GB2559842A

GB2559842A - User interface apparatus of display

Info

Publication number: GB2559842A
Application number: GB1720725.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kitagawa Takumi; Itsuki Naito; Igarashi Kingo
Original assignee: Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-19
Filing date: 2017-12-13
Publication date: 2018-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-13
Also published as: GB2559842B; JP2018101177A; GB201720725D0; JP6666236B2

Abstract

A user interface apparatus comprising a display 2 configured to show both a system configuration diagram (6A, Figure 4) and operational items (functions 6B, Figure 4) for a selected device, a first set of hard-wired switches 3 corresponding to the operational items displayed, a second set of hard-wired switches 4 for switching between monitoring and operation modes, an input device 5 capable of indicating a position of an operation device on the display, and an operation item selection using the first switch group. The input device may be a trackball mouse, arrow keys with a central selecting button, a grid based system, nearest object selection based on directional arrows, or a numbering system for each device. This invention intends to allow for the operating ease and intuitiveness of a touch screen, but without the need to actually touch the screen as this could lead to damage or smudging.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: User interface apparatus of display

Abstract Title: User interface apparatus with hard-wired switches and means to select plant sub-systems (57) A user interface apparatus comprising a display 2 configured to show both a system configuration diagram (6A, Figure 4) and operational items (functions 6B, Figure 4) for a selected device, a first set of hard-wired switches 3 corresponding to the operational items displayed, a second set of hard-wired switches 4 for switching between monitoring and operation modes, an input device 5 capable of indicating a position of an operation device on the display, and an operation item selection using the first switch group. The input device may be a trackball mouse, arrow keys with a central selecting button, a grid based system, nearest object selection based on directional arrows, or a numbering system for each device. This invention intends to allow for the operating ease and intuitiveness of a touch screen, but without the need to actually touch the screen as this could lead to damage or smudging.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

1/4

1603 18

FIG. 1

SB1

OPENINGAND CLOSING VALVE

1603 18

OPEN OR OPERATION CLOSE OR STOP

1603 18 /-

1603 18

\

USER INTERFACE APPARATUS OF DISPLAY

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a user interface apparatus of a display for performing monitoring and an operation of a plant operation device.

Background Art

For example, as an operation method of a control device in a power plant, a touch operation, in which an operation device and an indicator are displayed as data on a display by the uses of digital technology has been developed that enables an operator to monitor operations by touching a screen, is adopted. By using the touch operation, since a plurality of states can be displayed and a selection of operation devices can be selected in a digital device, it is possible to reduce the necessary numbers of operation device built with hardware, and it is possible to make the whole operation system compact. In addition, since a device can be operated by touching objects displayed on the screen, a user can intuitively operate it.

However, the touch operation may have inherent potential risks as follows: there is a possibility that the touch operation may not be recognized if there are cracks on the screen, and touching a screen makes the screen dirty such that screen identifications by a user and operational reactions become dull, and it is difficult to select one objector in a case where there are a plurality of objects on the screen which are targeted operational items and are smaller than a size of a human's finger. The above mentioned risks need to be considered when using the touch operation because there is a possibility that the safety of the entire plant may be affected.

Therefore, although considerable attempts have been made to develop technology of selecting a pointer or of selecting an item on a display by using an external device without depending on the touch operation, no actual interface device which is capable of achieving its superior operability to the touch operation, nor is capable of performing condition monitoring of a plant operation device with an effective intuitive operation has been yet developed.

The known input methods which do not depend on touch operation are as follows. First, in PTL 1, in an information processor with a display device, provided is the information processor including registration means of a display control function to register a plurality of certain display control functions beforehand which can be set; area division means to divide a display area of the display device into a plurality of designated areas, while making the areas correspond to the plurality of the registered display control functions; effective means of a display control function allows to validate the display control function that corresponds to the designated area when a pointer displayed in the display area is moved to the designated area by using a predetermined pointing device; and execution means of a display control function to perform the display control function by operating the pointing device in the state where the pointer is within the designated area after the display control function is validated.

In PTL 2, provided is numerical display control and a numerical value input support program on a web browser in which numerical display control means create a numerical display input area on one side of a screen, creates a graphic display input area on the other side of the same screen, and controls the numerical display input area, by using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (trade mark) which are performed on a web browser, numerical input control means, and numerical value and position data conversion means to convert the input digital data into position data, graphic display control means to control the graphic display input area, graphic input control means, and position and numerical value data conversion means to convert the input position data into numerical data, two-way communication means to mediate data between the numerical display input area and the graphic display input area is provided, necessary numbers of plural items having a minimum unit of an input numerical value as a single rectangle are arranged beforehand as one image on the graphic display input area to display as the partitioning line when a user directly inputs a numerical value into the numerical display input area by using a keyboard, a numerical keypad, or the like, the numerical input control means passes the input numerical data to the numerical display control means, a numerical value received by the numerical display control means is displayed on the numerical display input area, furthermore, the numerical input control means sends the numerical value data to the numerical value and position data conversion means, and next, the numerical data received by the numerical value and the position data conversion means is converted into the position data and the converted position data is sent to the two-way communication means, the two-way communication means sends the position data to the graphic display control means, the graphic display control means displays a figure as a set value on a partitioning line position of the graphic display input area corresponding to the received position data, or when a user moves a mouse pointer to a certain partitioning line positioned on the graphic display input area by using a pointing device such as a mouse, the graphic input control means passes the position data to the graphic display control means, the graphic display control means displays a figure as a current instruction position to a partitioning line position of the position data, when the mouse pointer moves to the adjacent partitioning line, the graphic input control means passes new position data to the graphic display control means, the graphic display control means erases a figure as the current instruction position of a position which the graphic display control means has already displayed, and a figure as a current instruction position is displayed in a partitioning line position of new position data, when the display and erasing are repeated every time the mouse pointer moves on the partitioning line and the mouse clicks at a certain partitioning line position, the graphic input control means passes the position data to the graphic display control means, the graphic display control means displays a figure as a set value on the partitioning line position in which the mouse click is performed, furthermore, the graphic input control means sends the position data to the position and numerical value data conversion means, and next, the position data received by the position and numerical value data conversion means is converted into numerical data, the position data is sent to the two-way communication means, the two-way communication means sends the numerical data to the numerical display control means, the numerical display control means displays the received numerical value data on a numerical display area as a numerical value, since a number of numerical values can be graphically handled to provide a plurality of lines made of a correspondence between the numerical value and graphic by being expressed in one line, it is possible for a user to easily perform confirmation and change.

In PTL 3, provided is a pointing device whose operation is capable of moving an operation target on a display screen in any direction, the device including control means to switch between two operational modes, according to a display content of the display screen: a first mode is designed to output position information on the operation target in the pointing area, and a second mode is designed to divide the pointing area into a plurality of areas followed by outputting area information of a division area where the operation target is placed.

In PTL 4, an information code reader provided with an image detecting means for detecting reflected light from an optical information recording surface on which a plurality of information codes are recorded, and decoding means for decoding an information code contained in the reflected light detected by the image detecting means, the information code reader including: information code displaying means for displaying the plurality of information codes contained in the reflected light detected by the image detecting means, designating means to designate the information code in a sequentially order to be decoded by the decoding means from the plurality of information codes displayed by the information code displaying means, designation order memory means to store the information relating to designation code designated by the designating means and a sequential order which are receiving designated information, decoding control means for decoding only the information code in which the information is stored by the designation order memory means in the order which the order designation is received by the decoding means, mode switching means for switching the information code reader according to a user's instruction to at least two modes of a setting mode in which the information code and a designated order are stored in the designation order memory means, and a decoding mode in which the information code stored in the designation order memory means is decoded by the decoding control means according to the order stored in the designation order memory means.

In PTL 5, provided is a screen position designating device including a display device which has a screen, a control device which displays display contents on the screen, and an input device, the control device includes displaying means to display as selective options which are composed of the divided plurality of areas on the screen, displaying means to display as new selective options which are composed of the new further divided plurality of areas on the screen, every time any area in the selective options is selected by the input device, and specifying means to specify the area as a designated position in a case where an area displayed as the selective option is designated by the input device.

In PTL 6, provided is a remote control system including a plurality of television cameras arranged at a plurality of places, and capture a capturing image signal in each place by using a zoom mechanism, a plurality of camera platform which can control a capturing direction of the television camera are provided for each television camera, remote control means to control the zoom mechanism of each television camera and to control each of the camera platform, and display control means to simultaneously display a plurality of images which are captured images from each of the television camera on a display screen as a video window, includes instructing means to give an instruction to the remote control means for setting a screen frame of each video window to be divided into a plurality of virtual areas and to control a capturing direction of the television camera corresponding to the video window when each of the areas is designated by a pointing device in a direction of a designated area or an instruction for meaningful zooming control in the designated area.

Citation List

Patent	Literature
PTL 1:	JP-A-2008-090101
PTL 2 :	JP-A-2006-331264
PTL 3:	JP-A-2006-031342
PTL 4 :	JP-A-2001-266064
PTL 5:	JP-A-2001-265524
PTL 6:	JP-A-1998-229517

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

According to PTL 1 to for performing a function advance by moving a pointer

PTL 6 described above, means registered in a device in to a designated section is provided, it reacts by inputting a corresponding number while displaying a short partitioning line in which a minimum unit of an input switch is set as one in advance, and information can be output by moving the pointer to an area divided into a partitioning line, or the like.

However, in these references, it is not mentioned that means for moving the pointer to operate one operation device without making a mistake in the control device of the power plant and a technology capable of dividing a screen on partitioning lines.

The present invention conceived with a view to solve the above-described problems is to provide a user interface apparatus of a display capable of appropriately operating an operation target without touching the screen while maintaining an intuitive operation as much as possible by providing the addition of an external device and a method of selecting operation devices with respect to tasks that could not be dealt by the touch operation.

Solution to Problem

From the above, in the present invention, provided is a user interface apparatus of a display for performing an operation of an operation device by displaying a display screen for displaying a system configuration of a plant including a plurality of the operation devices on a display, the apparatus includes a display for displaying a display screen configured by being divided into a system diagram display area on which the system configuration of the plant including the plurality of operation devices is displayed and an operation item display area on which operation items of the operation device are displayed; a first hard-wired switch group configured with a plurality of hard-wired switches arranged to correspond to a plurality of operation items in the operation device displayed on the operation item display area of the display; a second hard-wired switch group including switches for switching operation from a monitoring mode to an operation mode and vice versa, and for selecting a display content of the display screen with respect to the display screen to be displayed on the display; and an input device for designating a position of the operation device to be displayed on the display, in which the operation device to be processed is selected and designated from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, and when one operation device to be processed is designated, the plurality of operation items of the designated operation device are displayed on the operation item display area, and an operation in which the operation item is selected by using the plurality of hardwired switches of the first hard-wired switch group arranged to correspond to the plurality of operation items of the operation device, is performed.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately operate an operation target without touching a screen while maintaining an intuitive operation as much as possible by providing the addition of an external device and a method of selecting operation devices .

More specifically, according to an example of the present invention, since the screen is not getting dirty by using the external device, it is possible for a user to operate a screen in a clean condition and to keep it clean, and it is possible for a user to reliably select the operation targets by limiting the operation target with a pointer, a partitioning line, or a number with respect to a plurality of objects presenting on the screen, and since an operation performed by users is only instructing the direction of the external device and it is a simple operation, it is possible to reduce the risk of causing an erroneous operation such that it is possible to reduce the problem of the monitoring operation associating with utilizing the display. In addition, by installing the external device compared with a case of the touch operation with having the entire operation area on the screen, it is possible to limit an area in which the user's body movements necessary for the operation and it is possible to reduce the burden on the user. As a result, since it is possible to expect a reduction of human errors and reduction of the burden on an operator, it is possible to improve the efficiency of entire plant management.

Brief Description of Drawings [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen 6 in a monitoring mode of a plant.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a divided area display screen 7 in an operation mode of the plant.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation item selection display screen 8 in the operation mode of the plant.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation item selection display screen 9 in the operation mode of the plant.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation item selection display screen 10 in the operation mode of the plant.

Description of Embodiments

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Example 1]

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface apparatus 1 according to the present invention .

The user interface apparatus 1 of Fig. 1 includes a display 2 that displays a screen required for condition monitoring of a plant or an operation on the plant, a first hard-wired switch group 3 provided at the lower portion of the display 2 and configured with the plurality of hard-wired switches arranged by corresponding to the plurality of operation items of an operation device displayed on the display 2, a second hard-wired switch group 4 is provided for switching two operations from the monitoring mode to the operation mode and vice versa, including a switch that is installed, for example, in the right side of the display 2, and is for a monitoring mode to determine an operation selection and to move a display screen on a screen, and an input device 5 is provide for changing and operating the display content of the display from outside.

In Fig. 2, an example of a display screen 6 of the display 2 in the monitoring mode of the plant is illustrated. The display screen 6 shows an example of a piping system diagram at the time of the monitoring mode of the plant. Here, since any configuration of a piping system of the plant displayed on the display 2 may be used, a detailed description of the piping system will be omitted. However, the first important point for the items to be understood in Fig. 2 is that at least a plurality of operation devices and operating states thereof are Symbol

Display devices. As a symbol example is described on the right side of Fig. 2, a symbol SB1 is a depiction of an opening and closing valve as an example of the operation device, a symbol SB2 is a depiction of a pump as an example of the operation device. In addition, a symbol

SB3 is a depiction of an open state of the opening and closing valve or the operation of the pump, and a symbol

SB4 is a depiction of a closed state of the opening and closing valve or the pump being stopped.

The second important point for the items to be understood in Fig. 2 is that the display screen 6 is divided into a piping system diagram display area 6A at the top and an operation device operation item display area 6B at the bottom. The operation device operation item display area 6B at the bottom will be described below by using Fig. 4.

Other information reguired for monitoring or the operation is also displayed on the display screen 6. For example, graphic information, various type of character information, an operation condition of the operation device representing a state of the plant, and an open and close state of valves are displayed on the screen by being represented in different colors. In addition, the content of the operation by the operation device to be selected may be different from each other, or selectable items to be displayed on the screen may also be changed. A mark indicating that it is an operable item may be displayed in the vicinity of the graphic representing the operation device in the operation device that can be operated.

Returning to Fig. 1, the second hard-wired switch group 4 is composed of the plurality of hard-wired switch from 40 to 49. In this case, by selecting a monitoring mode selection switch 41 or an operation mode selection switch 42 at the top in the second hard-wired switch group

4, the display screen can be switched to one of the modes.

These switches 41 and 42 are parts of switches having a screen display switching function. In addition, selection switches 41 and 42 are selection switches having a display function and the color of a mark indicated with respect to the selected mode is changed such that the current mode of the display can be checked. In addition, switches from 43 to 47 among the switches of the second hard-wired switch group 4 are the display screen selection switches such that it is possible to select and display an appropriate screen from a plurality of the display screens provided in the monitoring mode or the operation mode. In addition, the switch 49 switches operations from the operation mode to the monitoring mode and vice versa such that a partitioning line is displayed by setting the operation mode at the same time, and has a function for displaying the pointer.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the divided area display screen 7 in the operation mode of the plant. Fig. 2 is the display screen 6 for monitoring displayed when the monitoring mode selection switch 41 is selected and the display screen selection switch 43 is selected. On the other hand, the divided area display screen 7 of Fig. 3 is the display screen 7 for operating displayed when a partitioning line display switch 49 is selected in addition to a selection of the operation mode selection switch 42 and selection of the display screen selection switch 43. By selecting the partitioning line display switch 49, vertical and horizontal partitioning lines 71 and 72 are displayed. The display screen 7 for operating in Fig. 3 includes the display content, basically, is the same as the display screen 6 for monitoring other than the display of the vertical and horizontal partitioning lines 71 and 72.

In Fig. 3, by displaying the vertical and horizontal partitioning lines 71 and 72, the piping system diagram display area 6A of the divided area display screen 7 is displayed by being divided into a plurality of areas. In the present invention, when an effective area of a divided area is defined by setting an interval between vertical and horizontal partitioning lines 71 and 72, the interval is set to include one operation device in the divided area

Accordingly, if the divided area can be designated, this means that one operation device in a complicated piping system diagram is selected.

Returning to Fig. 1 again, a trackball 52, an arrow key 53, a number key 51, and the like can be used as the input device 5. These input devices 5 are used to select one operation device by designating one of the divided area of Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, in a case where the partitioning line is displayed on the display 2 by the vertical and horizontal partitioning lines 71 and 72, by operating the input device 5, it is possible to move one of the divided areas divided with the partitioning line, in any direction, upward and downward, and left and right, and to a designated place, and it is possible to select the operation device within the partitioning line. In cases of Examples 2 and 3 which will be described below, a pointer is displayed and the pointer is moved to the operation device to be operated by an operation of the input device 5 such that it is possible to select a target

Eventually, after the divided area is selected, the enter key is operated and the divided area is confirmed and input.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation item selection display screen 8 in the operation mode of the plant. An operation content selection display screen 8 is a screen that is only displayed when the divided area is surely chosen by operating an attached enter key while the divided area is being selected by the input device 5.

In the screen of Fig. 4, with respect to the operation device selected by selecting the divided area, an emphasizing display method is performed to display the selected operation device being distinguishably differed from the other operation devices. In the operation item selection display screen 8, information is displayed in the operation device operation item display area 6B. The display content in the operation device operation item display area 6B is the operation item of the selected operation device. In the illustrated example, six types of windows of 6B1, 6B2, 6B3, 6B4, 6B5, and 6B6 are sequentially prepared from the left side as windows for displaying the operation items of the operation device.

Examples of tuning off (closed state of opening and closing valve or pump stop) in 6B1, tuning automatic (automatic control of opening and closing valve or automatic control operation of pump) in 6B2, and turning on (open state of opening and closing valve or operation of pump) in 6B3 are displayed and positioned in advance at pre-set positions. If necessary, information such as an appropriate operation item is also defined for each position in 6B4, 6B5, and 6B6.

Returning to Fig. 1 again, the first hard-wired switch group 3 is composed of six types of the switches 31,

32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 in a manner corresponding to the windows 6B1, 6B2, 6B3, 6B4, 6B5, and 6B6 for displaying the operation items of the operation device. The window

6B1 corresponds to the switch 31, 6B2 corresponds to the switch 32, 6B3 corresponds to the switch 33, 6B4 corresponds to the switch 34, 6B5 corresponds to the switch 35, and 6B6 corresponds to the switch 36.

Accordingly, when selecting the switch 31, the operation device is turned off (closed state of opening and closing valve or pump stop), when selecting the switch 32, the operation device is turned automatic (automatic control of opening and closing valve or automatic control operation of pump), and when selecting the switch 33, the operation device is turned on (open state of opening and closing valve or operation of pump).

In the present embodiment, what is displayed on the display 2 is a system diagram, it is possible to monitor a state of the plant and a condition of the operation device by viewing the display 2, and since it is a simple operation that the divided area divided by the partitioning line moves into a direction instructed by the input device 5 and since it is possible to check graphics and the color of condition display in the system screen, it is easier for users to use it and it is possible to reduce malfunction in the operation of the entire plant.

As described above, in Fig. 4, the condition of the display 2 in the present invention is the operation mode, after selecting the operation device to be operated, selecting an operation device selection item displayed on the lower portion of the display corresponds to the one selected from the hard-wired switch 3 displayed on an interface .

As described above, in the user interface apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, a predetermined input device 5, a hard-wired switch 4 for performing determination after the selection, the hard-wired switch 3 in conjunction with selection items displayed on the display, and a user interface apparatus to use for displaying a monitoring and operating a state of the plant, in which the touch operation is not adopted in the present invention, are represented.

The user interface apparatus 1 according to Example described above shows partitioning lines 7 in the screen when transitioning from a monitoring mode 6 to an operation mode 7 by operating a selector switch that is a part of the hard-wired switch group 4 in the system diagram displayed on the display 2.

The partitioning line is considered that the number of lines required when the number of operation device operation items is maximized in the system diagram to be displayed beforehand, a width of the partitioning line corresponding to a size of each switch belonging to a hard-wired switch group 3, and only one operation item is included in a frame when drawing the partitioning line in the system diagram, and even in a case where another system diagram is displayed, the partitioning line is created in a similar manner and the layouts on the system diagram is adjusted so as not to overlap the display of lines with the display of the operation devices. In a case where the operation device of an operation target is selected by the partitioning line, since the operation device is selected in a wider area than that of the pointer, it is possible to easily recognize the screen and it is possible to expect the improvement of operability.

In Example 1, for further consideration, it is useful for the partitioning line to be performed the following approaches. In the system diagram displayed on the display 2 of Example 1, the partitioning line is displayed in the screen, when transitioning from the monitoring mode 6 to the operation mode 7 by operating the selector switch of the hard-wired switch group 4, but preferably a corresponding number should be assigned for each of the partitioning lines. As a predetermined input device 5 required for operating the display 2, when the number key 51 is used, it is possible to select the partitioning line by inputting a number corresponding to the partitioning line, and it is possible to confirm the selection by pressing a determination switch that is a part of the hard-wired switch group 4 and it is possible to select the operation device presenting in the partitioning line. As compared with a case where the partitioning line is operated with the arrow key 53 and the trackball 52, the movement can be completed by just one time operation which is inputting a number of the partitioning line to be a target such that efficient operation is possible.

In the user interface apparatus 1 according to the present invention, in the user interface apparatus that performs an operation of the operation device by displaying the display screen displaying the system configuration of the plant including the plurality of operation devices on the display, the apparatus includes the system diagram display area that displays the system configuration of the plant including the plurality of operation devices, the display on which the display screen configured by being divided into the operation item display area on which the operation items of the operation device are displayed is displayed, the first hard-wired switch group composed of the plurality of hard-wired switches arranged to correspond to the plurality of operation items of the operation device displayed on the operation item display area of the display, the second hard-wired switch group including the switch for switching operation between the monitoring mode and the operation mode, and vice versa, and for selecting the display screen with respect to the display screen to be displayed on the display, and the input device for designating a position of the operation device to be displayed on the display, the operation device to be processed is selected and designated, from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, the plurality of operation items of the designated operation device are displayed on the operation item display area when the operation device to be processed is designated, the operation item is selected, and an operation is performed by using the plurality of hard-wired switches arranged to correspond to the plurality of operation items of the operation device of the first hard-wired switch group.

Furthermore, in Example 1, in the user interface apparatus, since the operation device to be processed is selected and designated from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, the partitioning line representing by dividing the system diagram display area into a plurality of divided areas is displayed, one of the divided areas is

selected and	designated	by	the input device,	and the
partitioning	line is set	to	include only one	operation
device in the	divided area	It

[Example 2]

Example 2 indicates another method for selecting and designating the operation device to be processed from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, in an apparatus configuration and a series of procedures represented in Example 1.

In Example 2, in the system diagram displayed on the display 2, when transitioning from a monitoring mode screen 6 to an operation mode screen 7 by operating the selector switch of the hard-wired switch group 4, a configuration in which a pointer is displayed in the screen will be described. A trackball and an arrow key can be operated as a predetermined input device 5 required for operating the display 2 such that it is possible to operate the pointer.

Fig. 5 shows a state of the display 2, in the present invention, is in the operation mode, and a method of automatically and sequentially changing a position on which the pointer to be displayed is defined by using the pointer displayed on the screen 9 in accordance with an instruction from the input device 5 as an interface for selecting one operation device. For example, the pointer movement is changed in the ascending order of the number allocated to the operation device by the right direction signal of the input device 5 is illustrated.

Alternatively, the pointer movement is changed in descending order of the number allocated to the operation device by the left direction signal of the input device 5 is illustrated.

In Fig. 5, by moving the pointer with the left and right keys of the input device 5 or by rolling it in the left and right directions, it is possible to sequentially move the number assigned to the operation device and it is represented that an operation device number 20 reaches 004 from 001 through 002 and 003 by pushing the right arrow.

The pointer movement may be sequentially and automatically moved by one operation, and may be a single movement that one operation device is moved by one operation. An operator may designate a selection of the operation device when the pointer reaches to the desired position.

[Example	3]
Example	3 indicates	further another method	for
selecting	and	designating	the operation device	to	be
processed	from the plurality of operation	devices
displayed	on	the system	diagram display area	of	the
display screen	in an apparatus configuration and a	series

of procedures represented in Example 1 and Example 2.

Fig. 6 shows a state in which the display 2 of the present invention is in the operation mode, and the numbers assigned to the operation device by utilizing signals in the up, down, left, and right directions of the input device 5, has been selected by using the pointer displayed on the screen 10, and this selections is carried out by the pointer which moves within an area divided from the current position for each 90° as an interface for selecting one operation device.

In Fig. 6, with respect to the current pointer position, a movement of the operation device capable of selecting the closest operation in a direction selected by the input device 5 of upper, lower, left, and right in four divided areas 21 at 90° intervals (45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°) from the operation position is represented. In a case where there is no corresponding operation device within an area of a movement destination, there is no movement in the instructed direction.

In Example 3, by combining a method of using a pointer in general and a system diagram display on a screen, since it is possible for the user to easily use or to sensibly recognize information of the plant, it is possible to expect the reduction of an erroneous operation and the improvement of operability.

Reference Signs List

1: user interface apparatus

2: display

3: display lower hard-wired switch

4: display vertical hard-wired switch

5: input device group

6: system diagram (monitoring mode)

6A: piping system diagram display area

6B: operation device operation item display area

6B1, 6B2, 6B3, 6B4, 6B5, 6B6: operation items of operation device display window

7: system diagram (operation mode) to 35: hard-wired switch

41:	monitoring mode selection switch
42 :	operation mode selection switch
43,	44, 45, 46, 47: display screen selection switch
5 49:	partitioning line display switch
51:	number key
52 :	trackball
53 :	arrow key
71,	72: partitioning line
10 SB1	: opening and closing valve
SB2	: pump
SB3	: operation
SB4	: stop

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1]

A user interface apparatus of a display for performing an operation of an operation device by displaying a display screen for displaying a system configuration of a plant including a plurality of the

operation devices on a display, the apparatus comprising:

a display for displaying a display screen configured by being divided into a system diagram display area on which the system configuration of the plant including the plurality of operation devices is displayed and an operation item display area on which operation items of the operation device are displayed;

a first hard-wired switch group composed of a plurality of hard-wired switches arranged to correspond to a plurality of operation items in the operation device displayed on the operation item display area of the display;

a second hard-wired switch group including switches for switching operation between a monitoring mode and an operation mode, and vice versa, and for selecting a display content of the display screen with respect to the display screen to be displayed on the display; and an input device for designating a position of the operation device to be displayed on the display, wherein the operation device to be processed is selected and designated from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, and when one operation device to be processed is designated, the plurality of operation items of the designated operation device are displayed on the operation item display area, and an operation in which the operation item is selected by using the plurality of hardwired switches of the first hard-wired switch group arranged to correspond to the plurality of operation items of the operation device, is performed.
[Claim 2]

The user interface apparatus of the display according to Claim 1, wherein in order to select and designate one operation device to be processed from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, by displaying a partitioning line indicated by dividing the system diagram display area into the plurality of divided areas, one divided area is designated by being selected by the input device, and the partitioning line is set to include only one operation device in the divided area.
[Claim 3]

The user interface apparatus of the display according to Claim 1, wherein in order to select and designate the operation device to be processed from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, the operation device is pointed and displayed by a pointer, and the operation device is displayed by the pointer in a sequentially changing manner according to a predetermined order.
[Claim 4]

The user interface apparatus of the display according to Claim 1, wherein in order to select and designate the operation device to be processed from the plurality of operation devices displayed on the system diagram display area of the display screen, by designating a direction from the plurality of operation devices positioned in a close proximity to a specified operation device, the operation device positioned in the direction is selected and displayed.
[Claim 5]

The user interface apparatus of the display according to Claim 1, wherein the input device is a trackball including a decision switch, a pedestal dedicated to the trackball in the trackball is positioned between a user and the display, and the decision switch is located closer to a user side than the trackball on the pedestal on which the trackball is operated.
[Claim 6]

The user interface apparatus of the display according to Claim 1, wherein the input device is an arrow key including the decision switch, the arrow keys of up and down, left and right are configured with a hard-wired switch in a horizontal direction of a screen displaying a system diagram, and the decision switch is configured with the hard-wired switch and is located in the center of the arrow keys.
[Claim 7]

The user interface apparatus of the display according to Claim 1, wherein the input device is a number key including the decision switch, each number is added to the partitioning line on the display, an operation of the partitioning line is performed by inputting a number corresponding to each screen divided on the partitioning line, and the decision switch is positioned at the lower right corner of the number keys.
[Claim 8]

The user interface apparatus of the display according to Claim 1, wherein the input device is an arrow key including the decision switch, a pointer is displayed on a screen, the pointer is displayed at a position of the operation device having the smallest operation device number on the display at the time of a start operation, and the pointer is moved to the closest selectable operation device within an area in which any direction can be selected from upper, lower, left, and right in four divided areas at 90° intervals (45°, 135°, 225°, and 315^c operation position.
[Claim 9]

The user interface apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the input device is a unique number is added to the operation from the current of the display number key, each item displayed on the system diagram on the display, and a target operation device is selected by inputting a number associated with the operation device to be operated into the number key.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB 1720725.9 1,5-9