Programmable switching system
First Claim
1. A programmable switching system, comprising:
- a) at least one I/O node;
b) at least one button;
c) a visual display;
d) a control portion in electrical communication with the at least one I/O node, the at least one button and the visual display, the control portion being responsive to a set of predetermined instructions and being adapted to;
i) provide information to the visual display for displaying the nomenclature of the at least one I/O node, ii) monitor the at least one button for actuation, iii) control the state of the at least one I/O node in a predetermined manner when the at least one button is actuated, and iv) provide information to the visual display for display of indicia corresponding to the status of the at least one I/O node, wherein the at least one I/O node, the at least one button and the visual display are logically associated with one another by the predetermined instructions, the predetermined instructions being programmable to modify the logical association of at least one of the at least one I/O node, the at least one button, and the visual display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable electrical switching system. The system is comprised of at least one addressable I/O node, a visual display, at least one button, and a control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the visual display and the buttons, and responds to actuation of the buttons by transmitting information to the visual display for presentation to the operator and/or transmitting addressed commands to the I/O node. The I/O node controls the voltage and/or current supplied to a load connected to the I/O node in accordance with the commands received from the control portion. Instructions stored in a program portion of the control portion may be changed to change the functions of the electrical switching system. Thus, the buttons may perform a plurality of predetermined, programmable functions in accordance with the instructions.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A programmable switching system, comprising:
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a) at least one I/O node;
b) at least one button;
c) a visual display;
d) a control portion in electrical communication with the at least one I/O node, the at least one button and the visual display, the control portion being responsive to a set of predetermined instructions and being adapted to;
i) provide information to the visual display for displaying the nomenclature of the at least one I/O node, ii) monitor the at least one button for actuation, iii) control the state of the at least one I/O node in a predetermined manner when the at least one button is actuated, and iv) provide information to the visual display for display of indicia corresponding to the status of the at least one I/O node, wherein the at least one I/O node, the at least one button and the visual display are logically associated with one another by the predetermined instructions, the predetermined instructions being programmable to modify the logical association of at least one of the at least one I/O node, the at least one button, and the visual display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A programmable switching system, comprising:
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a) a plurality of I/O nodes;
b) a plurality of buttons;
c) a visual display;
d) a control portion in electrical communication with the I/O nodes, the buttons and the visual display, the control portion being responsive to a set of predetermined instructions and being adapted to;
i) provide information to the visual display for displaying the nomenclatures of the I/O nodes, ii) monitor the buttons for actuation, iii) control the state of at least one I/O node in a predetermined manner when a button is actuated; and
iv) provide information to the visual display for display of indicia corresponding to the status of the I/O nodes, wherein the I/O nodes, buttons and visual display are logically associated with one another by the predetermined instructions, the predetermined instructions being programmable to modify the logical association of at least one of the I/O nodes, buttons and visual displays, and wherein the control portion communicates with the I/O nodes by means of a common electrical connection, the I/O nodes being individually addressable by the control portion to control the state of the I/O nodes.
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Specification