DE-102025101144-B3 - Display device for showing process values

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (1) for displaying process values, comprising: a display area (2) with several display segments (3), wherein the display of a process value is effected by activating at least one display segment (3), means for determining the fluctuation dynamics of the process values in a time unit t, and means for monitoring the fluctuation dynamics with respect to a predetermined threshold value. When the threshold value is exceeded, the display of the process values between their min-max limits in the time unit t is effected by activation, i.e., optical highlighting of a defined area (4) of several display segments (3).

Inventors

• Tobias Gläser
• Marco Pilz
• Lorenz Halbinger
• Guido Knoll

Assignees

• IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20250114

Claims (6)

1. Display device (1) for displaying process values, comprising: - a display area (2) with several display segments (3), wherein the display of a process value is effected by activating at least one display segment (3), - means for determining the fluctuation dynamics of the process values in a time unit t, - means for monitoring the fluctuation dynamics with respect to a predetermined threshold value, wherein, when the threshold value is exceeded, the display of the process values between their min-max limits in the time unit t is effected by activating a spanned area (4) of several display segments (3), characterized in that the threshold value is determined as a function of the rate of change of the at least one display segment (3) for displaying the process value.
2. Display device (1) according to Claim 1 , comprising means for determining a moving average of the process values during the time unit t, wherein the moving average of the process values is displayed as a single display segment (3) in contrast to the spanned area (4).
3. Display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an optional configurable damping is provided to change the process value so that the span area is reduced.
4. Display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a hysteresis for stabilizing the switch-on and switch-off time of the setup of the display area (2).
5. Display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a scale (5), wherein the activated display segment (3) points to the scale (5).
6. Display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (1) is designed as a manometer.

Description

The present invention relates to a display device for showing process values. Display devices of the aforementioned type are used in a wide variety of applications, particularly in automation and process measurement technology, for example, for pressure and temperature monitoring in tanks and pipelines. In the case of an electronic display device, it is supplied with power via a connection device, typically a plug connector. Simultaneously, measured values, e.g., as a 4-20 mA signal, can be transmitted via this connection to an external control unit, such as a PLC. Such a display device is shown, for example, in the German patent. DE 10 2009 017 783 B4 the applicant. Display devices that show process values using pointers are well known. These pointers can be physical or electronic, displayed on a screen. Conventional mechanical and electronic displays show the process values directly, which can lead to difficult-to-read displays when there are large fluctuations. Approaches such as filtering or averaging stabilize the display, but often lack dynamic adjustment to the intensity of fluctuations. Existing solutions do not provide sufficient visual support for highly dynamic processes, which can lead to increased misinterpretation of the process value by the user. The document US 6 412 187 B1 Disclosing a measuring device with a combined digital and analog display. The analog display, in the form of a bar graph, can show a measured value, a peak value, and user-defined tolerance limits. If a peak value exceeds the displayable analog range, the display is rescaled by an offset adjustment so that the value is again shown within the display range, preferably at its center. The document DE 199 40 434 A1 Disclosure reveals a display device in which several signal parameters are simultaneously displayed graphically in a single display field for improved clarity. Besides the current signal value, these can include, for example, statistical values such as minimum, maximum, and average values, as well as predefined upper and lower limits. The document DE 10 2012 019 617 A1 Disclosing a pressure transmitter measuring system, in which a process pressure is detected by a sensor and transmitted as an electronic signal to a separate display unit. The pointer of the display unit is electronically controlled. To improve readability in the event of rapid or vibrating changes in the measured value, the pointer movement can be dampened or delayed. The document DE 697 21 698 T2 Disclosure reveals a sensor device in which a measured feature quantity is displayed as a bar chart and an associated, adjustable threshold value are simultaneously shown in direct visual correlation with each other. This allows the user to grasp the relationship between the measured value and the threshold value and to adjust the threshold value precisely. The document DE 10 2018 126 790 A1 This reveals a variable area flowmeter whose display unit features a bistable display, such as electronic paper, in addition to a mechanical pointer. This allows the displayed value scale to be changed electronically, thus enabling the meter to be flexibly adapted to different process parameters, such as various media or pressures, while maintaining the purely mechanical measurement process. The document JP 2018-136165 A Disclosing a display device that visually represents the degree of deviation of a measured value from a mean or target value for a list of measurements. The area between an indicator for the mean value and an indicator for the current measured value is highlighted in color. The color changes as the measured value deviates from the mean value, thus making the degree of deviation and compliance with tolerance limits immediately apparent. The object of the invention is to propose a display device in which readability is improved in the case of high fluctuation dynamics of the process values. The problem is solved by a display device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The display device according to the invention comprises a display area consisting of several display segments, which represents a process value by activating at least one display segment. In the case of strong fluctuations in the process value, the range within which the process value fluctuates is displayed as the span between its min-max limits present during a time unit t. This function is activated when the process fluctuations The value exceeds a predetermined threshold. According to the invention, this threshold is determined as a function of the rate of change of the at least one display segment used to represent the process value. Preferably, hysteresis ensures that the switch-on and switch-off times of the clamping process are stabilized to guarantee a flicker-free and consistent display. Preferably, within the defined area, a moving average of the process values during the time unit t is displayed as a sin