Man-machine interface

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.

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.

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.