Abstract: Permitting or prohibiting a drop is executed at the beginning of the drag-and-drop action initiated by the user, by mouse-clicking on the object to be dragged, for example. Thus, the drag-and-drop action is shown as a visual drop permission or prohibition in the relevant drop areas, such as a visual queue, for example, check mark, etc. In the preferred embodiment, and upon initiation of the action, the surface components display which areas, parts, elements or substructures can or cannot accept a given object or data element before a mouse pointer, arrow or cursor reaches or moves over the relevant areas, parts, elements or substructures.

Abstract: A changeable operation feeling (tactile sensation) is provided for a user manipulating the knob of manual input device. The manual input device includes a feeling providing device which has plural discs fixed to a control shaft, bearing feeling patterns on their circumferential surfaces and a ball holder which works in conjunction with the discs to provide an operation feeling to the knob. An actuator is driven to move up or down the ball holder to select the feeling pattern to be elastically forced to contact the ball to change an operation feeling as the user rotates the knob. A car-mounted apparatus controller incorporates this type of manual input device for functional control of car-mounted electric apparatuses.

Abstract: The engineering of automation systems is configured more simply where the functionality of a control system is implemented via an object model. The object model permits the functional interconnection of technological objects. For this purpose, a project browser ensures the display of the interplay of all the components involved in an application in their mutual relationships.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program operable to configure one or more switch devices. A first node may be displayed in the graphical program, wherein the first node is operable to use route information to control or configure one or more of switch devices in a switching system. The first node may be configured with route information. For example, the route information may comprise information specifying one or more routes previously configured and stored. Also, the route information may comprise information specifying two endpoints of a route, as in the case of run-time auto-routing, or may comprise information explicitly specifying a complete route. The first node may be operable to perform various types of operations to control or configure the one or more switch devices, such as a connect operation to connect specified routes.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for providing real-time process information to a user with regard to a process that is operable under control of one or more process variables includes a scale extending along a gauge axis and one or more bars extending along the gauge axis. Each bar is representative of a set of high and low process limit values for a process variable. Further, the graphical user interface includes a graphical shape displayed along the gauge axis representative of a current value of the process variable. A computer implemented method for providing the graphical user interface is also provided.

Abstract: A method and unit for changing the configuration of an automatic machine, whereby a user selects a desired end configuration by means of a selection device, and a display device then displays an orderly list of all and only the operations to be performed on the machine to convert the machine from a current start configuration to the desired end configuration; the list is arranged according to the sequence in which the operations are performed, and for each operation are displayed the state of at least one respective operating value in the start configuration, and the state of the same operating value in the end configuration.

Abstract: In a method for machining a contoured recess, a digital control is used to predetermine elementary surfaces, which are linked in a contouring expression using logical operators to form a resulting surface. Various help types are offered to the user on a graphical user interface of the digital control. The operators are explained using graphic symbols and help text. The resultant surface is represented on the user interface.

Abstract: An image acquisition system has a computer and one or more imaging devices coupled thereto. Each imaging device has a device memory and is capable of capturing and storing a digital image in its memory. An image device manager is implemented in software on the computer to control imaging device operation. The image device manager presents a user interface (UI) within the familiar graphical windowing environment. The UI has a context space pertaining to a particular imaging context (e.g., scanning, photography, and video). The UI also has a persistently-visible imaging menu positioned within the context space that lists options particular to the imaging context. The image acquisition system also includes a set of application program interfaces (APIs) that enable applications to manage loading and unloading of imaging devices, monitor device events, query device information properties, create device objects, capture images using the devices, and store or manipulate the captured images.

Abstract: A graphical user display for providing real-time process information to a user for a process that is operable under control of one or more process variables is described. The graphical user display includes one or more graphical devices with each graphical device corresponding to a process variable. At least one graphical device for a corresponding process variable includes a gauge axis and at least one pair of high and low limit elements displayed on the gauge axis is representative of high and low process limit values for the corresponding process variable. A graphical shape displayed along the gauge axis is representative of the current value of the corresponding process variable relative to the process limit values. A computer implemented method for providing the at least one graphical device is also provided.

Abstract: A method and automatic machine for processing a product, whereby, from all the regulating and/or monitoring items as a whole, a first group is determined containing a small number of frequently used items having a direct effect on the product; to permit fast use by an operator of the items in the first group, a screen of an interface device displays the items in the first group graphically by means of respective icons, each of which is connected to a synoptic background image showing the function of the relative item substantially in the region in which the relative item is actually effective.

Abstract: An image acquisition system has a computer and one or more imaging devices coupled thereto. Each imaging device has a device memory and is capable of capturing and storing a digital image in its memory. An image device manager is implemented in software on the computer to control imaging device operation. The image device manager presents a user interface (UI) within the familiar graphical windowing environment. The UI has a context space to a particular imaging context (e.g., scanning, photography, and video). The UI also has a persistently-visible imaging menu positioned within the context space that lists options particular to the imaging context. The image acquisition system also includes a set of application program interfaces (APIs) that enable applications to manage loading and unloading of imaging devices, monitor device events, query device information properties, create device objects, capture images using the devices, and store or manipulate the captured images.