EP1495399A2

EP1495399A2 - Method for controlling a window-based user interface and an hmi device for carrying out said method

Info

Publication number: EP1495399A2
Application number: EP03734647A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roland Melzer
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2002-01-29
Filing date: 2003-01-16
Publication date: 2005-01-12
Also published as: US20050055646A1; US7418669B2; DE10203370A1; WO2003065208A2; WO2003065208A3

Abstract

The invention relates to the control of a window-based, interactive user interface (210) comprising at least two overlapping display and control windows (220, 230). When one display and control window (220) is activated, the other display and control window (230) is automatically reduced in size to such an extent that it is represented in its entirety on the interactive user interface (210), without overlapping the display and control window (220). Preferably, the activation of the display and control window (220) is triggered by an optical cursor (211).

Description

description

Procedure for controlling a window-oriented user interface and an HMI device for performing the procedure

The invention relates to a method for controlling a window-oriented, interactive user interface with at least two overlapping display and operating windows.

So-called window technology has found wide application in the operation of computer systems. The "Lexicon of Computer Science and Data Processing *, 3rd edition, R. Oldenburg Verlag Munich, 1991, page 303 contains the following definition for a window:" A mostly rectangular area on the screen of a data display device that acts as an independent (virtual) Screen can be viewed. With the help of windows, different information units can be simultaneously displayed and selectively manipulated

In practice, the problem constantly arises that several windows are displayed on the user interface of a data display device, which partially overlap. This creates a virtual stratification of windows that are virtually one above the other. Only the content of the quasi-top window, i.e. the currently active window, fully visible and e.g. accessible for operating operating objects located therein. The windows behind it, i.e. the currently inactive windows are partially or completely covered by the active window and are therefore at least not fully visible.

When using a computer system that is used in an office environment, the problem is usually solved by constantly switching between displayed on a user interface ^■, windows opened by the respective operator. On the other hand, a computer system is used in an industrial environment to observe and influence a industrial technical equipment used, complete or partial coverage of the display contents of windows can be problematic, for example, for security reasons.

Technical devices are controlled and operated with the aid of digital, programmable devices, which in many cases can also represent an automation system or can be a component of such. Technical equipment includes all types of technical devices and systems, both individually and in e.g. understood via a fieldbus networked arrangement. For example, under technical facilities to understand individual equipment in the context of an industrial application, e.g. Drives, processing machines. An entire production facility is also regarded as a technical facility. an entire technical process with locally distributed resources, e.g. in a chemical plant, a manufacturing plant or a processing plant. The programmable devices used for the management of technical devices have a constantly increasing range of functions. In addition to the decentralization of the resources of such a device and their networking via bus systems, the operability of the devices is becoming increasingly important. In particular, distributed automation systems can have special devices that form the interface between an operator and the automation system.

Such devices are generally referred to as HMI devices, whereby the term “human machine interface *” is abbreviated with HMI. Furthermore, it has become common to refer to this device class as devices for “operating and monitoring * technical facilities, abbreviated as“ B + B devices *. These devices, which are virtually in front of the actual devices used for the direct control of a technical device, have an increasing functionality. An overview of the range of functions of HMI devices can be can be obtained, for example, by viewing the Internet representations of Siemens AG, Automation & Drives division at http: // www. ad. Siemens. de / simatic / html_76 / intro / hmi .htm or http://www.ad.siemens.de/hmi/html_00/index.htm. Furthermore, by activating a conventional Internet search engine, such as GOOGLE at the address http://www.google.de, by entering a search question such as “Human Machine Interface *”, a wealth of product information on HMI devices and systems can be found. The term HMI device is to be understood as a generic term and includes all components belonging to this device group, eg "Operator Panels ¹ ", which are often also abbreviated as "OP *. HMI devices have an increasing functionality and take over, for example, in one Networked automation system functions that can generally be viewed as pre- and post-processing of data of the technical device to be controlled. This not only relieves the load on a central control device, for example a programmable logic controller, but also enables functions that are possible with an HMI device Comfort, quality and safety of operation by an operator improve, eg the overview of the equipment to be operated and the error-free operation.

An HMI device thus generates at least one interactive overview image or process image of the technical to be operated

Facility. On the one hand, this enables the targeted specification of operating actions in order to bring the device into a desired state. On the other hand, the targeted display of reactions from the technical facility is also possible, usually in the form of measured values and messages.

This enables reliable monitoring of the state of the technical system. Fault messages, which signal an undesired state of the device and generally result in the targeted input of operating actions by an operator into the HMI device, have a special position. With these, the malfunction event of the technical device, which has been influenced so that the technical equipment returns to a desired state as possible.

With a window-oriented user interface, problems can arise if important window contents are covered by currently active windows. Contained e.g. In the case of an HMI device, if a window is an important fault message for a technical device, problems can arise if this window is at least temporarily replaced by another active window, e.g. is partially covered in which a person performs a normal operating action, e.g. adjusts the setpoint for a process parameter.

From DE 37 07 490 an arrangement for the simultaneous display of several images on the screen is one

Display device known. There is a control element with which the images can be adjusted in terms of size and position on the screen. For this purpose, there is a window setting mark which is shown on the border lines of adjoining windows and can be moved by means of the control element, the border lines also being shifted. This allows the section shown in a window to be set manually.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a method for controlling a window-oriented user interface and an HMI device operated according to this method, with which the problems described above can be avoided. Another object of the invention is to create a corresponding automation system and an associated computer program product.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved in each case with the features of the independent patent claims.

In the method according to the invention, when one of the display and operating windows is activated, the other display window and operating window are reduced so much that they are displayed completely on the interactive user interface without overlapping with the one display and operating window. This makes it possible for an operator to logically capture a display and operating window at least in such a way that critical contents, for example alarm messages, which may require immediate initiation of suitable measures, can be recognized.

Depending on the application, it can be advantageous if in the above case the other display and operating window is reduced to the size of an icon independently, i.e. a symbol that represents the affected display and operating window. Here too, critical content of the iconized window, e.g. have been triggered by malfunction reports from a technical system, can be identified by a corresponding design of the icon. This embodiment of the invention is particularly advantageous if the window-oriented user interface has to be displayed on a small-area display unit, e.g. on the LCD display of a handheld unit.

Activation of a display and operating window is advantageously triggered with an optical pointer. This can be done by an operator e.g. can be manipulated using a mouse-like control device. If the optical pointer is brought close to a display and control window, or e.g. passed over this, it is automatically reduced according to the invention to a still displayable size or icon size.

Particularly when iconizing a display and control window, it is advantageous if a text is displayed on the user interface in a spatial proximity to the optical pointer, which contains selectable parts from the reduced display and control window. If, for example, the reduced window contains a fault message, the text can refer to the content of the current fault. The text is advantageously output when the optical pointer on the user interface is in spatial proximity to the reduced or iconized other display and operating window. With this, the relation of the text on the optical pointer to the respective reduced display and operating window can be clarified for an operator.

It is particularly advantageous if an HMI device used for monitoring and operating a technical device is operated using the method according to the invention. The advantage is particularly evident when the HMI device is designed as a handheld device or operator panel, since such devices generally only have relatively small display units, such as Touch screens or LCD displays. The invention can also be implemented in an automation system which acts on a technical device and to which at least one HMI device is connected or integrated.

If the invention is carried out by means of a computer program, this is advantageously embodied in the form of a computer program product. These are commercial manifestations of the computer program which have software means for carrying out a method according to the invention when the computer program is executed in an HMI device or an automation system. These can be fixations on common data media such as floppy disks, CD, DVD, hard drives, memory sticks, tapes and much more. act. But also files that are stored in a computer server, e.g. Downloaded with the help of the Internet and loaded into an HMI device or automation system are computer program products in the sense of the invention.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it: 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an automation system which has an HMI device for operating a technical device,

2 shows a user interface which is output by a display device and on which a display and control window is output,

3 the user interface of FIG. 2, in which a further, overlapping display and operating window is output,

FIG. 4 shows the user interface from FIG. 3, in which one of the two display and operating windows is reduced according to the invention so that it is still completely shown, and

5 shows the user interface of FIG. 3, in which one of the two display and operating windows is reduced to the size of an icon in accordance with the invention.

1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an automation system 1 which has an HMI device 10 according to the invention for operating a technical device 2. The HMI device has a human-machine interface 200 which can be accessed via a display unit 200a, e.g. an LCD display, and an input unit 200b, e.g. a membrane keyboard, keypads, mouse pads, etc., has. Display unit and input unit can also be designed as a combination device, e.g. in the form of a touch-sensitive display unit, e.g. of a touch screen.

The HMI device 10 also has a processing unit 100 on which HMI software runs. The HMI software is used on the one hand to control the display unit 200a and the input unit 200b of the human-machine interface 200, the display and input unit 200a, 200b using the internal Data interfaces 301, 302 are connected to the processing unit 100. Furthermore, the HMI software has the task of carrying out user-specific preparatory and postprocessing, in particular of operator actions, measured value displays and reports of malfunction events.

From the large range of functions that a computer program of the type of HMI software can have, only a few examples are to be shown as examples. For example, operating actions, measured values and fault events can be entered into an interactive process image by an HMI software and visualized on the display unit 200a. Furthermore, e.g. Operating actions, measured values and fault events are logged in a user-specific manner and archived in suitable lists for later evaluations. Furthermore, an HMI software can have editors with which individually designed process images of the technical device 2 to be monitored and operated can be configured. HMI software can be, for example, the WinCC or UTAH programs from Siemens AG. Such HMI computer programs are executed in an HMI device or an automation system and are commercially available in the form of conventional computer program products, such as Program CDs, disks, program files that can be downloaded from the Internet and much more. ..

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the HMI device 10 is connected to a control unit 13 via a communication interface 11 and an internal data bus 12. This can be a programmable logic controller PLC, which has the actual task of managing the technical device 2. In the control unit 13, for example, control algorithms for technical resources of the technical device can be executed. If the automation system 1 is used for process control, for example of technical equipment in the chemical industry set, 13 recipe management, batch controls and much more can run in the control unit.

In the example in FIG. 1, a further communication interface 15 forms the transition between the internal data bus 14 at the output of the control unit 13 and a field bus 30. As data networks, which may extend into the distributed technical equipment 2 will suffice, for example bus systems such as Fieldbus, Profibus, Ethernet, Industrial Ethernet, FireWire or internal PC bus systems (PCI), etc. are used. In terms of data technology, this fieldbus connects so-called field devices to the control unit 13 and also to the HMI device 10. In the following, peripheral devices such as e.g. Understand input / output modules, drives, actuators, sensors, regulators or control units of any kind. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, for example, a field device 31 is connected via an external data interface 32 to a resource 21, e.g. a drive of the technical device 2 connected. Correspondingly, the field devices 33, 35 are connected via the external data interfaces 34, 36, for example, to a measuring sensor 22 or an actuating device 23 of the technical device 2.

With reference to the following Figures 2 to 5, the invention is explained using the example of an industrial control device that a technical device or a technical process e.g. controls in the chemical industry. The technical equipment can be an automation system 1 in which at least one HMI device is integrated. This has a human-machine interface 200, which has at least one window-oriented, interactive user interface. , e.g. in the form of a touch screen.

For example, FIG. 2 shows a human-machine interface 200. This can be an active operator terminal of the automation system 1. The operator For example, nal can take the form of an "operator panel * or a" handheld *. For operation, these are generally equipped with an operating keyboard and a window-oriented, interactive user interface 210, for example an LCD monitor. Data, programs and messages can be displayed and operated in a window-oriented manner via the user interface, as is known from Windows-based PC computer systems. If the window-oriented, interactive user interface 210 is designed, for example, in the form of a touch screen, operations can also be carried out directly without the need for an additional keyboard.

In the example in FIG. 2, a first display and control window 220 is output on the window-oriented, interactive user interface 210 as an example. This is with

"Prescription specification * denotes and serves as an example for specifying process parameters for a group of mixers in a chemical plant. The operation is advantageously carried out by means of an optical pointer 211, e.g. an operating mark or a cursor that e.g. can be navigated with a mouse-like input device over the entire interactive user interface 210. With this, the mixer for which the data to be specified is intended can be selected via a control panel 221 for “mixer selection *. In the example, this is a mixer with the number "53 *.

In the example in FIG. 2, the display and control window 220 enables, for example, a selection of substances via a control panel 222, and for the selected substance a temperature specification via a control panel 223 and a fill quantity specification in cbm via a control panel 224 for the currently selected mixer 53 In the example shown it is specified that the substance "water *" should be supplied to the activated mixer 53 in a filling quantity of "3.75 cbm * and a temperature of" 85.50 C *. The default values can be released by activating the control panel 225 used for data transfer, ie for execution to an automation system. system 1 are handed over. Otherwise, the process can be ended by operating the control panel 226 used to terminate a data transfer.

The exemplary display and operating window 220 also has a task bar 203 at the bottom. On this e.g. programs that can be activated or are currently running are operated or displayed, in particular in the form of small icons called "Icon *". The icon 203 labeled “Start *” in the example of the figure enables the activation of a submenu that contains a list of user programs that can be activated. Finally, two icons 201 and 202 are also stored as examples on the interactive user interface. The link 201 provides a logical connection to a program, e.g. WinCC, and the link 202 to a file folder. By actuating the icon 201, a program linked to it can be started. Furthermore, the file associated with the icon 202 can be opened by actuation with the aid of the optical pointer 211.

Finally, the display and operating window 220 has further operating fields with which general operations can be carried out. Activating the control panel 227 makes it possible to close the “Recipe specification * 220” window. Activation of the control panel 229 enables window minimization or iconization, i.e. e.g. a reduction to a display format corresponding to the icons 201, 202. Conversely, the control panel 228 enables the activation of a full screen mode. The display and control window 220 would then be enlarged so that it fills the entire interactive control surface 210.

The display and operating window 220 shown in FIG. 2 is only intended to serve as an example to explain the basic principle, such as displaying and specifying process parameters when observing and operating a technical input. direction with the help of a window-oriented, interactive user interface. In practice, the display and operating windows of real process controls generally have a much larger number and different types of displays and operating fields.

It can now happen that e.g. on the basis of an event in the technical process to be controlled or on the basis of a corresponding action by an operator, the automation system automatically opens a further display and operating window on the interactive user interface of an HMI device. As a rule, this lies above the display and operating windows that are already open and covers them partially or almost completely.

Such a case is shown by way of example in FIG. A second display and control window 230, which is referred to as “process alarm *”, is displayed on the interactive user interface 210 and thereby covers the display and control window 220 that was previously only displayed. The second display and control window 230 has a message text 231 "Message: Inadmissible limit value violation *, which signals the occurrence of a fault in the example. For example, a display field 232 for the respectively disturbed equipment, in the example the mixer 19, is furthermore a display field 233 for the setpoint of the respectively disturbed process variable, in the example a “pressure setpoint in bar * in the size of 3.5, and still on Display field 234 for the actual actual value of the disturbed process variables, in the example a “actual pressure value in bar * of size 7”.

Finally, the display and control window 230 also has control panels with which operations of a general nature can be carried out. Activating the control panel 237 makes it possible to close the “Process alarm * 235” window. Activation of the control panel 237 enables window minimization or iconization, ie, for example, a reduction to a display format corresponding to icons 201, 202. Conversely, the control panel 237 enables the activation of a full screen mode. The display and control window 230 would then be enlarged so that it fills the entire interactive control surface 210.

In practice, a state shown in the example in FIG. 3 is disadvantageous and often undesirable. The reason for this is that the previously active display and control window 220 is at least covered by the new display and control window 230 so that, for example, the control panels 221, 225, 266 are completely covered and the control panels 222, 223, 224 are largely covered. The undesired covering is of course particularly pronounced in the case of small-area user interfaces 210, such as occur, for example, in operator panels or hand held operating units. Even if the display and control window 230 is displayed completely in the foremost level due to its urgent content, ongoing operation of the display and control window 220 is abruptly interrupted by the sudden opening of the window 230 as a rule. In many cases, an operator would like to continue operating the display and operating window 220 immediately after having become aware of his current message content, in particular the message text 231 in the example in FIG. 3. So far, some operations have mostly been necessary with the aid of the optical pointer 211. The display and control windows on the interactive control surface 210 are in particular shifted and reduced in such a way that there is no overlap or no overlap. This type of operation occurs constantly on user interfaces that are based on the "Windows * standard". As a rule, they are not critical for the office technology applications there, since the software applications in the display and operating windows currently covered are not real-time capable, that is to say no direct measuring or determining ones Interventions in a physical environment require or cause.

Controls used in process technology, in particular automation systems, and the computer program products processed by them are, however, not offline. Rather, they are usually connected online to a technical process. An unforeseen delay can even be caused by simple operations such as the specification of a required filling quantity of process water for a mixer 53 via the control panel 224 in the display and control window 220 in the example of FIG. 2 has undesirable effects on the respective technical process.

This problem is solved with the present invention in that when the one display and control window is activated, the other display and control window is automatically reduced so much that it completely on the interactive control surface without overlapping with the one display and control window is pictured. Activation of the one display and operating window is preferably triggered with an optical pointer

The invention and further embodiments thereof are explained in more detail below using the example of the states shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Starting from the state shown in FIG. 3, in which the display and operating window 230 is active, the display and operating window 220 is activated in the example in FIG. 4. The other display and control window 230 is automatically reduced so much that it is completely displayed on the interactive control surface 210 without overlapping with the one display and control window 220. The degree of the necessary downsizing is thus dependent on the processing unit, for example an HMI device or automation system, depending on the available one area of the interactive user interface 210 not yet occupied dynamically by another display and operating window. In the example in FIG. 4, the display and operating window with the title “Process alarm *” comes to lie in a reduced form 230a on the free area to the left of the display and operating window 220 and below the icon links 201, 202. All elements 231 to 237 of the display and operating window 230 in FIG. 3 are correspondingly present in the reduced version 230a of FIG. 4 in the form of the elements 231a to 237a. Furthermore, the display and operating window 220 is again available for operation over the entire surface and thus without restriction.

Activation of the display and control window 220 is preferably triggered with an optical pointer 211. In the example in FIG. 3, this can be done by an operator operating a mechanical input unit, not shown, e.g. a so-called computer mouse, which moves the optical pointer 211 on the interactive control surface 210 until it touches the surface of the largely concealed display and control window 220. This can be used as a trigger moment to trigger the automatic reduction of the display and control window 230 according to the invention.

The other display and operating window 230 can advantageously also be reduced to the size of an icon independently. In the example in FIG. 5, this is shown by the icon 240. The icon is designed, for example, as an alarm symbol with a “warning triangle *, in order to symbolize the message function of the associated second display and operating window 230“ process alarm *. In a further embodiment of the invention, which has already been illustrated in the example in FIG. 5, a text field 241 is displayed on the user interface 210 in a spatial proximity to the optical pointer 211, which contains selectable parts from the display and control window 230 associated with the program. The in Text shown in the game "Alarm: mixer 19, pressure: 7 bar * is generated by selecting display fields 232 or 232a and 234 or 234a. The text field 241 is advantageously output only when the optical pointer 211 is on the user interface 210 in a spatial proximity to the iconized display and control window 230.

Claims

claims

1. Method for controlling a window-oriented, interactive user interface (210) with at least two overlapping display and operating windows (220, 230),

d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that

when one display and control window (220) is activated, the other display and control window (230) is automatically reduced so much that it is completely displayed on the interactive user interface (210) without overlapping with the one display and control window (220) becomes.

2. The method according to claim 1, so that the other display and control window (230) is reduced to the size of the icon (240).

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, so that activation of the one display and operating window (220) is triggered with an optical pointer (211).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that activation of the one display and control window (220) is triggered automatically by the optical pointer (211) on the interactive control surface (210) being in spatial proximity to the one Display and control window (220) is guided.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a- characterized in that a text (241) is displayed on the user interface (210) in a spatial proximity to an optical pointer (211), which selectable parts (232,234) from the other display - and operating window (230) contains.

6. The method according to claim 5, so that the text (241) is output when the optical pointer (211) on the user interface (210) is in spatial proximity to the other display and control window (230).

7. HMI device (10) for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims when observing and operating a technical device (2; 21, 22, 23).

8. HMI device (10) according to claim 7, wherein changes in states for the technical device (2) can be predetermined in the one display and operating window (220).

9. HMI device (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein changes in states in the technical device (2) can be displayed in the other display and operating window (230).

10. HMI device (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9, which is designed as a handheld device.

11. HMI device (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9, which is designed as an operator panel.

12. Automation system (1), which acts on a technical device (2) and on the at least one HMI device

(10) according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 8 switched or integrated into this.

13. Computer program product with a computer program, which has software means for performing a method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, if the computer program is executed in an HMI device (10) or an automation system (1).