Central control and monitor unit
First Claim
1. A central control and monitor unit for use in a multi-unit work system of the type including a multitude of peripheral work units having at least a plurality of common states, the central control and monitor unit comprising:
- display means to show a multitude of sets of transient control switches, each shown control switch being associated with one of the peripheral work units, and wherein each switch is contacted to change the state of the work unit associated therewith;
image control means to display each shown control switch in a first common format when the work unit associated with the control switch is in a first of the common states, and to display each shown control switch in a second common format when the work unit associated with the control switch is in a second of the common states,the image control means including processing means including a multitude of memory files, each of the memory files identifying the switches of one of said sets of control switches; and
means to select one of the memory files to show on the display means the switches identified in the selected one memory file; and
wherein for each switch in the set of switches identified in each of the memory files, the memory file identifies a location of the switch on the display means, the work unit associated with the switch, a current format for showing the switch, and a format for showing the switch after the switch is contacted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A central control and monitor unit and a method of operating the same. The control and monitor unit is for use with a multitude of peripheral work units, each of which has at least a plurality of common states. The control and monitor unit comprises a video display device, and an imaging device to show a multitude of transient switches on that display device. Each shown switch is associated with one of the peripheral work units, and shown switches are touched to change the states of the work units associated with the switches. The imaging device is controlled to display each shown switch in a first common format when the work unit associated with the switch is in a first state, and to display each shown switch in a second format when the work unit associated with the switch is in a second state.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A central control and monitor unit for use in a multi-unit work system of the type including a multitude of peripheral work units having at least a plurality of common states, the central control and monitor unit comprising:
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display means to show a multitude of sets of transient control switches, each shown control switch being associated with one of the peripheral work units, and wherein each switch is contacted to change the state of the work unit associated therewith; image control means to display each shown control switch in a first common format when the work unit associated with the control switch is in a first of the common states, and to display each shown control switch in a second common format when the work unit associated with the control switch is in a second of the common states, the image control means including processing means including a multitude of memory files, each of the memory files identifying the switches of one of said sets of control switches; and means to select one of the memory files to show on the display means the switches identified in the selected one memory file; and wherein for each switch in the set of switches identified in each of the memory files, the memory file identifies a location of the switch on the display means, the work unit associated with the switch, a current format for showing the switch, and a format for showing the switch after the switch is contacted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a central control and monitor unit of a multi-unit work system of the type including a multitude of peripheral work units, the work units having at least a plurality of common states, the central control and monitor unit including a processor having a multitude of memory files, each of the memory files identifying a set of control switches for the work units, the method comprising:
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selecting one of the memory files; showing on a display means of the central control and monitor unit, the set of control switches identified in the selected memory file, each of the shown control switches being associated with one of the work units; contacting the shown control switches to change the states of the work units associated with the shown switches; displaying each shown control switch in a first common format when the work unit associated with the switch is in a first of the common states; and displaying each shown control switch in a second common format when the work unit associated with the switch is in a second of the common states; wherein for each switch in the set of switches identified in each of the memory files, the memory file identifies a current format for the switch and the state of the work unit associated with the switch; and wherein the contacting step includes the steps of, in each of the memory files in which each of the contacted control switches is identified, the processor (i) changing the identified format of the switch, and (ii) changing the identified state of the work unit associated with the switch. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification