Multi-function menu selection device
First Claim
1. A multi-function menu selection apparatus for selecting a one of a plurality of menu entries that are contained in a user selectable hierarchically organized menu, wherein said menu includes a plurality of menu categories, each menu category containing at least one of said plurality of menu entries, comprising:
- means, rotatable by a user about an axis to a plurality of predetermined rotational positions, at least two of which rotational positions correspond to ones of said plurality of menu categories, for selecting a one of said plurality of menu categories corresponding to a present rotational position of said selecting means; and
means, actuatable in an axial direction along said axis, for enabling said one of said plurality of menu categories selected by said selecting means only in response to actuation of said enabling means in said axial direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The menu selection device uses a combination of the rotary position of a rotary optical encoder and the operation of a coaxially mounted push-button switch to enable the user to progress through various layers of a hierarchical menu system. The rotary position of the shaft translates to a menu category which is selected by the user activating the push-button switch. The selection of the menu category allows the user to then sequence through the plurality of menu entries within this menu category by again rotating the shaft. The user selects one of these menu entries by again activating the push-button switch.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A multi-function menu selection apparatus for selecting a one of a plurality of menu entries that are contained in a user selectable hierarchically organized menu, wherein said menu includes a plurality of menu categories, each menu category containing at least one of said plurality of menu entries, comprising:
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means, rotatable by a user about an axis to a plurality of predetermined rotational positions, at least two of which rotational positions correspond to ones of said plurality of menu categories, for selecting a one of said plurality of menu categories corresponding to a present rotational position of said selecting means; and means, actuatable in an axial direction along said axis, for enabling said one of said plurality of menu categories selected by said selecting means only in response to actuation of said enabling means in said axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of selecting a one of a plurality of menu entries that are contained in a user selectable hierarchically organized menu, wherein said menu includes a plurality of menu categories, each menu category containing at least one of said plurality of menu entries, using apparatus attached to a shaft that is rotatable by a user about an axis and also actuatable in an axial direction along said axis, said shaft being rotatable to a plurality of rotatable positions, at least two of which rotatable positions correspond to ones of said plurality of menu categories, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a one of said plurality of menu categories corresponding to a present one of said plurality of predetermined rotational positions of said shaft; and enabling said selected one of said plurality of menu categories only in response to axial actuation of said apparatus by a user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A multi-function menu selection apparatus for setting a plurality of operating characteristics of a pulse oximeter instrument, which operating characteristics are contained in a hierarchical menu, wherein said menu includes a plurality of menu categories, each of which corresponds to an operating characteristic of said pulse oximeter, each menu category containing at least one menu entry corresponding to a value of an operating characteristic, comprising:
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means, rotatable by a user about an axis to a plurality of predetermined rotational positions, at least two of which rotational positions correspond to ones of said plurality of menu categories, for selecting a one of said plurality of menu categories corresponding to a present rotational position of said selecting means; and means, actuatable in an axial direction along said axis, for enabling a pulse oximeter operating characteristic corresponding to said one one of said plurality of menu categories selected by said selecting means only in response to actuation of said enabling means in said axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for setting a plurality of operating characteristics of a pulse oximeter instrument, which operating characteristics are contained in a hierarchical menu, wherein said menu includes a plurality of menu categories, each of which corresponds to an operating characteristic of said pulse oximeter, each menu category containing at least one menu entry corresponding to a value of an operating characteristic, using apparatus attached to a shaft that is rotatable by a user about an axis and also actuatable in an axial direction along said axis said shaft being rotatable to a plurality of rotatable positions, at least two of which rotatable positions correspond to ones of said plurality of menu categories, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a one of said plurality of menu categories corresponding to a present one of said plurality of predetermined rotational positions of said shaft; and enabling a pulse oximeter operating characteristic corresponding to said one menu category selected by said shaft only in response to axial actuation of said apparatus by a user. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification