Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-31
2001-01-23
Grant, William (Department: 2786)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C700S086000, C702S067000, C600S398000, C361S600000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178359
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to electrical instruments, and more particularly to instruments having optional and replaceable accessory software or hardware modules.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic instruments for computing, test, and measurement often use small accessory modules to provide addition functional features. Such features are not usually cost effective to include in a standard instrument, but are nevertheless desired by a limited portion of the instrument's users. These modules are typically sold as an option at additional cost, and may be purchased and added by the user at a later date, as the need arises. In addition, such modules can be replaceable, so that a module providing one specialized function can be removed, and a substitute module providing a different capability can replace it as needed.
Accessory modules sometimes include stored data or programs, or sometimes include hardware or circuitry. Typically, such modules are installed in an enclosed compartment at the rear or side of the instrument, so that scarce area on the front panels of such instruments is not wasted, allowing front panel area to be used for interface devices, switches, displays, and other elements requiring access during normal use.
While the positioning of modules where they are not normally visible does not present an undue inconvenience for users who only rarely need to add or remove modules, it makes it difficult for a user to readily determine whether and which modules are installed. Some instruments provide module presence information to a user operating the unit and making an appropriate query. However, this is inconvenient or impractical in some circumstances. For instance, in a large organization having an inventory of numerous similar instruments, a manager of the instrument depot or a user seeking to borrow an instrument sometimes needs to determine which of several dozen similar instruments contains the modules with the special capabilities required. It would be impractical to power up and query each instrument, and external labeling systems can be unaesthetic, outdated, and inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments disclosed herein overcome these limitations by providing an electronic instrument with a housing defining a module chamber. An electronic module is removably retained within the chamber and includes indicia such as text or a distinctive color on a selected surface of the module. The housing has a window aperture into the chamber, so that the module indicia are visible through the window to permit identification of the presence and identity of the module, even when the instrument is powered off. The module contains electronic circuitry that connects to electronic contacts of the instrument in the chamber.
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Grant William
Langlotz Bennet K.
Lenihan Thomas F.
Marc McDieunel
Tektronix Inc.
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