U.S. patent application number 13/476275 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-12 for programmable display switch.
This patent application is currently assigned to Avion Engineering Services, Inc. dba Avion Partners. The applicant listed for this patent is Rory G. Briski, Steven R. Galipeau. Invention is credited to Rory G. Briski, Steven R. Galipeau.
Application Number | 20130234841 13/476275 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39939456 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130234841 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Galipeau; Steven R. ; et
al. |
September 12, 2013 |
Programmable Display Switch
Abstract
A programmable graphical display switch that provides users with
a simple means of controlling other devices and for customizing how
that control is initiated and communicated to the user.
Inventors: |
Galipeau; Steven R.;
(Redmond, WA) ; Briski; Rory G.; (Bellevue,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Galipeau; Steven R.
Briski; Rory G. |
Redmond
Bellevue |
WA
WA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Avion Engineering Services, Inc.
dba Avion Partners
Bellevue
WA
|
Family ID: |
39939456 |
Appl. No.: |
13/476275 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11974087 |
Oct 11, 2007 |
8203437 |
|
|
13476275 |
|
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|
60851231 |
Oct 12, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/12.54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C 19/00 20130101;
G08C 2201/30 20130101; G08C 2201/20 20130101; G08C 17/02 20130101;
G06F 3/0626 20130101; G06F 3/0623 20130101; G06F 3/0685 20130101;
G08C 2201/92 20130101; G06F 3/0658 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/12.54 |
International
Class: |
G08C 19/00 20060101
G08C019/00 |
Claims
1. A switch, comprising: (a) a programmable display, and (b) one or
more programmable means of controlling other devices.
2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the programmable parameters of
the means of controlling other devices can be programmed with the
apparatus already installed.
3. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the programmable display images
can be loaded with the apparatus already installed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling and
managing the control of devices and communicating the function or
device being controlled to the user.
[0003] 2. Description of Related/Prior Art
[0004] In existing switch technologies the function of the switch
is often predetermined and an associated label affixed to the
switch that represents its function.
[0005] For example, in an aircraft environment, this would amount
to hundreds of different part numbers being created, maintained,
spared and then certified by the Federal Aviation Administration as
safe.
[0006] There remains, therefore, a need fur a programmable switch
that is capable of duplicating the functionality of many other
switches, while providing sufficient flexibility to convey its
purpose to the user.
3. OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0007] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of our invention
are: [0008] Our programmable display switch (PDS) provides a
minimum of one user programmable relay that allows for controlling
other devices. The programmable features include but are not
limited to: latched or momentary operation. If momentary then the
duration is also programmable. Our PDS includes a user programmable
visual display element such as an Organic Light Emitting Diode
(OLED) display panel. This display panel is user programmed with
different graphics that represent the state of the associated
relay. [0009] Our PDS allows for graphics displayed on the visual
display panel to be changed by the user even after the PDS has been
installed into the target application. [0010] Further objects and
advantages of our invention will become apparent from a
consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
4. BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0011] The invention, a programmable display switch, provides users
with a simple means of controlling other devices and for
customizing how that control is initiated.
[0012] A display panel is connected to a display controller where
the user downloads the desired switch state images. When the user
wants to change the state of the switch they touch the PDS and
switch sensor will detect the touch and change the state of the
switch as per the user programming.
[0013] For example, if the PDS is being used as a heater control,
the ON image may be one of a heater with radiating lines coming
from it while the OFF image is one with no lines. [0014] If the
heater is currently off, the image could be the current OFF state,
in which case when the user touched the PDS the image would change
to ON and the relay(s) would either open or close or be latched or
momentarily change state depending upon the user program and the
requirement of the device being controlled. If at some later date
the user no longer liked the heater image with lines they could
simply load a new image into the PDS without removing it from its
currently installed position.
DRAWINGS LIST OF FIGURES
[0015] FIG. 1 Programmable Display Switch Block Diagram
DRAWINGS--LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0016] The first 1 digits=the FIGURE number and the second 2 digits
indicate the part number
TABLE-US-00001 Item Nomenclature 120 Single Switch Panel 121
Display 122 Display Control and Switch Sensor Circuit 123 Relay(s)
124 Power Supply 125 Control Logic Circuit 126 Audio Feedback 127
Programming Port
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates the block diagram of the Programmable
Display Switch.
[0018] A chassis 120 houses a power supply 124, a Display 121, a
Display Control and Switch Sensor circuit 122, a control logic
circuit 125, one or more relays 123, a programming port 127 and
optionally an ambient light sensor 125 and also optionally an audio
feedback circuit 126.
* * * * *