Circuit control panel with variable graphics display
First Claim
1. A control panel for an electrical circuit which control panel has at least one control device that can be manually operated to change an electrical condition in said circuit and which has a power input conductor for receiving electrical energization, said control panel having an electrically controlled flat panel display which displays changeable images that convey information pertinent to operation of the control device, the flat panel display having a transparent cover plate and an image display area thereat, wherein the improvement comprises:
- said control device being attached to said transparent cover plate and being situated at least partially within said image display area, said control panel further including a first coil situated at a location which is behind said cover plate, an electrical power source coupled to said first coil for applying a varying voltage thereto and a second coil situated at a location which is in front of said cover pate and being coupled to said power input conductor of said control device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Circuit control devices of the kind having operator manipulated control members are disposed at the face of an electronically controlled flat panel display within the image display area. This enables display of calibration marks and/or other graphics that can change instantly and automatically in response to changing operating conditions. Operating power for the control devices is inductively transmitted from the back of the display or from the back of the transparent cover plate of the display through spaced apart coils. Control signals produced by the control devices are inductively transmitted to the back of the display or to the back of the cover plate through the same coils or through additional coils. This provides for coupling of the control devices with the controlled circuit without internal modifications of the flat panel display and without requiring that conductors extend across displayed images at the front surface of the display.
37 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A control panel for an electrical circuit which control panel has at least one control device that can be manually operated to change an electrical condition in said circuit and which has a power input conductor for receiving electrical energization, said control panel having an electrically controlled flat panel display which displays changeable images that convey information pertinent to operation of the control device, the flat panel display having a transparent cover plate and an image display area thereat, wherein the improvement comprises:
said control device being attached to said transparent cover plate and being situated at least partially within said image display area, said control panel further including a first coil situated at a location which is behind said cover plate, an electrical power source coupled to said first coil for applying a varying voltage thereto and a second coil situated at a location which is in front of said cover pate and being coupled to said power input conductor of said control device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electrical circuit control panel comprising:
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an electrically controlled flat panel display having a transparent cover plate with an image display area at which changeable images may be viewed; an electrical circuit control device disposed in front of said flat panel display within said image display area, said circuit control device having a fixed base secured to a front surface of said transparent cover plate and having a movable member which can be manipulated by an operator to change an electrical condition in the controlled electrical circuit, said circuit control device having a power input conductor and a control signal output conductor; a first coil disposed at a location which is behind said circuit control device and behind said transparent cover plate; an electrical power source coupled to said first coil for applying an oscillating voltage thereto; and a second electrical coil disposed within said base of said circuit control device and being coupled to said power input conductor thereof. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification