Reciprocal interface panels suitable for multi-purpose actuators
AssigneeOlympus NDT
InventorsPaul Joseph DeAngelo, Coleman McCourt Flanagan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-destructive inspection and testing instrument includes a housing and a first panel with a first type input to be assembled onto the housing and a second panel with a different, second type input to be assembled onto the housing. A first GUI module for the first panel implements a function upon an actuation of the first type input. A second GUI module for the second panel implements the same function upon an actuation of the second type input. A controller is configured to select the first GUI module when the first panel is associated with the instrument and to select the second GUI module when the second panel is associated with the instrument.
Claims17
A non-destructive inspection and testing instrument comprising:
- a user interface including:
- a housing,
- a first panel with a first type input to be assembled onto the housing, or
- a second panel with a different, second type input to be assembled onto the housing,
- wherein the first panel includes a first circuit, and the second panel includes a second circuit,
- a first GUI module for the first panel implementing a function upon an actuation of the first type input;
- a second GUI module for the second panel implementing the same function upon an actuation of the second type input;
- and
- a controller configured to query one of the first or the second panels which is installed on the instrument and identify the panel by either the first or the second circuit and the controller is further configured to select the first GUI module when the first panel is associated with the instrument and to select the second GUI module when the second panel is associated with the instrument,
- wherein the first panel includes a first keypad physical interface assembly transmitting a first mechanical move on the first panel to a first corresponding electronic contacting event and the second panel includes a second keypad physical interface assembly transmitting a second mechanical move on the second panel to a second corresponding electronic contacting event.
A method comprising:
- loading an instrument with a first GUI module for a first user interface type;
- loading the instrument with a second GUI module for a second user interface type;
- installing a user interface including:
- a first panel with the first user interface type having at least a first actuatable input, wherein the first panel including a first circuit;
- or
- a second panel with the second user interface type having at least a second actuatable input, wherein the second panel including a second circuit;
- and
- querying the panel installed on the instrument and identifying the panel by determining if the first circuit or the second circuit is connected,
- automatically determining which panel is installed,
- selecting the first GUI module if the first panel is installed on the instrument,
- selecting the second GUI module if the second panel is installed on the instrument,
- implementing a function if the first actuatable input is present and activated,
- implementing the same function if the second actuatable input is present and activated, and
- forming an orifice for a knob in a front enclosure plate and in a first keypad assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.