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Machine interface system with hierarchal menus allowing user sequencing and selection of menu items by actuation of three switches

  • US 5,187,797 A
  • Filed: 04/05/1989
  • Issued: 02/16/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A manually operable interface to a machine comprising:

  • a display for displaying a hierarchy of messages, one message at a time step-wise sequentially among a plurality of messages at each of a plurality of levels of the hierarchy;

    a manually actuable first-direction sequencing switch manually actuable for causing the display to step-wise sequentially display each of the plurality of messages at one level of the hierarchy in a first direction in response to each actuation;

    a manually actuable adoption switch manually actuable at a time after a desired one of the plurality of messages at the one level of the hierarchy has been displayed for causing (i) an adoption and use of the currently displayed message by the machine and (ii) the display to display messages from another hierarchical level having a selected relationship to said currently displayed message in order to effect branching within the hierarchal tree of messages without ever leaving the hierarchal tree; and

    a manually actuable second-direction sequencing switch manually actuable for causing the display to step-wise sequentially display each of the plurality of messages at one level of the hierarchy in a second direction in response to each actuation.

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