Manually actuatable integrated control module and method of making same
First Claim
1. A method of making a manual control panel assembly, comprising the steps of:
- preassembling a manually actuatable electrical contact in combination with an input access module to form an integrated contact module;
mounting a manually operable operator interface device on said control panel;
attaching said integrated contact module to said operator interface device; and
connecting said integrated contact module to a common communications link at the control panel for communication with an output access module spaced apart from said control panel for controlling an associated output device in response to manual operation of said contact.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A manually actuatable integrated contact module connecting to an output access module by means of a common communications link. The integrated contact module has an electrical contact, a logic circuit, a communications circuit and a communications terminal mounted on a common printed circuit board. The printed circuit board provides communication between the electrical contact and the logic circuit, between the logic circuit and the communications circuit, and between the communications circuit and the communications terminal. The printed circuit board is enclosed within a protective housing. A contact operator is slidably mounted with respect to the printed circuit board such that it is partially enclosed within the housing and movable between a first position and a second position. An operator interface device in mounted on one side of a control panel and the integrated contact module is attached to the operator interface device an the opposite side of the control panel such that the operator interface device is in communication with that portion of the contact operator outside the protective housing. The contact operator, in response to movement of the operator interface device, causes the contact to change state thereby initiating a signal to be processed by the logic circuit and communications circuit prior to being placed on the common communications link.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of making a manual control panel assembly, comprising the steps of:
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preassembling a manually actuatable electrical contact in combination with an input access module to form an integrated contact module; mounting a manually operable operator interface device on said control panel; attaching said integrated contact module to said operator interface device; and connecting said integrated contact module to a common communications link at the control panel for communication with an output access module spaced apart from said control panel for controlling an associated output device in response to manual operation of said contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A manually actuatable integrated contact module, comprising:
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a housing defining a hollow interior; a printed circuit board, mounted within said housing and having a first and a second generally flat surface; a contact operator, partially enclosed within said housing and slidably movable between a first position and a second position; a first electrical contact mounted on said first generally flat surface of said printed circuit board such that movement of said contact operator between said first and second positions will cause a change in state of said electrical contact; a first logic circuit mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said electrical contact such that a logical function can be produced in response to said change of state of said electrical contact; a communications circuit mounted on said circuit board and in electrical communication with said logic circuit, said communications circuit producing a control signal in response to said logical function; and a communications terminal mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said communications circuit, said communications terminal providing access to a common communications link such that said control signal can be placed on the common communications link for controlling an associated output device also having means for accessing the common communications link. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An integrated pilot light module, comprising:
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a housing defining a hollow interior; a bulb socket, attached to the exterior of said housing and having terminals for connection to a power source within said hollow interior of said housing; a pilot light received in said bulb socket; a printed circuit board, mounted within said housing; a communications terminal mounted on said circuit board for providing access a common communications link; a communications circuit mounted on said circuit board and in electrical communication with said communications terminal, said communications circuit interpreting a control signal received from said common communications link; a logic circuit mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said communications circuit such that a logical function can be applied to the control signal interpreted by said communications circuit; and an output switch mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said logic circuit such that the state of said switch can be changed in response to said logical function applied to the control signal received and interpreted by said communications circuit from said common communications link, the state of said output switch determines the ON or OFF status of said pilot by passing or blocking an electrical current flow to said bulb socket terminals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification