greater range of parameters.