Man-machine interface

• US 5,844,550 A
• Filed: 09/23/1992
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Laplace, Carl J., Bellin, Michael A., Trainor, John J., Hoffmann, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US07/950,402
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 323/318, 323/322, 364/189, 340/310 R, 340/310 A, 340/706, 340/782, 340/709, 345/212, 345/352, 345/353, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/12 using electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/00 Conversion of dc power input into dc power output

Abstract

A controller for a voltage regulator has an input keypad for designating selected operating parameters of the voltage regulator. The keypad is formed with a dedicated function portion and a menu navigation portion, and the parameters are divided into first and second categories. The controller has a display for displaying the parameters, and a computer is connected to the input and to the display for controlling the display in response to activation of the keypad. Any parameter in the first category can be displayed on the display by activation of the dedicated function portion of the keypad. Any parameter in the second category can be displayed by activation of the menu navigation portion. The menu navigation portion can optionally also be used to control display of parameters in the first category.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling an electrical power distribution mains system step voltage regulator, said apparatus comprising:

input means for designating for display selected operating parameters of an electrical power distribution mains system step voltage regulator, said input means being formed with a dedicated function portion and a menu navigation portion and said parameters being divided into first and second categories, respectively;

display means for simultaneously displaying only a portion of less than the whole of all of said first and second category parameters; and

computer means connected to said input means and said display means for controlling said display means in response to activation of said input means;

said apparatus being constructed so that any parameter in said first category can be displayed on said display means by activation of said dedicated function portion and any parameter in said second category can be selected for display on said display means by activation of said menu navigation portion.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein any parameter in said first category can be displayed on said display means by activation of said menu navigation portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a display screen.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said input means comprises a keypad.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said input means comprises a keypad, said dedicated function portion comprises a plurality of keys physically grouped together in a first area of said keypad, and said menu navigation portion comprises a plurality of keys physically grouped together in a second area of said keypad.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display means comprises an LED display.

7. Apparatus for controlling an electrical power distribution mains system step voltage regulator, said apparatus comprising:

a keypad for designating selected operating parameters of a step voltage regulator, said keypad being formed with designated function keys selected from the group consisting of a bandwidth key that directly accesses a bandwidth setting screen for regulator control, a voltage level key that directly accesses a voltage level setting screen for regulator control, a time delay key that directly accesses a time delay setting screen for regulator control, a resistance key that directly accesses a line drop compensation resistance setting screen for regulator control, a +/- key for toggling between positive and negative compensation if a line drop compensation resistance or reactance screen is presently being displayed and a change mode is enabled, and a reactance key that directly accesses a line drop compensation reactance setting screen for regulator control;

menu navigation keys selected form the group consisting of a menu key that displays a menu screen and scroll keys for scrolling between separate and distinct menus and between items in the menus;

a display screen comprising an LED display for simultaneously displaying only a portion of the operating parameters;

discrete indicators separate from said LED display screen for indicating selected conditions relating to the operation of said voltage regulators; and

said dedicated function keys being physically grouped together in a first area of said keypad and said menu navigation keys being physically grouped together in a second area of said key pad.

8. A method for controlling an electrical power distribution mains system step voltage regulator, the method comprising the steps of:

providing input means for designating selected operating parameters of an electrical power distribution mains system step voltage regulator, the input means being formed with a dedicated function portion for display of specific voltage regulator operational information and a menu navigation portion and the parameters being divided into first and second categories, respectively;

providing display means for simultaneously displaying only a portion of less than the whole of all of the parameters; and

at least one of;

activating the dedicated function portion to select for display parameters in the first category; and

activating the menu navigation portion to select for display only a portion of less than the whole of the parameters in the first or second category.

9. A method for controlling an electrical power distribution mains system voltage regulator, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an input keypad for designating selected operating parameters of an electrical power distribution system voltage regulator, the input keypad being formed with dedicated function keys for display of specific voltage regulator operational information and menu navigation keys for selecting for display a portion of less than the whole of a plurality of menus of operational parameters and the parameters being divided into first and second categories, respectively;

providing an LED display for simultaneously displaying only a portion of less than the whole of all of the parameters; and

at least one of;

activating the dedicated function keys to display parameters in the first category; and

activating the menu navigation keys to select for display only a portion of less than the whole of the parameters in the first or second category.