Programmable device using selectively connectable memory module to simultaneously define the functional capability and the display associated with input switches
First Claim
1. A programmable device comprised of:
- (a) an operator interface having;
(i) a plurality of switches, and(ii) a plurality of display means, each display means disposed in proximity to a corresponding switch;
(b) a processor coupled to said display means and to said switches, said processor having undefined functional capabilities; and
,(c) a memory module connectable to said processor whereupon connection to said processor, said module defines therein,(i) the functional capability of said processor,(ii) the information content displayed by said display means, and(iii) a mapping scheme of said switches to the functional capability of said processor whereby the functional capability mapped to each of said switches is identified by said information content displayed by said corresponding display means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable device and method of operating the same, including a memory module connectable to a core device consisting of a processor having an operator interface. Displays in this operator interface act as alterable labels for their associated switches. The operator interface includes of a plurality of switches with associated displays. Upon insertion, the module simultaneously establishes the information content of the displays, and the functional capabilities of the processor. Generally, the information content of the displays is identical to labels normally associated with the switch. The core device without the memory module is practically devoid of functional capabilities. An output device may be added to the device so that the processor may communicate with the operator other information such as the status of the operation being performed or the like. The connectable module, preferably, is a plug-in type and is constructed of programmable read only memory (PROM) circuits or Read Only Memory (ROM) circuit.
87 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A programmable device comprised of:
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(a) an operator interface having; (i) a plurality of switches, and (ii) a plurality of display means, each display means disposed in proximity to a corresponding switch; (b) a processor coupled to said display means and to said switches, said processor having undefined functional capabilities; and
,(c) a memory module connectable to said processor whereupon connection to said processor, said module defines therein, (i) the functional capability of said processor, (ii) the information content displayed by said display means, and (iii) a mapping scheme of said switches to the functional capability of said processor whereby the functional capability mapped to each of said switches is identified by said information content displayed by said corresponding display means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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3. A programmable device comprised of:
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(a) an operator interface having a plurality of switch-displays, each of said switch-displays having display means and switch means proximately disposed therein; (b) a processor having yet-to-be-defined functional capabilities and coupled to said switch-displays such that activation of one of said switch means will be communicated to said processor, and coupled so that said processor controls information content of each of said display means; and
,(c) a memory module connectable to said processor where upon connection to said processor, said module defines therein, (i) the functional capability of said processor, (ii) the information content displayed by said display means, and (iii) a mapping scheme of said switch means to the functional capabilities of said processor whereby said functional capability mapped to each of said switch means is identified by said information content displayed by said corresponding display means.
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10. A method for operating a programmable device comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting a connectable memory module to a core device having a processor with yet-to-be defined functional capabilities, said processor coupled to an operator interface having therein a plurality of switch means and a plurality of display means, each display means disposed in proximity to a corresponding switch means; and (b) defining, by the memory module, (i) the functional capabilities of said processor, (ii) the information content communicated to an operator by said display means, and (iii) a mapping scheme of said switch means to the defined functional capabilities of said processor whereby said functional capability mapped to each of said switch means is identified by said information content of said corresponding display means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification