WO2012173563A1

WO2012173563A1 - Rig control system

Info

Publication number: WO2012173563A1
Application number: PCT/SE2012/050647
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pär VÖRDE; Jörgen WESTIN; Sisirnath SANGIREDDY; Kristofer VAHLSTRÖM
Original assignee: Atlas Copco Rock Drills Ab
Priority date: 2011-06-14
Filing date: 2012-06-14
Publication date: 2012-12-20
Also published as: SE1100463A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to mining and/or tunneling equipment comprising a control system for interaction with an operator of said equipment for mining and/or tunneling, said system comprising means for displaying data on a display to said operator. The system comprises: - means for, on said display, displaying a highest level set of at least two selection elements, said selection elements being selectable by said operator, - means for, when a first selection element is selected by said operator, said first selection element being a selection element of said highest set of selection elements, displaying a lowest level set of selection elements, said lowest set of selection elements being sub- selection elements of a selected selection element of a higher level set of selection elements, - means for, when a selection element of said lowest level of selection elements is selected by said operator, displaying data being specific to said selected selection element of said lowest level set of selection elements while simultaneously displaying said highest and lowest sets of selection elements.

Description

RIG CONTROL SYSTEM

Fi eld o f the invention

The present invention relates to mining and/or tunneling equipment comprising a control system as set forth in the preamble of Claim 1.

Background o f the invention

Equipment for mining and/or tunneling, such as drilling rigs, can be used in a number of applications, for example in tunneling, underground mining, surface mining, exploration drilling, raise boring, rock reinforcement, scaling and water well drilling.

The equipment used in these applications consists of

relatively complex movable machines. In general, the equipment involves various functions, and for this reason, e.g.

equipment for mining/and or tunneling is often provided with various means for accomplishing these functions. For example, drilling rigs can comprise a main power generator, such as an electric motor or diesel engine, which powers one or more hydraulic pumps that, in turn, powers various hydraulic motors and/or cylinders.

With regard to drilling rigs the hydraulic motors and/or cylinders can, for example, be used for movement of the rig, which, e.g. can comprise a movable carrier, and also for movement of, e.g., one or more drilling booms and associated drilling machines carried by the drilling booms.

As indicated, a single drilling rig can comprise a plurality of drilling booms, and each boom can comprise a number of joints so as to allow drilling by means of the drilling machines in any desired direction and location within the coverage area of the drilling rig, where movement of these joints are achieved by suitably controlling respective hydraulic motors/cylinders. Also, operation of the drilling machine often comprises a rotation and/or percussion mechanism as well as a feed mechanism for securing contact between drill bit and material to be drilled.

The operation of drilling booms and drilling machine also relies on various sensors, e.g. position sensors to determine current positions of hydraulic cylinders etc.

As is obvious to a person skilled in the art, drilling rigs often also comprises various other functions that need

suitable control to allow efficient and reliable drilling at intended locations.

Equipment for mining and/or tunneling therefore oftentimes utilises a control system to supply control signals to the various means, e.g. on a drilling rig, such as, e.g.,

hydraulic cylinders, engine, percussion mechanism etc.

With regard to drilling rigs, the drilling booms/drilling machines can be automatically controlled by the control system, and/or by an operator of the drilling equipment, e.g. by manoeuvring means, e.g. in the form of levers (control sticks) . Irrespective of the manner in which drilling is controlled, the drilling is dependent on various input

parameters, at least some of which can be set by the operator by means of the control system, where, for example a display and keyboard, located at a control panel, e.g. in an operator cabin, can be used to input desired data.

For example, function parameter values such as drill pressure setting values, feeding values, percussion values, settings for movement of the rock drilling equipment or settings for any other means in connection to the function of the rock drilling, can be adjusted by the operator by means of said display and keyboard. Different work situations may require different function parameter settings, and different operators operating the same drilling rig can have different preferences in regard of parameter settings. Also, operators can have specific

preferences with regard to personal settings, such as language to be used for presenting data.

The control system further receives and collect status

information in regard of the various functions/components of the drilling equipment, and relevant status information can be presented to the operator by means of the display. The status information can, for example, comprise oil temperatures, hydraulic pressures, drilling rates, error messages etc. The control system may further create event and error logs in order to enable subsequent analysis of what has happened and when. The control system may also collect run statistics.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide equipment for mining and/or tunneling comprising a control system that facilitates interaction with an operator. This object is achieved by the equipment for mining and/or tunneling

according to claim 1.

The present invention relates to mining and/or tunneling equipment a control system for interaction with an operator of said equipment, said control system comprising means for displaying data on a display to said operator. The control system comprises:

- means for, on said display, displaying a highest level set of at least two selection elements, said selection elements being selectable by said operator,

- means for, when a first selection element is selected by said operator, said first selection element being a selection element of said highest set of selection elements, displaying a lowest level set of selection elements, said lowest set of selection elements being sub- selection elements of a selected selection element of a higher level set of selection elements, - means for, when a selection element of said lowest level of selection elements is selected by said operator, displaying data being specific to said selected selection element of said lowest level set of selection elements while simultaneously displaying said highest and lowest sets of selection elements. The present invention has the advantage that a solution is provided, which makes it possible for the operator to use and enhance cognitive logic and muscle memory when interacting with the control system according to the invention. Thereby, it is provided a system that not only results in a better user experience for the operator, but which also increases safety during operation of the drilling rig.

Further advantages will be obtained by various aspects of the invention and will be apparent from the following detailed description .

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows an example of a drilling rig in which the present invention can be used;

Fig. 2 shows a control system of the drilling rig of fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention;

Figs. 4A-C shows exemplary features according to the present invention;

Figs. 5A-B shows further exemplary features according to the present invention; Fig. 6 shows yet a further feature of the present invention. Figs. 7A-B shows an exemplary method of operating an

information panel according to the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

In the present description and claims, the term "operator" is defined as any of driller, service personnel of a

manufacturer's customer, the manufacturer's service personnel, or any other person with tasks connected to the rock drilling equipment .

The present invention will be described for a specific

drilling rig but the term mining and/or tunneling equipment

(equipment for mining and/or tunneling) used in the claims is defined to include drilling rigs for use in tunneling,

underground mining, surface mining, exploration drilling, and raise boring, as well as rigs for rock reinforcement, scaling and water well drilling.

The present invention will be explained by way of example with reference to a drilling rig of the type shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows a drilling rig 100 e.g. for use in tunneling, for ore mining, or for installing rock reinforcement bolts in the case of, for example, tunneling or underground mining. The drilling rig 100 comprises a boom 101, one end 101a of which being articulately connected to a movable carrier 102, via one or more joints, while the other end 101b has a feed beam 103 that supports an impulse-generating device in the form of a

drilling machine 104. The drilling machine 104 is displaceable along the feed beam 103, and generates shock waves that are conveyed to the rock 107 via a drill string 105 and a drill bit 108. The drilling machine 104 includes in a manner known per se a rotation device (not shown) for rotating the drill string 105 during drilling. The rotation device can consist of a rotation motor being hydraulically driven by a rotation fluid flow. Furthermore, the drilling machine 104 can be driven by a feed force F in its forward motion by a feed motor (not shown), also being hydraulically driven.

The rock drilling rig 100 also comprises a control system 106, which can be used e.g. according to what has been described in the background of the invention above, and further in

accordance with the present invention as will be described below. Control systems for use in equipment for mining and/or tunneling often utilize communication network technologies that are robust with regard to the hostile environment in which the equipment in general are used, and the control system can, for example utilize a CAN bus (Controller Area Network) solution for communication. However, any suitable method for communication can be used, and it is also possible to use different communication methods for communication with different peripherals according to the below.

The control system 106 is shown more in detail in fig. 2.

Reference numeral 201 indicates a central processing unit (CPU) which communicates with various programmable external logic units (PLUs) 201 by means of a communication network. The PLUs 201 are digital computers that are used to control functional hardware 204 such as e.g. drilling machine 104, boom/boom joints 101, hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic motors etc. by means of control signals transmitted from the CPU 201 and signals received from various sensors 203.

An operator can input data into the control system by means of a keyboard 205, and also by means of a touch sensitive

graphical display unit (display) 206. According to one

embodiment, data can be input by means of touch sensitive display only, or by keyboard only. The display 206 is also used to communicate information to the operator from the CPU

201 by means of suitable presentation of data on the display 206. Control of the equipment for tunneling and/or mining is performed by suitable software running on the CPU 201, the software being stored on internal 207 and/or external 208 memory .

As can be seen from fig. 2, the control system 106 is defined as the CPU 201 and associated memory, and suitable interfaces (not shown) for allowing connection and communication with peripherals, such as display 206, PLUs 202, keyboard etc.

In fig. 2 is further disclosed a digitizer 209, which e.g. can convert signals from levers being used to maneuvering drilling boom 101, drilling rig 100, carrier 102 etc. so as to be used by the CPU 201 to calculate suitable control signals for transmission to PLUs 202 for actually carrying out movements requested by the user by means of levers.

The control system has been briefly discussed, but the

function and operation of control systems of the disclosed kind is well known to the person skilled in the art, and the general function is therefore not described more in detail. The present invention relates to the interaction between control system and operator.

In operation, drilling is monitored by the operator by means of data generated by the control system. This data is

displayed on the display 206 so as to allow the operator to monitor various parameters as the drilling progress, and react in response to data being displayed, and also to input data, e.g. by means of the keyboard and/or levers and/or touch sensitive display when necessary. For example, as has been mentioned above, the operator can set various

drilling/drilling rig parameters.

Rock drilling is a real time process, and oftentimes it is desired that the operator can reach desired data quickly, e.g. to react to some occurring event during drilling. Previous systems, however are not very intuitive, and interactive elements, both visual and logical, in previous drilling rig control systems have been designed for keyboard input (e.g. arrow keys and enter key for movement/selection) or jog dial based navigation. This has resulted in specific navigational solutions that are not intuitive and that require the

operator's full attention.

The present invention, on the other hand, provides a solution that allows use of cognitive logic and muscle memory when interacting with the control system, which not only results in a better user experience for the user, but which also

increases safety during operation of the drilling rig, due to the operator being able to rely more on muscle memory and cognitive behavior, i.e. the manner in which the operator perceive, remember and learn about information being displayed on the display.

An exemplary method 300 of the manner in which the control system according to the present invention facilitates

operation of the drilling rig is shown in fig. 3.

The method starts in step 301, where it is controlled if the user has selected a part of the control system for display, where the user is to select a particular option among a plurality of options.

If so, the method continues to step 302, where a highest level set of selection elements (options) are displayed. This is disclosed in fig. 4A. Fig. 4A discloses an exemplary view 400 of the display 206 in fig. 2. According to the view 400 of fig. 4A, the display area for displaying data is divided into a first area 401 and a second area 402. The first area 401 is used to display the selection elements that can be selected by the operator, and the second area 402 is used to display data relating to a selected selection element. According to the present embodiment, the disclosed exemplary- view is displayed following a selection, e.g. on a start screen, which, e.g., can display a number of possible options, and the present selection thereby constitutes a specific portion of the control system. Alternatively, the disclosed view can be arrived upon when starting the system.

Irrespective of this, when a higher level set 403 of selection elements 403a-f is to be displayed, these are displayed e.g. in the manner disclosed in fig. 4A. The selection elements 403a-f consist at least partly of graphical elements, which, for example, can comprise graphical symbols and/or text. For simplicity, the graphical elements 403a-f comprise the

graphical symbols/texts "One" , "Two" "Three" etc., but in reality the graphical elements preferably consist of symbols that is descriptive to the options it represents, and/or a text description.

For example, the highest level 403 elements can be according to the list below, but as is appreciated by a person skilled in the art the selection elements can represent other

tunnelling/mining equipment related categories. According to the present embodiment, the selection elements of the highest level 403 represent ( "One" being represented by "1" in the list and so on) :

1. Rig Settings

2. Boom settings

3. Drilling Settings

4. Contour control settings (Drill plan)

5. Auto settings

6. Rod handling system settings

The exemplary categories given above are self-explanatory to person skilled in the art, in particular in view of the below When the highest level set of selection elements has been displayed, the method continues to step 303, where it is determined if the operator has selected one of said selection elements "One", "Two", "Three", etc." When it is determined that the user has selected one of said selection elements, the method continues to step 304, where selection elements of the selected element is displayed, i.e. a second level set of selection elements are displayed.

The user selection can be performed by, e.g. moving a computer mouse or the like, but, as will be explained below, the present invention reveals its full potential when the display is a touch sensitive display, so as to allow said selection elements being individually selectable by corresponding areas of said display being touched by the operator.

Fig. 4B discloses the appearance of said first area 401 when option "Three" has been selected by the user, preferably by touching the corresponding area of the display, i.e. the grey area of fig. 4A. That is, the user has selected "Three,

Drilling settings". As can be seen from fig. 4B, the operator is then presented by a second level set 404 of sub-selection elements "1", "2", "3", "4", 404a-d, constituting available sub- select ion elements of the selected Drilling Settings element .

For example, sub- selection elements of the second level sets of selection elements for the various highest level selection elements can consist of:

1. Rig Settings:

1. Operator parameters

2. Sensor parameters

3. Actuation parameters

4. Specific parameters

2. Boom settings: 1. Operator parameters

2. Sensor parameters

3. Drilling Settings:

1. Operator parameters

2. Sensor parameters

3. Actuation parameters

4. Specific parameters

4. Contour control settings (Drill plan):

1. Operator parameters

2. Specific parameters

5.Auto settings (Drill plan) :

1. Operator parameters

6. Rod handling system settings:

1. Operator parameters

2. Sensor parameters

3. Actuation parameters

4. Specific parameters

5. Cradle position parameters (for positioning of the cradle along the boom) .

According to the disclosed embodiment, each second level comprises a selection element for "Operator parameters" .

There are also various other second level selection element options that are similar for two or more of higher level selection elements. Similarly named options advantageously use of the same graphical symbol and the selection element for a particular option is also preferably positioned at a same position in different sets of selection elements for user simplicity. That is, for example, "Operator parameters" is positioned at the same position in the second level selection elements of all highest level selections elements.

With regard to the exemplified options, "Sensor parameters" can constitute measured values, while "Actuation parameters" can constitute values that will be introduced on predetermined conditions, and "Specific parameters" can constitute values for adjustable parameters.

In the disclosed example, "Auto settings" only have operator settings because it is an automatic mode of operation and hence operation is to most extent controlled by the control system .

Consequently, when the operator is presented the options of "Drilling settings", the method continues to step 305, where, again, the system awaits the operator to select one of the displayed second level set of selection elements. Similar to the above, the operator, again, selects one of the second level selection elements, preferably by means of the touch screen display. According to the present example, " 4 " , i.e. "Specific Parameters", is selected (indicated by hashed area in fig. 4B) , and, consequently, a third level set 405 of selections elements " I " , " I I " , " I I I " etc., constituting available sub-selection elements of the selected element " 5 " , is displayed, step 306, see fig. 4C.

For example, the selection elements of "Drilling Parameters" - >"Specific parameters" can consist of:

Drilling Settings, Specific parameters:

1. Feed Speed

2. Feed Pressure

3. Percussion

4. Rotation

5. Lubrication

6. Timers

7. Damper

8. Drainage

9. Water Pump

10. Others

Each time an operator selection is received, e.g. in steps 303, 305, the control system can be arranged to determine if it is a lowest level selection, in which case data is displayed as described below and in which case the method is ended .

According to the present example, the third level is the lowest level of selection elements and when the operator selects one of said third level selection elements "I", "II", "III" etc., step 307, such as I "Feed Speed", data 406

relating to the selected selection element is displayed in the second display area 402, step 308. This data can constitute any kind of data that previously has been accessed by other methods, and which can be monitored by the operator, and/or the operator can make suitable data input, such as changing parameter values, e.g. in regard of hydraulic pressures.

As can be seen from figs. 4B and 4C, the selection elements of higher level sets 403, 404 of selection elements are still displayed together with the lowest level set 405 of selection elements. Also, the selections made by the operator, i.e.

"Six"-> "5"-> "III" are graphically distinguishable on said display, e.g. by changing color of the selected selection elements as exemplified in the drawings. The selected

selection elements can also be displayed in the second display area, e.g. at the top of the area, and for example as

"Six->5->III" or any other suitable format.

The present invention provides for several advantages.

Firstly, since the selections made by the operator, are identified, i.e. "Six"-> "5"-> "III" in the disclosed example, the operator at all times will be aware of the exact current location in the control system grid of sets of selection elements .

This provides an easy to understand navigational tool for control system navigation, in particular for touch screen based interfaces. A further advantage is that the operator at all times can "jump" to any of the displayed selection elements, i.e. if the operator is at position "Six"-> "5"-> "III", the operator can touch any of the selection elements of any of the sets 403, 404, 405, to thereby display options/data of the newly selected selection element instead. This

considerably facilitates navigation, since no "Back" and/or "Escape" operations are required to return to a "start" page of the selected portion of the control system.

The first area 401 can also be customized depending on the current user profile, so that for instance only the operator parameters will be shown or all second level 403 sub-selection elements will be shown except the specific parameters.

Furthermore, an individual set of selection elements can comprise any number of selection elements, arranged in one row, two rows, or three or more rows. Also, different

selection sets can comprise different number of rows, the rows comprising different number of elements. Also, as is shown in the figures, each set of selection elements can be visibly separated, e.g. by gaps 407, 408 to improve further the ease of use .

According to one exemplary embodiment, each row of a set of selection elements comprises any of 1-12 elements, and each set of selection elements comprises any of 1-4 rows.

Obviously, more elements on a row, or more rows can be used where appropriate. Further, according to the disclosed

embodiment, the grid of sets of selection elements grows from top to bottom. According to another embodiment, the grid grows from bottom to top, or from left to right or right to left. In addition, the grid of selection elements is shown to the right in the drawings, but the grid can also be located to the left, e.g. to suit left handed operators. The grid can also be positioned as freely floating (movable) on the display. In sum, the present invention improves the visual workflow of the operator, and since a particular grid of sets of selection elements always will be displayed in the same manner, an operator can learn where to touch on the display to obtain a specific function, which results in superior cognitive logic and increased muscle memory, which, in turn, increases safety since the operator will not have to search for functions to the same extent as in prior art systems, which, in turn, enables the operator to maintain attention to, e.g. an ongoing drilling process.

Even further, according to the above, the grid comprises three levels. The grid, however, can comprise virtually any number of levels (at least two), such as two, three, four or more. The present invention is particularly advantageous when the control system grid comprises three levels or more.

It is also possible that the number of selection elements of a particular selection element set exceeds the number of

elements that can be displayed within the current constraints with regard to number of rows and elements on a row. If there is more information ( sub- selection elements) related to one selection element which cannot be shown on a single page, this can be communicated to the operator by graphically indicating this on the selection element. This is exemplified in figs. 5A-B. This can be the case in any level of the grid.

Often two or three levels will be enough, but as an example fig. 5A shows a four level grid, the first three levels having similar appearance to the grid of figs. 4A-4C, but where selection element " I I I " , instead of being lowest level

selection element constitutes a fourth level of selection elements "A" , "B" , "C" etc. As is indicated by selection element "A" , which is shown more in detail in fig. 5B, there are visual circles 501, 502, the number of circles indicating the number of pages of selection elements there are to be displayed, and also which of the pages currently is being displayed by a dot 503.

This has the advantage that the operator at all times is exactly aware of the current position in the grid currently being displayed. By placing page indicators on the selection element itself, the operator instantaneously can see which page is currently being displayed. The operator can change from a current page to a next page simply by touching/clicking the selection element "A" . If there are only two pages, and the user touches the selection element, the next page will be displayed, and if the operator touches the selection element once again the first page will again be displayed.

Consequently, the operator can cycle through the pages without moving e.g. a finger to another area of the display, which further improves muscle memory and increased efficiency.

Furthermore, when a selection element is selected, the lower level selection elements of the selected selection element is displayed as stated above. According to one embodiment, the selection elements of one of the lower level selection

elements are also simultaneously (directly) displayed. For example, when the operator selects "three" in step 403 in the above example, not only the selection elements 404a-d of

"three" are displayed, but also the selection elements of one of the selection elements 404a-d, i.e. selection elements of a further level .

For example, the selection elements of the further level of the most commonly selected of the selection elements 404a-d can be displayed to further facilitate use of the system to the operator. For example, if selection element 404d is the most commonly selected selection element when first selecting "three", the selection elements of 404d can be displayed directly when the operator selects "three", and e.g. the view of fig. 4C directly being displayed after the view of fig. 4A. Also, if this further displayed level is the lowest level, data relating to one, e.g. the most commonly selected

selection element, can automatically be displayed.

Fig. 5A also discloses a further feature of the present invention. The portion of the display displaying the grid of sets of selection elements also displays a further set 504 of selection elements. This set, e.g., can be used select one feature of a plurality of features. For example, if the drilling rig comprises three drilling booms, the set 504 could contain a selection element for each boom, so as to allow the user to switch to settings for another boom, while still maintaining the selections of the other sets of selection elements, i.e. the operator can access the same data for one boom at a time simply by selecting appropriate boom by the set of selection elements 504.

In one embodiment, the display is divided into at least three display areas. Fig. 6 shows an example of a display view that, in addition to the above first 601 and second 602 display areas, comprises a third display area 603.

This third display area 603 is an information panel, which is used to display relevant information messages to the operator. The displayed information messages can be information messages regarding the drilling rig in general, or be information messages that regard the data currently being displayed in the second display area. Historically, control systems according to the above have not been provided with the ability to show contextual information. The information panel according to the present invention, on the other hand, can be used to display messages relating to the current actions of the operator, which, e.g. can reduce the time it takes for the operator to get full knowledge of the control system.

The information panel 603 according to the present invention has the advantage that the operator can get additional

information when needed, where the additional information is always displayed at a same location, the operator thereby always knowing where to search for new information.

An exemplary method 700 exemplifying the information panel 603 is disclosed in figs. 7A-B.

The information panel 603 according to the disclosed

embodiment is further divided into three fields. A first field 604 is used to display a graphic symbol relating to the kind of data currently being displayed on the information panel. A second field 605 is used to display the actual information, and a third field 606 is used to display status of information that has previously been shown in field 605.

If there is currently no particular information to be

displayed on the information panel 603, the information panel 603 can be arranged to display date and time by default. This is indicated by step 701, where a symbol representing

date/time is displayed in field 604, and actual date/time is displayed in field 605. In step 702 the system controls whether there is new information to be displayed on the information 603. If there is no information to be displayed, step 703, date/time is continuously displayed. If there is new information to be displayed, the method continues to step 704, where it is checked whether the information to be displayed is a warning message.

The data to be shown on the information panel can be of various kinds and, in principal, relate to any information regarding the drilling rig. For example, when desired data is selected for display, e.g. by the grid of sets of selection elements according to the above, information regarding the particular data can be displayed on the information panel. For example, if the second display area 602 currently displays various parameters to be set, the user can obtain more

information about a particular parameter by touching this parameter, with the result that information regarding the selected parameter can be displayed in the information panel.

The information messages being displayed on the information panel 603 can also constitute warning messages, e.g. relating to an ongoing action in a drilling process, or relating to other functions of the drilling equipment. For example, warning messages during an ongoing drilling operation can be of the following kind:

* Booml : Low flushing flow

* Navigation invalid

* Boom2 : Cradle length sensor, not reset

* Booml: Not able to allocate, lever has errors

* Valid laser line range is changed.

If it is determined in step 704 that the new information to be displayed is a warning message, the message is added to a history list of warning messages. This list is further

discussed below. The information is then displayed, step 705. A symbol, such as an " i " symbol can be displayed in field 604, while the contextual information is shown in the information field 605. When the message is being displayed it is checked for how long the information has been displayed, step 706, and if the message has been displayed, e.g. a pre-defined amount of time, such as, e.g., a predetermined number of seconds, step 707, the method returns to step 701 to display date/time. If the message has not been displayed the predetermined amount of time, it is checked whether there are further messages to be displayed, step 708. If there are further messages to be displayed, step 709, the method returns to step 704 to

determine if the one or more further messages is a warning message, and then display the new message, e.g. immediately or queued to be displayed when the previous message (s) has been displayed for the predetermined period of time. If it is determined in step 709 that there is no new information to be displayed, steps 706-709 are cycled until the currently displayed message has been displayed for the predetermined period of time, after which the method returns to step 701.

As was mentioned above, if it is determined in step 704 that the message is a warning message, the message is added to a history list. Fig 7B exemplifies a method for handling warning messages, and which can be run concurrently with the process of fig. 7A. This method utilizes the status field 606. When the process is started, the status field is reset so that no status indicators are shown, step 710. The method then

continues to step 711, where it is checked if the information panel is expanded. The meaning of this is explained below, and therefore it is first assumed that the information panel is not expanded, whereupon the method continues to step 713 via step 712. In step 713 it is checked whether there is unread information in the history list. If not, the method returns to step 711. If there is unread information in the history list, step 714, the method continues to step 715 where it is determined if there is unread information that has been present in the history list for longer than a second

predetermined time, e.g. a number of seconds or minutes.

If not, step 716, the method continues to step 718, where the control system displays a symbol representing unread

information in the status field 606 so as to alert the operator that there are message (s) to be read. For example this symbol can consist of "i" according to the above. If, on the other hand, it is determined that there is "old"

information in the history list, the method continues to step 717 where the control system displays a symbol representing old unread information in the status field 606 in an attempt to get the attention of the operator. This symbol can, for example consist of "i" according to the above, however in another color, or, e.g., an exclamation mark "!". The method then returns to step 711.

When it is determined in step 711 that the information panel is expanded, the method continues to step 719. The information panel can be expanded when the operator touches/clicks on the information panel 603. For example, the information panel 603 or, e.g., the information field 605, can be arranged to expand and stretch into the said second display area 602 to reveal the history list of messages when being clicked/touched . In the present embodiment the history list contains of unread warning messages. The information field 605 can, for example, be expanded to twice, three times of four times the original size of the information field 605, or any other suitable size, e.g. depending on display size and/or data being displayed in said second display area 602. If there are a number of

messages to be displayed, and the list can be displayed as a scroll bar. Alternatively, or in addition, the size of the expanded field can be arranged to increase with increasing number of messages to be displayed.

According to the present embodiment, the touch/click on the information panel, and hence the expansion of the information panel, is used as an acknowledgement that the information has been read and received by the operator. Therefore status field 606 is reset in step 719, and in step 720 all information in history list is marked as read, and the list is displayed in step 721, e.g. in a scroll view as explained above.

The expansion of the information panel can be ended, e.g. when the user clicks/touches it once again, and/or after a

predetermined period of time. The history list can be erased when the expanded information panel is closed, or the list can be arranged to increase, e.g. during the ongoing drilling process, or after a period of time. If the list contains both read and unread messages, the unread messages can be visually distinguishable from already acknowledged messages, e.g. by different color.

If there are plural unread messages in the history list, this can be reflected, e.g. by a particular status field 606 symbol reflecting this, and/or number of unread messages being explicitly displayed in status field 606.

The information panel 603 can be a static part of the control system, and hence be present irrespective of which kind of data/which part of the control system is currently displayed. This has the advantage that the information flow can follow the operator and always be present. A touch/click on the information panel can also be arranged to expand the

information panel to reveal a log with time stamp of the information that has been displayed.

Claims

Mining and/or tunneling equipment comprising a control system for interaction with an operator of said mining and/or tunneling equipment, said system comprising means for displaying data on a display to said operator,

characterized in that said system comprises :

- means for, when a first selection element is selected by said operator, said first selection element being a selection element of said highest set of selection elements, displaying a lowest level set of selection elements, said lowest set of selection elements being sub- select ion elements of a selected selection element of a higher level set of selection elements,

- means for, when a selection element of said lowest level of selection elements is selected by said operator, displaying data being specific to said selected selection element of said lowest level set of selection elements while simultaneously displaying said highest and lowest sets of selection elements.

Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said control system comprises at least one intermediate level of selection elements, and means for, when a higher level selection element is selected by said operator, displaying said intermediate level set of selection elements, said intermediate level set of selection elements being sub-selection elements of said selected selection element of said higher level set of selection elements, and, when a selection elements of said intermediate set of selection elements is selected by said operator, displaying said lowest set of selection elements while simultaneously displaying selection

elements of said intermediate and higher levels.

Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-2, characterized in that said control system comprises at least two intermediate levels of selection elements .

Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said selection elements, when selected by said operator, are displayed in a manner being different from the manner in which said selection elements are displayed when not being selected by said operator.

Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that selected selection elements of higher level sets of selection element are graphically distinguishable on said display while

displaying data being specific to the selected lowest level selection element.

Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that said displayed data being specific to said selected lowest level selection element comprises data of which said operator can make alterations, and wherein said selected selection elements are graphically distinguishable also when said operator makes alterations to said displayed data.

Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-6, characterized in that said display is a touch sensitive display, said selection elements being

individually selectable by corresponding areas of said display being touched by said operator.

8. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that said selection elements consist of graphical elements.

9. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-8, characterized in that said selection elements comprise graphical symbols and/or text.

10. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-9, characterized in that each set of selection elements are visibly separated, e.g. by a gap.

11. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-10, characterized in that, when displaying data of a selection element of said lowest level set of

selection elements, another selection element of any of the displayed sets of selection elements of the lowest and higher levels can be directly selected by said

operator to display data or selection elements of said other selection element instead.

12. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-11, characterized in that said system comprises at least three levels of selection elements, and that, when a selection element of the highest of said three levels is selected by said operator, displaying

intermediate level selection elements of the selected selection element, and further displaying lowest level selection elements of one of the selections elements of the selection element selected by said operator.

13. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-11, characterized in that when a selection element of a level being different from said lowest level of selection elements is selected by said operator, automatically displaying data of one of the selection elements of said selected selection element if the selection elements of said selected selection element is the lowest level of selection elements.

14. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-13, characterized in that said display is divided into at least a first and a second display area, said first display area displaying said sets of selection elements, and said second display area displaying said data being specific to said selected selection element.

15. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to claim 14, characterized in that said first display area

selectively is arrangeable on an arbitrary side of said display, or as a floating element on said display.

16. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according any of the claims 1-15, characterized in means for displaying a third display area, said third display area being a status information display area for displaying status information messages.

17. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to claim 16, characterized in that status information messages are displayed on said information panel a first period of time .

18. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in means for storing displayed messages in a list of displayed messages, and means for displaying an indicator in a field on said third display area, said indicator indicating presence of

unacknowledged messages.

19. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to claim 18, characterized in means for changing the visual appearance of said indicator if said messages have not been

acknowledged by said operator in a second period time.

0. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in means for displaying said list of messages that have not been acknowledged when receiving an acknowledgement from said operator.

1. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to 20,

characterized in means for displaying said list of messages that have not been acknowledged by expanding said third display area.

2. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of claims 18-21, characterized in that said messages that have not been acknowledged are displayed and acknowledged when said operator touches and/or clicks on said

indicator on said display.

3. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-22, characterized in that said equipment is a rock drilling rig for mining and/or tunneling.

4. Mining and/or tunneling equipment according to any of the claims 1-23, characterized in that said equipment

includes a movable carrier so as to allow movement of said rock equipment for mining and/or tunneling.