Operator interface terminal for use in a harsh environment

• US 6,755,491 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Billy W. Mcelheney
• Original Assignee: Billy W. Mcelheney
• Inventors: McElheney, Billy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/891,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.02, 312/223.3, 312/242, 312/245, 312/7.2, 312/223.2, 312/313, 52/362
• US Class Current: 312/242
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs

Abstract

A hardened Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) in an environmentally harsh area interfaces with computer components such as a control computer and a computer monitor in a controlled environment that is separated from the harsh environment by a wall or door. A sealed front panel mounts on the front side of the wall or door, and is exposed to the harsh environment while the computer components mount on shelves that are located on the back side of the wall or door. One of the shelves holds the monitor and is adjustable to align the monitor with a touch screen panel that is sealed in a window in the front panel. The shelves provide easy access to the computer components for service. A pivoting keyboard tray on the front panel holds a keyboard and mouse, and is fully sealed. The OIT is easily disassembled and packaged into a compact size for shipping.

Claims

1. A space-saving Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) for providing a man-machine interface between an operator working in a harsh environment and a control computer in a conditioned environment without utilizing floor space for the OIT in the harsh environment, said OIT comprising:

a front panel having a perimeter edge;

means for mounting the front panel on a front side of a vertical room-partition and sealing the front panel around the perimeter edge, said vertical room-partition having a front side in the harsh environment, a back side in the controlled environment, and an aperture therein that is covered by the front panel;

the front panel having a sealed window, and the OIT further comprising a first shelf mounted on a back side of the vertical room-partition in the controlled environment, said first shelf being adjustable in height for mounting a computer monitor in a position where the monitor is visible to the operator through the window;

at least one interface device attached to the front panel that is accessible by the operator for providing inputs to the control computer;

a seal associated with the interface device that prevents leakage from the harsh environment around the interface device; and

means for connecting the interface device to the control computer through the aperture in the vertical room-partition.

2. The OIT of claim 1 wherein a touch screen panel is mounted in the sealed window, said touch screen panel being operable in conjunction with the computer monitor.

3. The OIT of claim 1 further comprising a second shelf mounted on the back side of the vertical room-partition for holding the control computer in the controlled environment.

4. A space-saving Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) for providing a man-machine interface between an operator working in a harsh environment and a control computer in a conditioned environment without utilizing floor space for the OIT in the harsh environment, said OIT comprising:

a front panel having a perimeter edge;

means for mounting the front panel on a front side of a vertical room-partition and sealing the front panel around the perimeter edge, said vertical room-partition having a front side in the harsh environment, a back side in the controlled environment, and an aperture therein that is covered by the front panel;

the front panel having a keyboard support and storage tray pivotally mounted to the front panel for holding a keyboard, said tray pivoting downward to an approximately horizontal position when the keyboard is in use by the operator, and pivoting upward to an approximately vertical position when the keyboard is not in use; and

means for sealing the keyboard support and storage tray from the harsh environment when the tray is pivoted upward to the approximately vertical position;

at least one interface device attached to the front panel that is accessible by the operator for providing inputs to the control computer;

a seal associated with the interface device that prevents leakage from the harsh environment around the interface device; and

means for connecting the interface device to the control computer through the aperture in the vertical room-partition.

5. The OIT of claim 4 wherein the keyboard support and storage tray also supports a mouse and mouse pad for providing inputs to the control computer.

6. The OIT of claim 5 wherein the keyboard and mouse each include control cables that pass through two control-cable apertures in an area of the front panel that is covered by the keyboard support and storage tray when the tray is pivoted upward to the approximately vertical position.

7. The OIT of claim 6 wherein the keyboard and mouse control cables include electrical connectors on the ends thereof that connect to control-computer connectors that are mounted in the two apertures in the front panel, and wherein the seal associated with the interface device that prevents leakage from the harsh environment around the interface device includes two watertight plugs that seal the two control-cable apertures around the control-computer connectors.

8. A spacing-saving Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) for providing a man-machine interface between an operator working in a harsh environment and a control computer in a conditioned environment without utilizing floor space for the OIT in the harsh environment, said OIT comprising:

a front panel having a perimeter edge and a window therein;

a plurality of bolts around the perimeter edge of the front panel for mounting the front panel on a front side of a vertical room-partition by extending the bolts through the partition, said partition having a front side in the harsh environment, a back side in the controlled environment, and an aperture therein that is aligned with the window in the front panel;

a gasket around the perimeter edge of the front panel mounted between the front panel and the vertical room-partition, said gasket sealing the front panel around the perimeter edge;

a touch screen panel sealed and mounted in the window for providing operator inputs to the control computer;

a keyboard support and storage tray for holding a keyboard, said tray being pivotally mounted to the front panel and pivoting downward to an approximately horizontal position when the keyboard is in use by an operator, and pivoting upward to an approximately vertical position when the keyboard is not in use; and

a gasket and channeling structure for sealing the keyboard support and storage tray from the harsh environment when the tray is pivoted upward to the approximately vertical position.

9. The OIT of claim 8 further comprising two flanged side panels mounted vertically on the back side of the vertical room-partition, each of the side panels being mounted on the bolts on the perimeter of the front panel, said side panels supporting between them a vertically adjustable horizontal shelf for holding a computer monitor and aligning the monitor with the touch screen panel mounted in the window.

10. The OIT of claim 9 further comprising at least one horizontal shelf within the controlled environment for holding the control computer.

11. A space-saving Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) for providing a man-machine interface between an operator working in a harsh environment and a control computer in a conditioned environment without utilizing floor space for the OIT in the harsh environment, said OIT comprising:

a front panel having a perimeter edge and an aperture therein for a control cable;

a plurality of bolts around the perimeter edge of the front panel for mounting the front panel on a front side of a vertical room-partition having a front side in the harsh environment, a back side in the controlled environment, and the aperture therein for the control cable;

a gasket around the perimeter edge of the front panel mounted between the front panel and the vertical room-partition, said gasket sealing the front panel around the perimeter edge;

a keyboard support and storage tray pivotally mounted to the front panel below a window for holding a keyboard having a control cable, said tray pivoting downward to an approximately horizontal position when the keyboard is in use by an operator, and pivoting upward to an approximately vertical position when the keyboard is not in use;

means for sealing the aperture in the front panel around the keyboard control cable; and

means for sealing the keyboard support and storage tray from the harsh environment when the tray is pivoted upward to the approximately vertical position.

12. A space-saving Operator Interface Terminal (OIT) for providing a man-machine interface between an operator working in a harsh environment and a computer in a conditioned environment without utilizing floor space for the OIT in the harsh environment, said OIT comprising:

a front panel having a perimeter edge;

means for mounting the front panel on a front side of an enclosure and sealing the front panel around the perimeter edge, said enclosure having a front side in the harsh environment, a back side in the controlled environment, and an aperture therein that is covered by the front panel, said means for mounting the front panel prevents the passage of any liquids from the harsh environment into the controlled environment;

at least one interface device attached to the front panel that is accessible by the operator for providing inputs to the computer;

means for connecting the interface device to the computer through the aperture in the enclosure and

a seal associated with the interface device that prevents leakage from the harsh environment around the interface device, and wherein the front panel includes a sealed window, and the OIT further comprises a first shelf mounted on a back side of the enclosure in the controlled environment, said first shelf being adjustable in height.

13. The OIT of claim 12 wherein the means for connecting the interface device to the computer through the aperture in the enclosure includes at least one control cable that passes through a control-cable aperture in an area of the front panel, the control cable having an electrical connector on the end thereof that connects to a computer connector that is mounted in the aperture in the front panel and wherein a seal associated with the interface device prevents leakage from the harsh environment around the interface device and includes a watertight plug that seals the aperture around the computer connector.

14. The OIT of claim 12 wherein the computer is remotely located from the OIT, and the OIT further comprises means for transmitting the control signals from the OIT to the computer.