DE2435706A1 - INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

Information display system

The invention relates to an information display system, especially for the regulation of industrial processes, with a display device for displaying the information.

In the control of industrial processes, it is common practice to provide a large display board on which a large number of the process-regulating instruments as well as assigned meter reading

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device are provided, which is monitored by an operator and must be operated to control the process in an appropriate manner. Since, on the one hand, the industrial plants always have become larger and, on the other hand, the control systems have been combined in central control rooms, the amount has increased the information that is necessary to be displayed for a suitable regulation is considerably enlarged. The operator is therefore forced to to process a very large amount of data pertaining to the process in order to determine the appropriate measures for the control of the 'To seize process.

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With the introduction of digital process control of industrial processes and the introduction of new, compact display devices, e.g. cathode ray tubes, it has become technically and economically possible to move away from the conventional, large display panel to sweep away with instruments and to create a central display and control room in the form of a viewing device. Such a viewing device is described, for example, in the magazine "Control Engineering", December 1965, on pages 77 to 83. The representation the information on a screen allows the operator compared to a control panel with instruments a better overview of the data offered and a better mental processing of the same, via a switch keyboard, which is embedded in a desk-shaped table of the viewing device, the operator can focus on the process to be controlled Influence. In the case of the known information display systems that work with a display device, it has been found that often more information is offered than the operator can process, or that necessary and desirable data are currently not displayed.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an information display system of the type mentioned to improve and expand so that the communication between the operator and Display system is made possible in an optimal way. This object is achieved according to the one characterized in claim 1 Invention. Further advantageous refinements of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the figures in the accompanying drawing, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a display device with an operating control panel; Figure 2 is a scheme to explain the operation of the Viewing device;

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FIG. 3 shows a screen of the viewing device with overview information appearing thereon; FIG. 4 shows a screen with a displayed item of information ,

FIG. 5 shows the screen according to FIG. 4 with a section of the individual information shown; FIG. 6 shows the screen according to FIG. 4 with a representation of the time course of some data of the individual information and FIG. 7 is a block diagram for the circuitry of the display system.

Figure 1 shows a control panel 1 for monitoring and Regulation of industrial processes. The console 1 has three cathode ray tubes 2, 4 and 6, each tube being a set of manually operated ones Switch is assigned. These switches and the console switches to be described later can be rocker arm or Be push-button switches or they can be designed as capacitive proximity switches or proximity switches based on the Hall effect. It it should also be noted that the switches are mounted in a plate placed in front of the screens, the plate being off There is clear material to allow the operator to see the cathode ray tubes when turning a switch operated in conjunction with the information shown. In the example shown, two rows of switches 8 and 10 are in arranged vertical arrangements on opposite sides of the cathode ray tube 2. Same vertical switch arrangements 12, 14 and 16, 18 are on opposite sides of the picture tubes 4 and 6 arranged. Each of the picture tubes 2, 4 and 6 also has a horizontal switch arrangement 20, 22 and 24, these Switches are arranged below the associated picture tube. A keyboard that is still provided consists of a horizontal one Arrangement of switches with two rows arranged one above the other. The keyboards 26, 28 and 30 are provided in order to

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man in a position to deal with the various to take corrective action on the process parameters displayed on the screens.

The console according to FIG. 1 differs from conventional ones

Consoles on two important points. The first is the one to j controlling process related information displayed in zones; ordered, and the display formats have a predetermined relationship to one another. Second is the information presented accessible by the operator by operating the switch assemblies, these switch assemblies in spatial relationship to the information presented. The arrangement of the switches in relation to the screens simplifies and improves the operator's work options by providing access to the desired information and allow the data. As a result, there is no need for the operator to do anything complicated To use identification keys or to work with additional equipment, e.g. a light pen, in order to access the: to gain the information you want. . !

The three screens 2, 4 and 6 of the console "! Convey three; interrelated information. In detail, the middle screen 4 gives an overview of the Process conditions. The overview of the overall process given on the screen 4 is a concentrated and simplified representation simultaneous measurements of many process conditions of a dynamic process. These measurements are referred to herein as data are and typically can be measurements of temperatures, pressures, flow rates, chemical analyzes, etc. The screen 6 on the right-hand side of the console 1 allows individual information to be displayed, which the operator based on his observations on the overview information display screen 4 can be requested. The screen 2 on the left side of the console 1 is for the presentation

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setting of an alarm condition within the monitored industrial Process provided.

In an industrial process, each of the many process variables must be kept within a predetermined range of values. the Areas are selected in such a way that they guarantee a suitable sequence of the process to be monitored. The main goal of the Operator is to monitor the process currently running to ensure that the process variables are within Maintain these predetermined ranges and, if necessary, influence the process in a corrective manner. The typical one Extent of data, i.e. the collection of measured values within the Process to be monitored and controlled can include data from several thousand measuring points within the process. Consequently the main problem is to keep this amount of data in such a Way to arrange that the operator initially only the most important data for a quick overview of the process parameters is shown during the normal process flow, while a detailed overview is only shown and available must be if any of the process parameters takes an abnormal value. At the same time, an alarm display is automatically provided, to alert the operator to an abnormal operating condition, this alarm indication independently from the operator's observations. This is important as it is impossible for the operator to have several thousand Process information at the same time.

An industrial process or plant can be considered an assembly can be viewed from parts of the plant, which in turn can be divided into process units. A process unit is a subdivision which can be viewed as a variable to be monitored and regulated by the operator. In a The interfaces of various process units arranged in one place are located in the central control room. The display and control console 1 forms such an interface and is suitable for on

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to act on one or more such process units. For the sake of clarity, let us continue discussing the console limited to an embodiment intended for the display and control of the process variables of a single process unit. A process unit known in the chemical industry as a "cat cracker" is assumed as the process unit to be described. The "Cat Cracker" and its associated distillation columns can be viewed as components of a process unit. Within such a process unit there are elements which are related to one another and considered together as they form interconnected parts of the plant, e.g. the reactor, the main fractionation plant, the regenerator etc. Measurements of the process variables within each of these parts are of particular interest to the operator the monitoring and regulation of the entire process.

In the system described here, the amount of data consists of two groups of measurements, each of which is a part of the system assigned to the industrial process to be monitored and controlled. Each data group can also be divided into individual data which in turn are assigned to individual process conditions within the corresponding group element. The everyone Data associated with a group can be divided into two broad categories. For example, data based on measured variables and which are to be automatically regulated and displayed, as well as data assigned to the measured variables are, which should only be displayed, but are not subject to automatic regulation.

FIG. 2 shows the mode of operation of the display system in a block diagram according to Figure 1. The screen of the cathode ray tube 4 is divided into smaller areas, which are subsequently group zones G1, G2, G3 .... Gn can be called. The group information is displayed in these group zones. The information in the Group zones together provide overview information which

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results in a simple and compact representation of the many process variables of a process unit. Based on this overview,
the operator determine whether regarding a particular
Group details are required or not. Of the
Access to a specific item of information within a specific group is possible by means of the switch arrangements 12 and 14
possible. Each of the data groups shown is a switch in the immediate vicinity within the switch arrangement
assigned. Pressing one of these switches brings on the
Screen 6, which is adjacent to screen 4, the detail assigned to this group for display. In Figure 2 are the
Switches 12 and 14 are labeled B1, B2, B3 .... Bn. Does the operator therefore want more information about a particular one
Group within the overview information displayed on the screen 4, it must correspond to the corresponding group zone
Operate the adjacent switch. Accordingly, when looking at the overview information on the screen 4, the operator sees that the data displayed within a particular group zone, for example in the group zone B3, indicate a malfunction
of an item of equipment, he can provide detailed information on this item of equipment through a
Quickly received actuation of the neighboring group switch B3. The activation of this group switch causes the display of the
The individual information assigned to the group zone on the adjacent screen 6. It should be noted here that the overview information continues to be displayed on the screen 4, so that the operator continues to have an overview of the ongoing process, while the individual information for a specific group is simultaneously displayed on the screen 6 is available. To this
In this way, the operator can examine details of the conditions acting on the process in a part of the overall process, in addition to being able to follow the process sequence within the entire process unit by using the overview information shown.

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Due to the large amount of information that in some cases If necessary, it may be useful to further subdivide the information assigned to each group. Hence the initial, Individual items of information assigned to a group and displayed on the screen 6 in display zones A1, A2, .... An divided. Each display zone on the screen 6 is a

assigned manually operable switches C1, C2, Cn.

The switches C1 to Cn are on the underside of the screen arranged. The latter switches are part of a horizontal array of push button switches 24 and provide the operator a means at hand to select sub-elements from a group of data for further observation of details. For example, pressing switch C2

the initial individual information with its zones A1, A2, A3,

An is replaced by an even more detailed piece of information that relates only to the sub-elements within the zone A2 relates.

Additional switches D1 and D2, which are part of the switch arrangement 24, are provided, when they are operated by the operator to bring about the display of the individual information assigned to a selected group in consecutive order. Such a progressive display of individual items of information is referred to below as "turning the page", with successive to Display intended pages can be selected. The push button switch D1 causes further items of information to be displayed, i.e. it causes the display to progress to the next page. This progression takes place over the entire screen, whereby the previous display is represented by a new ad is replaced. The push-button switch is used on the other side D2 to replace the information currently displayed by the previous information page when it is actuated. The actuation of the first push button switch D1 thus leads to the

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Selection of the following page during the flip operation, while the actuation of the second push-button switch D2 leads to a selection of the previous page. The one for the page turning operation necessary information is available in a suitable memory within the console 1, which is based on later of Figure 7 will be described in more detail. If there is a desire to receive further information, for example trend information,

via a single in sub-zones A1, A2, An

To obtain information, this is possible by actuating the flip-over switches D1 and D2, whereby an information page _f, for example the trend information, is made available. Before doing this, however, the corresponding sub-element must be selected by actuating one of the switches C1, C2, ..... Cn. The operator thus has a complete data set with regard to each of the groups.

Screen 2, on the other hand, is used to display an alarm status of process variables and other information to notify immediately. These data are displayed to the operator automatically and without delay to draw attention to a malfunction within the process sequence to be monitored and regulated.

The arrangement shown in Figure 2 allows the operator in a direct way to access process data from a large amount of information by means of a relatively small number of switches and without the use of any Codes that the operator should have in mind. The operator also makes it easier to select the required data, by continuously displaying overview information and is observed, the zoning of the overview information at the same time designates the switch that must be actuated in order to receive the additional individual information required by the operator

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to bring mation to the display.

Up to this point the console was used as a pure information display system described. However, the operator should be given the opportunity to monitor and control the process v / earth to carry out certain manipulations with regard to the variable to be monitored. Such manipulations concern, for example a change in the setpoint, a change from automatic to manual control and vice versa, etc. Basic facilities are provided on the console to carry out such operations. According to FIG. 1, the console 1 Keyboards 26, 28 and 30 are arranged which enable the operator to make the necessary corrections. For example, in the case of a particular group of data which has been selected for display on the screen 6, the keyboard 30 is assigned to this screen and is automatically connected to it for the purpose of regulating the sub-elements in this group. By selecting a group, the actuators of this group can, for example, set a valve of the assigned process unit be / by the operator using the assigned keyboard 30 actuated. The setpoints and the alarm level for a controller can be set in the same way.

The keyboards 26, 28 and 30 are spatially assigned to the screens and adapted to the needs of the process to be monitored and regulated. For example, this is the screen associated keyboard 30 designed so that it can change the setpoint value, a trend display and a switchover of the procedure, i.e. from manual to automatic and vice versa. These operations represent the most common operation performed by an operator in industrial process control and are therefore provided separately within the keyboard 30 assigned to the screen 6.

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Deviating from the arrangement shown, a further arrangement of switches above or in place of the keyboard 30 can be used be arranged below the screen 6. Such a switch arrangement can be labeled on the screen assigned v / earth. Each switch would thus be spatially assigned to a label indicating its function. The keyboard 30 according to FIG. 1 could be omitted in this case.

Upon actuation of the keyboard 30, a first switch can be used to select a process variable and a second and a third switch can be used to decrease or increase a setpoint value assigned to the process variable. A fourth switch can be used to manually control the process variables. The regulation of the process variables can thus be achieved by actuating of the second and third switch, because the controller automatically adjusts the process variables to the adjustable setpoint tracks. These switches are only effective with regard to the particular selected group that appears on the screen 6 Actuation of the vertical and horizontal switch assemblies 12, 14 and 24 is brought to the display.

When industrial processes are running that need to be monitored, the console 1 normally generates a display of the overview information on the central screen 4. The console 1 is therefore initially used to automatically display the Ubersnungsi information. When continuously observing the overview information the operator can request further information in the manner described above.

FIG. 3 shows the typical image of overview information on the central screen 4. The setpoints of the process parameters are for each group of variables by highly developed horizontal Lines faded into the picture and deviations of the actual values from the setpoints are indicated by vertical lines, which sicV \

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extend from the horizontal lines to dashed horizontal lines which are spatially spaced above and run below the strong horizontal line. The dashed horizontal lines indicate the alarm level above and below the setpoint for each process parameter, thereby simultaneously the normal range of fluctuation of the process parameters is given.

The display shown for the first group G1 shows that a the variable, e.g. the temperature, has exceeded its limit value. This visual information prompts the operator to to request the individual information regarding this group in order to determine the mode of operation of the person responsible for the impermissible temperature To check process element. If this temperature is a critical variable with regard to the process to be monitored, so it is also shown on the alarm condition signaling screen 2 on the left side of the console Figure 1 and 2 shown. The display of the alarm status is not subject to the control of the operator, although the The information given by the signaling of the alarm state will trigger an action by the operator, which is based on a Returning the process to a normal operating state.

By actuating the assigned group switch G1, which is the Screen 4 is adjacent, the operator receives individual information related to the group, which is on the screen is pictured. The representation of the individual information can be taken from FIG. 4 of the drawing. By pressing the assigned Switch under the individual information shown on the screen 6, each switch according to FIG Is assigned to variables, the corresponding variable can be hidden. For example, switch C5 is the variable

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assigned that has exceeded its upper limit. By operating the switch C5, the display on the screen 6 appearing display is limited to this particular variable. The resulting display on the screen 6 upon actuation of switch C5 can be found in FIG. By subsequently actuating switch D1, the operator can display the next page of available information. In this example, the next display is a Trend display. According to FIG. 6, the trend display consists of long-term storage of data relating to the selected, special Variable are related. The operator can switch between the various available displays by operating the page-turning switch Toggle D1 and D2.

FIG. 7 shows a simplified block diagram of the components of the operating system for the console 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The mode of operation of the system shown in FIG. 7, which is used to generate the image representations on the screen 2, 4 and 6 is described below. For example, if the switch labeled B1 is actuated, it closes this switch results in a two-wire line being energized, which is connected to an encryption matrix 31 in FIG connected in the manner shown. The encryption matrix 31 generates a "2 out of 10 code". Everyone of the screens 2, 4 and 6 associated switch as well as the switch within the keyboards 26, 28 and 30 generates one associated with it characteristic code. This code is on an ASC II Godier block 32, whereby the ASC II code represents a six-bit code with a possible seventh bit for a parity check.

The output of the encoder 32 is fed to the digital input of a contact interface unit 34, with a special interrupt signal to the input of an interrupt interface circuit 36 is performed. The interrupt interface circuit

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36 operates on a central digital processing unit CPU 38 and draws its attention to the fact that a switch was actuated, whereby an interrupt program which is stored in the central processing unit 38 is called up will. The ASC II code, which via the interface unit 34 and the input / output line 40 to the central processing unit 38 arrives is read in on the basis of the present interrupt program. The ASC II code determines the the software operation to perform. For example, a special ASC II code can display one assigned to a group Cause individual information on the screen 6, as described above, with the software a group display in accordance with FIG. 4 on the screen 6.

When the program for the generation and transmission of a screen display is called up, the ASC II code is sent via the input / output line 42 to the input / output interface units 44, 46 and 48, each of which does a parallel-to-serial conversion for the purpose of further transmission of the information to associated controls 50, 52 and 54 for the picture tubes 2,4 and 6 initiate. The control units 50, 52 and 54 are each in the form of a simple computer which is able to receive the ASC II code and interpret it to the appropriate Bring images on the assigned picture tubes for display. Each control unit 50, 52 and 54 stores the received Information in an assigned local memory 56, 58 and 60, which memory is used for the assigned screen display to create. Each of these control unit and memory combinations can be of the type generally disclosed in US Pat so-called video terminals can be used. Each of the control units controls the video circuits 63, 64 and 66 in order to access them Way to generate the images as they are determined by the incoming ASC II code from the central processing unit 38. This system of converting an ASC II code into a screen

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representation is well known and is used in conventional terminals used.

The overall system thus ends devices for generating a code signal when a switch is operated, as well as devices to relay this signal to a digital computer, where the JvSC II code is processed by the computer's software is identified. Then, after using the software, each ASC II code has a special form of image display has been assigned, the relevant information is taken from a memory, e.g. a disk memory 68 or a drum memory 70, depending on where the software control information is stored. After the ASC II code and the operation required by it is identified, the program controls on the input / output line 4 2 the necessary signals to the selected picture tube in which the display takes place target.

Other ASC II codes which reach the central processing unit 38 initiate control measures by the central processing unit 38 via the input / output line 42 to process controllers 76, 78 and 80 which are arranged in the plant and act on the process variables to be monitored and controlled. The one generated by the central processing unit 38 Control signal is passed to the controller interface unit 82 and distributed by this to the controllers 76, 78 and 80, the Distribution takes place in accordance with a code that is assigned to the control signal and the identification of the respective Controller allowed. On the other hand is the controller interface unit 82 and the input / output line 42 are used to timeshare the central processing unit 38 the to supply the process variables present in the system and the process variables in the central processing unit 38 and the video controllers 50, and 54 update stored information.

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In this way the display on a screen can be modified and are adapted to the current values of the process variables so that the operator is provided with a display is faced, which corresponds to the actual process conditions.

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Claims (11)

Claims 1.] Information display system, especially for regulation industrial processes, with a display device for displaying the information, marked ^ by Storage devices (56, 58, 60, 68, 70) for storing information, where the information consists of overview information and of certain parts of the overview information related individual information consists of several, manually operated switches (12, 14), which are assigned to zones (G1 to Gn) of a screen (4) in which parts of the overview information are displayed, and by control devices (31 to 38, 44 to 66) for controlling the display of a piece of information depending on the actuation of one of the to be selected zone (G1 to Gn) associated switch (B1 to Bn). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that that each of the named zones (G1 to Gn) is assigned a single switch (B1 to Bn). '· · 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that that the switches (B1 to Bn) along one or two parallel sides of the screen (4) the corresponding zones (G1 to Gn) are spatially assigned. 4. System according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the individual information on one second screen (6) can be displayed. 509810/0973 5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the items of information are each from consist of a number of sub-information, which are in predetermined Zones (Λ1 to An) of the second screen (6) can be displayed that these zones (A1 to An) are each further manually operated Switches (C1 to Cn) are assigned, and that the control devices (31 to 38, 44 to 66) the display of the sub-information depending on the actuation of one of the Control the switch (C1 to Cn) assigned to selected zones (Λ1 to An). 6. System according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized characterized in that the information is stored one after the other in several levels according to the pages of a book are present, with one level ("sheet") being displayed on the screen (6) at a specific point in time and that the screen (6) for displaying the information sheet by sheet is assigned toggle switches (D1, D2), which, when actuated, replace the displayed sheet information with the preceding or following sheet information cause. 7. System according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that as a screen (2,4,6) a cathode ray tube is used. 8. System according to claim 1, characterized in that that a third screen (2) is arranged for the automatic display of an alarm condition. 9. System according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized characterized in that the display device (1) is equipped with keyboards (26,28,30), the screens 509810/0973 (2,4,6) are assigned, and by means of which an effect (setpoint specification, manual-automatic switchover, etc.) on the illustrated process to be controlled is enabled. 10. System according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the switches' (8 to 30) are connected to an encryption matrix (31) so that the generated code in a central processing unit (38) causes the current program to be interrupted and calls up an interrupt program which controls the display of the information on the screen (6) or affects an existing controller (76,78,80) in the system. 11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the central processing unit (38) ' in the timeshare takes information about the process variable from the controls (76,7 8,80) to the screen display keep up to date. 509810/0973 - -AG. Lee rs e i t e