Operation indicator device and panel unit

An operation indicator device for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of panel units, each having a surface of polygon whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of a predetermined reference size (L), said plurality of panel units being placed adjacently to one another so that a whole surface (AS) consisting of all said surfaces of said plurality of panel units should have a predetermined polygonal shape, said polygonal shape of said whole surface having a side which is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of said predetermined reference size;
• and
• combining means for combining said plurality of panel units;
• wherein said surface of each of said panel units is rectangular;
• and
• wherein said whole surface of said plurality of panel units combined with one another is rectangular;
• and
• wherein said combining means comprises
• a combining unit for combining said plurality of panel units with one another to constitute a panel unit combination body;
• and
• a mount member on which said panel unit combination body is mounted.

An operation indicator device for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of panel units, each having a surface of polygon whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of a predetermined reference size (L), said plurality of panel units being placed adjacently to one another so that a whole surface (AS) consisting of all said surfaces of said plurality of panel units should have a predetermined polygonal shape, said polygonal shape of said whole surface having a side which is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of said predetermined reference size;
• and
• combining means for combining said plurality of panel units;
• wherein said surface of each of said panel units is rectangular;
• and
• wherein said whole surface of said plurality of panel units combined with one another is rectangular;
• and
• wherein at least one of said plurality of panel units comprises an interunit communication unit for making communication among said plurality of panel units.

An operation indicator device for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of panel units, each having a surface of polygon whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of a predetermined reference size (L), said plurality of panel units being placed adjacently to one another so that a whole surface (AS) consisting of all said surfaces of said plurality of panel units should have a predetermined polygonal shape, said polygonal shape of said whole surface having a side which is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of said predetermined reference size;
• and
• combining means for combining said plurality of panel units;
• wherein said surface of each of said panel units is rectangular;
• and
• wherein said whole surface of said plurality of panel units combined with one another is rectangular;
• and
• wherein at least one of said plurality of panel units comprises an external communication unit for making communication with said external apparatus.

An operation indicator device for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of panel units, each having a surface of polygon whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of a predetermined reference size (L), said plurality of panel units being placed adjacently to one another so that a whole surface (AS) consisting of all said surfaces of said plurality of panel units should have a predetermined polygonal shape, said polygonal shape of said whole surface having a side which is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of said predetermined reference size;
• and
• combining means for combining said plurality of panel units;
• wherein said surface of each of said panel units is rectangular;
• and
• wherein said whole surface of said plurality of panel units combined with one another is rectangular;
• and
• wherein at least one of said plurality of panel units is an intermediary panel unit which is connected to another one of said plurality of panel units with an interunit electric-signal path and connected to said external apparatus with an interunit electric-signal path, to indirectly connect said another one of said plurality of panel units to said external apparatus.

An operation indicator device for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of panel units, each having a surface of polygon whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of a predetermined reference size (L), said plurality of panel units being placed adjacently to one another so that a whole surface (AS) consisting of all said surfaces of said plurality of panel units should have a predetermined polygonal shape, said polygonal shape of said whole surface having a side which is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of said predetermined reference size;
• and
• combining means for combining said plurality of panel units;
• wherein said plurality of panel units (U) are placed adjacently along a single plane to constitute a panel-like panel body;
• wherein said plurality of panel units are a group of units including a terminal unit for performing at least one of operation input display and a circuit unit not having an input/output unit on its front-surface side, and
• interconnection among said panel units of said group of units is completed by a wire attached to said panel body.

An operation indicator device for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of panel units, each having a surface of polygon whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of a predetermined reference size (L), said plurality of panel units being placed adjacently to one another so that a whole surface (AS) consisting of all said surfaces of said plurality of panel units should have a predetermined polygonal shape, said polygonal shape of said whole surface having a side which is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being substantially an integral multiple of said predetermined reference size;
• and
• combining means for combining said plurality of panel units;
• wherein at least one (U1) of said plurality of panel units comprises
• a unit body;
• an input terminal provided removably on said unit body and capable of sending/receiving a signal needed for control of said external apparatus to/from said unit body through a cable or a radio;
• and
• a connection unit provided on a front-surface portion of said unit body and said input terminal, for combining said input terminal and said front-surface portion of said unit body to be fixed in response to a mounting operation of said input terminal and releasing the connection between said input terminal and said unit body in response to a removal operation.

A panel unit mounted on a panel surface of an operation indicator device together with another panel unit, for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a unit body having a surface of rectangle whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being an integral multiple of a reference size (L), which is a constituent of at least part of said panel surface;
• and
• combining means for combining said unit body with another panel unit;
• said unit body comprises a plurality of panel devices combined with one another;
• wherein a collective terminal unit having a plurality of input/output terminals connected of terminals of said plurality of panel devices.

A panel unit mounted on a panel surface of an operation indicator device together with another panel unit, for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a unit body having a surface of rectangle whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being an integral multiple of a reference size (L), which is a constituent of at least part of said panel surface;
• and
• combining means for combining said unit body with another panel unit;
• said unit body comprises a plurality of panel devices combined with one another;
• wherein said unit body comprises
• a serial terminal for communicating a serial signal;
• and
• a signal converting unit for converting a signal between said serial terminal and terminals of said plurality of panel devices.

A panel unit mounted on a panel surface of an operation indicator device together with another panel unit, for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a unit body having a surface of rectangle whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being an integral multiple of a reference size (L), which is a constituent of at least part of said panel surface;
• and
• combining means for combining said unit body with another panel unit;
• said unit body comprises a plurality of panel devices combined with one another;
• wherein terminals of said plurality of panel devices are fixed on a printed board and a portion of each of said panel devices is removable from said terminals.

A panel unit mounted on a panel surface of an operation indicator device together with another panel unit, for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a unit body having a surface of rectangle whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being an integral multiple of a reference size (L), which is a constituent of at least part of said panel surface;
• and
• combining means for combining said unit body with another panel unit;
• wherein said combining means comprises
• a mount frame having an engagement portion,
• said unit body comprises a first panel device removably held in said mount frame, and
• said engagement portion can be engaged with said another panel units or other mount frame.

A panel unit mounted on a panel surface of an operation indicator device together with another panel unit, for performing at least one control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a unit body having a surface of rectangle whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being an integral multiple of a reference size (L), which is a constituent of at least part of said panel surface;
• and
• combining means for combining said unit body with another panel unit;
• further comprising a veneer for substantially covering the whole surface of said panel unit.

A panel mount mounted on a panel surface of an operation indicator device together with another panel unit, for performing at least one of control and management of a predetermined external apparatus, comprising:

• a unit body having a surface of rectangle whose side is substantially perpendicular to its adjacent side and has a size being an integral multiple of a reference size (L), which is a constituent of at least part of said panel surface;
• and
• combining means for combining said unit body with another panel unit;
• wherein an indication in accordance with a function of another panel unit in the vicinity of said panel unit is attached to a surface of said panel unit.