RECONFIGURABLE USER-INTERFACE DEVICE
First Claim
1. A user-interface device, which comprises:
- a plurality of indication elements for signalling of information and/or input of commands, each indication element having an individual identity and including a visual indication;
a structure adapted for receiving the indication elements, the indication elements being in particular mounted in a relocatable way on the structure;
wherein each indication element has a body including at least one upper face, provided with a corresponding visual indication, and one or more side faces, and wherein the indication elements comprise identification means configured for co-operating with detection means of the device, for identification of the identity of the indication elements,characterized in thatthe identification means comprise a layer of electrically conductive material on a respective said side face, there being superimposed on the layer of electrically conductive material a layer of electrically insulating material;
the detection means comprise one or more contact elements set up against a respective said side face;
the layer of electrically insulating material has one or more windows for exposure of respective local portions of the underlying layer of electrically conductive material, each window being obtained substantially at a respective contact element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). The indication elements (3) comprise identification means (9b, 10, 11, 11′) adapted for co-operating with detection means (6, 7) of the device (1), for unique identification the indication elements (3). The identification means (9b, 10, 11, 11′) comprise an electrically conductive layer (10) on a respective side face (6b) of the indication element (3) and an electrically insulating layer (9b) superimposed on the electrically conductive layer. The detection means (6, 7) comprise one or more contact elements (7) set up against a respective a side face (6b) of the indication element (3). The electrically insulating layer (9b) has one or more windows (11) for exposure of respective local portions of the underlying electrically conductive layer (10), each window (11) being made in a position substantially corresponding to a respective contact element (7).
6 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A user-interface device, which comprises:
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a plurality of indication elements for signalling of information and/or input of commands, each indication element having an individual identity and including a visual indication; a structure adapted for receiving the indication elements, the indication elements being in particular mounted in a relocatable way on the structure; wherein each indication element has a body including at least one upper face, provided with a corresponding visual indication, and one or more side faces, and wherein the indication elements comprise identification means configured for co-operating with detection means of the device, for identification of the identity of the indication elements, characterized in that the identification means comprise a layer of electrically conductive material on a respective said side face, there being superimposed on the layer of electrically conductive material a layer of electrically insulating material; the detection means comprise one or more contact elements set up against a respective said side face; the layer of electrically insulating material has one or more windows for exposure of respective local portions of the underlying layer of electrically conductive material, each window being obtained substantially at a respective contact element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for providing a user-interface device that comprises a plurality of indication elements for signalling of information and/or input of commands, each indication element having an individual identity and including a visual indication, the method comprising the operations of:
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a) providing a structure suitable for receiving the indication elements; b) providing the indication elements with a respective body having an upper face and one or more side faces; c) providing the indication elements with identification means; d) providing the device with detection means configured for co-operating with the identification means in order to identify the individual identity of the indication elements; e) mounting the indication elements on the structure, particularly in a relocatable way; characterized in that operation c) comprises the steps of; a1) depositing a layer of electrically conductive paint on one or more side faces of said body; a2) depositing on the layer of electrically conductive paint a layer of electrically insulating paint; a3) forming in the layer of electrically insulating paint of one or more of said faces one or more windows, in order to expose respective local portions of the underlying layer of electrically conductive paint; operation d) comprises the step of associating to the structure a plurality of contact elements designed to co-operate with one or more of said side faces of said body; and operation e) comprises the step of coupling said body to respective contact elements, in such a way that the contact elements is set up against one or more of said side faces of said body, with one or more of said contact elements substantially at one or more of said windows. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification