Coded data generation or conversion – Bodily actuated code generator – With rotary dial
Patent
1997-06-06
1999-02-09
Zimmerman, Brian
Coded data generation or conversion
Bodily actuated code generator
With rotary dial
341 23, 341192, 364188, 345184, 4551701, H03K 1794
Patent
active
058700358
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an instrument panel for co-operation with a microprocessor in which a predetermined number of selectable functions are stored together with selectable numerical information, comprising a knob which is rotatable through a predetermined number of discrete positions in order to, in a first operating mode of the microprocessor, select, among said selectable functions, a desired function and, in a second operating mode of the microprocessor, select the desired numerical information to be supplied to the microprocessor, and a first switch by means of which, in said first operating mode, the function selected by means of the knob is accepted and the microprocessor is transferred to said second operating mode, and by means of which, in this second operating mode, the numerical information selected by means of the knob is accepted and the microprocessor is returned to the first operating mode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Today, instruments within the field of chemistry/biotechnology field exhibit mainly three different types of instrument panels, namely either a number of keys and knobs but no indicator, or a digital indicator and a number of keys and, possibly, knobs, or an alphanumerical indicator and a number of keys and, possibly, knobs. It is to be understood that the respective key is intended for switching/operating a corresponding switch.
The keys are either general in the form of a numerical keyboard or dedicated to a certain function. By means of the knobs, different values are set and, normally, the knobs have fixed setting ranges, i.e. can be rotated from a minimum value to a maximum value.
Today, all different instruments have their own panel.
Therefore, each time a user starts using a new instrument, he/she has to learn the instrument panel which is unique for the instrument in question. If several instruments are interconnected into a system, this will be quite complicated to handle since the different instruments in the system exhibit different panels. Therefore, such systems have to be characterized as user-unfriendly.
From an ergonomic point of view, it is also disadvantageous with keyboards on normal instrument panels since it is difficult to press the keys on vertical keyboards.
With unique panels for all different instruments, problems also arise in connection with the development of new instruments since the development time will be longer each time a new panel has to be designed and tested. Moreover, it is more expensive to produce instruments with different panels.
As examples of prior art instrument panels, reference is made to EP-A2-0 188 162 (video tape recorder system), EP-A1-0 347 686 (entertainment electronics), and EP-A1-0 504 514 (multimeter).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to bring about a user-friendly user-interface in the form of a general standardized instrument panel.
This is attained by means of an instrument panel for co-operation with a microprocessor in which a predetermined number of selectable functions are stored together with selectable numerical information, and comprising a knob which is rotatable through a predetermined number of discrete positions in order to, in a first operating mode of the microprocessor, select, among said selectable functions, a desired function and, in a second operating mode of the microprocessor, select the desired numerical information to be supplied to the microprocessor, and a first switch by means of which, in said first operating mode, the function selected by means of the knob is accepted and the microprocessor is transferred to said second operating mode, and by means of which, in this second operating mode, the numerical information selected by means of the knob is accepted and the microprocessor is returned to the first operating mode, mainly, in that the instrument panel according to the invention comprises an alphanumerical indicator for displaying the functions selected by means of the knob as well as the alphanumerical information selected by mean
REFERENCES:
patent: 4898578 (1990-02-01), Rubalcaba, Jr.
patent: 5366346 (1994-11-01), Danby
patent: 5572239 (1996-11-01), Jaeger
patent: 5774115 (1998-06-01), Jaeger et al.
patent: 5777603 (1998-07-01), Jaeger
patent: 5786811 (1998-07-01), Jaeger
Edwards, Jr. Timothy
Pharmacia Biotech AB
Zimmerman Brian
LandOfFree
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