Improvement to instrumentation

Abstract

Methods and multi-component displays for displaying graphical objects are disclosed. A method includes displaying a graphical object on a first display screen of the multi-component display. In response to an event, the graphical object is displayed on a second display screen of the multi-component display, wherein the first and second display screens overlap, and wherein the displaying the graphical object on the second display screen is operable to provide a visual indication of the event. Another method includes displaying a first graphical object on a first display screen of the multi-component display and displaying a second graphical object on a second display screen of the multi-component display. In response to an overlap of the first and second graphical objects, the overlapping portion of the first and second graphical objects is displayed with a visual attribute distinct from respective visual attributes of the first and second graphical objects.

1 . A method of displaying information on a multi-component display, said method comprising:
 displaying a graphical object on a first display screen of said multi-component display; and   in response to an event, displaying said graphical object on a second display screen of said multi-component display, wherein said first and second display screens overlap, and wherein said displaying said graphical object on said second display screen is operable to provide a visual indication of said event.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 discontinuing said display of said graphical object on said first display screen while said graphical object is displayed on said second display screen.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 re-displaying said graphical object on said first display screen while discontinuing display of said graphical object on said second display screen;   re-displaying said graphical object on said second display screen while discontinuing display of said graphical object on said first display screen; and   repeating said re-displaying of said graphical object on said first and second display screens at least one time.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said event is selected from a group consisting of an alarm and a critical situation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said event is associated with said graphical object. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying said graphical object on said first and second display screens comprises displaying said graphical object on said first and second display screens of an instrumentation system, wherein said instrumentation system comprises said multi-component display, wherein said method further comprises detecting said event, and wherein said detecting said event further comprises:
 monitoring at least one parameter of said instrumentation system;   determining if said at least one parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold; and   identifying said event in response to said determining.   
   
   
       7 . A multi-component display comprising:
 a first display screen for displaying a graphical object; and   a second display screen for displaying said graphical object in response to an event, wherein said first and second display screens overlap, and wherein said second display screen is further operable to display said graphical object to provide a visual indication of said event.   
   
   
       8 . The multi-component display of  claim 7 , wherein said first display screen is further operable to discontinue said display of said graphical object while said graphical object is displayed on said second display screen. 
   
   
       9 . The multi-component display of  claim 7 , wherein said first display screen is further operable to re-display said graphical object while said display of said graphical object on said second display screen is discontinued, wherein said second display screen is further operable to re-display said graphical object while said display of said graphical object on said first display screen is discontinued, and wherein said first and second display screens are further operable to repeatedly re-display said graphical object at least one time. 
   
   
       10 . The multi-component display of  claim 7 , wherein said event is selected from a group consisting of an alarm and a critical situation. 
   
   
       11 . The multi-component display of  claim 7 , wherein said event is associated with said graphical object. 
   
   
       12 . The multi-component display of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second display screens comprise display screens of an instrumentation system, and wherein said event comprises a parameter of said instrumentation system exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       13 . A method of displaying information on a multi-component display, said method comprising:
 displaying a first graphical object on a first display screen of said multi-component display; and   displaying a second graphical object on a second display screen of said multi-component display, wherein said first and second display screens overlap; and   in response to an overlap of said first and second graphical objects, displaying said overlapping portion of said first and second graphical objects with a visual attribute distinct from respective visual attributes of said first and second graphical objects.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said visual attribute comprises a color distinct from respective colors of said first and second graphical objects. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said visual attribute comprises a pattern distinct from respective patterns of said first and second graphical objects. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said overlap of said first and second graphical objects is associated with an event, and wherein said visual attribute of said overlapping portion is operable to provide a visual indication of said event. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said event is selected from a group consisting of an alarm and a critical situation. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said event is associated with a graphical object selected from a group consisting of said first graphical object and said second graphical object. 
   
   
       19 . A multi-component display comprising:
 a first display screen for displaying a first graphical object;   a second display screen for displaying a second graphical object, wherein said first and second display screens overlap; and   wherein said first and second display screens are further operable to display said first and second graphical objects in an overlapped arrangement, and wherein said first and second display screens are further operable to display an overlapping portion of said first and second graphical objects with a visual attribute distinct from respective visual attributes of said first and second graphical objects.   
   
   
       20 . The multi-component display of  claim 19 , wherein said visual attribute comprises a color distinct from respective colors of said first and second graphical objects. 
   
   
       21 . The multi-component display of  claim 19 , wherein said visual attribute comprises a pattern distinct from respective patterns of said first and second graphical objects. 
   
   
       22 . The multi-component display of  claim 19 , wherein an overlap of said first and second graphical objects is associated with an event, and wherein said visual attribute of said overlapping portion is operable to provide a visual indication of said event. 
   
   
       23 . The multi-component display of  claim 22 , wherein said event is selected from a group consisting of an alarm and a critical situation. 
   
   
       24 . The multi-component display of  claim 22 , wherein said event is associated with a graphical object selected from a group consisting of said first graphical object and said second graphical object.