Laptop-based machine control simulator

• US 20070184428A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
• Inventors: Gross, Frederick, Fabris, James, Volovic, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/379
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

A machine tool control simulator for a machine tool control having a plurality of first user-actuatable devices and a first display screen is disclosed. The machine tool control simulator may include a console and a laptop computer. The console may include a plurality of second user-actuatable devices each corresponding to a respective one of the first user-actuatable devices. The second user-actuatable devices have a layout substantially similar to a layout of the first user-actuatable devices. A communication medium is coupled to the second user-actuatable devices and communicates user inputs provided via the second user-actuatable devices. A support apparatus may be connected to the second user-actuatable devices and supports the second user-actuatable devices above a tabletop. The laptop computer includes a keyboard and an attached second display screen. The keyboard may be placed between the tabletop and the second user-actuatable devices. The computer is coupled to the communication medium to thereby receive the user inputs. The computer displays images on the second display screen in response to the user inputs. The images simulate images that would be displayed on the first display screen of the machine tool control in response to the user inputs.

Claims

1. A machine tool control simulator for a machine tool control having a plurality of first user-actuatable devices and a first display screen, the simulator comprising:

a console including;

a plurality of second user-actuatable devices each corresponding to a respective one of the first user-actuatable devices, the second user-actuatable devices having a layout substantially similar to a layout of the first user-actuatable devices; and

a communication medium coupled to the second user-actuatable devices and configured to communicate at least a first user input provided via the second user-actuatable devices; and

a laptop computer including a keyboard and an attached second display screen, the computer being coupled to the communication medium to thereby receive the at least a first user input, the computer being configured to display images on the second display screen in response to the at least a first user input, the images simulating the first display screen of the machine tool control in response to the same at least a first user input.

2. The machine tool control simulator of claim 1, wherein the second user-actuatable devices include at least one of a dial, a button, a knob, and a switch.

3. The machine tool control simulator of claim 1, wherein the communication medium comprises a cable.

4. The machine tool control simulator of claim 1, wherein the console further comprises a support apparatus to support the plurality of second user-actuatable devices spaced apart from the keyboard of the laptop, the support apparatus comprising a plurality of legs.

5. The machine tool control simulator of claim 4, wherein the support apparatus is configured to be telescoped in lateral directions to accommodate various possible widths of the keyboard between at least a first leg and a second leg.

6. The machine tool control simulator of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen overlaid on the second display screen of the laptop computer, the touch screen being configured to communicate at least a second user input to the computer.

7. The machine tool control simulator of claim 1, wherein the computer includes a processor coupled to the communication medium to thereby receive the at least a first user input, the processor being configured to control the images displayed on the second display screen.

8. The machine tool control simulator of claim 1, wherein the computer includes a port coupled to the communication medium to thereby receive the at least a first user input.

9. A method of simulating a machine tool control, comprising the steps of:

providing a laptop computer including a keyboard and a display screen;

providing a console including user-actuatable devices that match user-actuatable devices of the machine tool control;

coupling the console to the laptop computer;

receiving user inputs via the user-actuatable devices;

communicating the user inputs from the console to the laptop computer; and

displaying images on the display screen dependent upon the user inputs, the images corresponding to images that would be displayed by the machine tool control in response to inputs substantially similar to the user inputs.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising the further step of overlaying a touch screen on the display screen of the laptop computer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of

displaying on the display screen of the laptop computer indicia corresponding to inputs;

and

communicating user inputs from the touch screen to the laptop computer.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising the further step of communicating user inputs directly from the touch screen to the laptop computer.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of communicating the user inputs from the console to the laptop computer is performed independent of a keyboard of the laptop computer.

14. A machine tool control simulator for a machine tool control having a plurality of first user-actuatable devices and a first display screen, the simulator comprising:

a computer having software configured to simulate the machine tool control, the computer including a keyboard and a display;

a touch screen positioned over the display of the computer;

a console including a plurality of second user-actuatable devices each corresponding to a respective one of the first user-actuatable devices, the second user-actuatable devices having a layout substantially similar to a layout of the first user-actuatable devices, wherein the console is coupled to the computer independent of the keyboard of the computer.

15. The machine tool control simulator of claim 14, further comprising a support apparatus configured to support the console over the keyboard of the computer.

16. The machine tool control simulator of claim 15, wherein the support apparatus includes a plurality of legs.

17. The machine tool control simulator of claim 14, wherein the software displays on the display of the computer at least a first indicia corresponding to an input region.

18. The machine tool control simulator of claim 17, wherein the touch screen is coupled to the computer and provides an indication to the computer in response to a user touching the touch screen in an area which overlays the input region.

19. The machine tool control simulator of claim 14, wherein the second user-actuatable devices include at least one of a dial, a button, a knob, and a switch.

20. The machine tool control simulator of claim 14, wherein the console is coupled to the computer through a cable.