CA2131962A1

CA2131962A1 - Electrical apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA2131962A1
Application number: CA 2131962
Authority: CA
Inventors: Milton B. Hollander
Original assignee: Omega Engineering Inc
Current assignee: Omega Engineering Inc
Priority date: 1993-09-14
Filing date: 1994-09-13
Publication date: 1995-03-15
Also published as: GB9319000D0; GB2281790A; GB9418400D0

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Removable key pad units facilitate the control of electronic meters capable of sensing, measuring or datalogging readings of variable parameters. The meter housings and the keypad units incorporate mutually engageable receptacle openings and mating projections, each carrying cooperating electrical contact elements to establish mechanical and electrical;
connections between the meter and the keypad. A given meter may be coupled to any one of a plurality of different keypad units, to achieve a variety of different control functions. A given keypad may be coupled similarly to a plurality of different meters. Such removable key pad control units function to: a]
prevent third party tampering with the operation of the meter;
b] enable one key pad to control several meters; c] separably store and/or process information taken from a meter; d] permit a given meter to function in a variety of different and enhanced modes; and 5] cover, in dummy form, otherwise unused receptacle openings in the control area of the meter.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

2 This invention relates to the field of electronic 3 apparatus of the kind including a display portion to show for 4 example one or more parameters, resultants, and~or functions, and a control portion, e.g. a key pad, for manual insertion of, 6 for example, instructions, data, parameters and functions to 7 operate appropriately the internal electronics of the apparatus.
8 A first object of the invention is to provide an 9 improvement whereby a control portion is applicable to and removable from the apparatus such that the internal electronics 11 of the apparatus cannot be altered or otherwise tampered with 12 when the control portion is not in position.
13 A second object of the invention is to permit a same 14 control portion to be utilisable with a plurality of such display portions.
16 A third object of the invention is to provide a 17 control portion which includes provision for additional storage 18 and/or processing of information within it.
19 A fourth object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the control portion may include, or be 21 substituted by, a replacement having additional display 22 facility, particularly of items not normally displayed by the 23 display portion.

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1 A fifth object of the invention is to permit the 2 control portion to be substituted by a replacement which may 3 serve to blank off, and/or serve as a cover to, that part of the 4 display portion to which the control portion is applicable.
Other objects, features and advantages of the 6 invention will be apparent from the following description.
7 Rccording to a first aspect of the present invention, 8 in an item of electronic apparatus o~ the kind having a display 9 portion and a control portion, the control portion is engageable with and disengageable from the display portion, and the two 11 portions have respective contact means which cooperate when the 12 control portion is engaged with the display portion.
13 In a preferred form, the display portion has an 14 opening, e.g. a slot, to receive a stem of the control portion, and conveniently the respective contacts are provided within the 16 opening and on the stem.
17 Where a plurality of display portions have such an 18 opening and contacts, a same control portion can be used with 19 each such display portion.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the control 21 portion includes additional data storage and/or data processing 22 means, e.g. a microprocessor connected with the manual input 23 means, e.g. a key pad, and said contacts.
24 In a still further advantageous embodiment, the control portion includes further display means which may be 26 additional to, or may replace the usual key pad or other manual 27 input means of the control member.
28 As the control portion is engageable with, and 1 disengageable from, the display portion, the control portion may 2 be modified to serve to blank off, i.e. to prevent unauthorised 3 access to, that part of the display portion to which it is 4 applied, e.g. by replacement of the conventional key pad or the like by a blanking means which may also serve as a dust cover.
6 According to another aspect of the invention, the 7 control portion may be in the form of a card, e.g. a data-8 logging card, having suitable terminals to coact with the 9 display portion, and serving for example to store, enter or offer additional controls, functions or indicators as a 11 supplement to the inbuilt capability of the electronic 12 apparatus.
13 By way of example, the electronic apparatus may be a 14 data-logger or data recorder, and the opening in the display portion thereof may be a slot as described above, or a computer 16 port, or a connector socket. The control portion may include, in 17 addition to its manual insertion means such as a key pad, one or 18 more displays, L.E.D.s, liquid crystals, indicator lights, l9 alarms, relays, and controls.
An advantage of the structure of the invention is 21 that, for a given size of electronic instrument having a display 22 screen, the conventional key pad is no longer present/ being 23 replaced by, for example, a slot, so that the area of the 24 display screen may be made relatively greater.
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' ' 1 In order that the nature of the invention may be 2 readily ascertained, some embodiments of apparatus in accordance 3 therewith are hereinafter particularly described with reference 4 to the accompanying drawings, wherein~
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of ~ typical known 6 temperature controller; ~`
7 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a temperature 8 controller incorporating the invention;
9 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a "key card", for example a data logging storage card which can be used in 11 accordance with the invention;
12 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a key pad control 13 member including a microprocessor;
14 Fig. S is a perspective view of a key pad control :~
member structure in which the keys have been replaced by an 16 auxiliary L.C.D. number display; :~
17 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a key pad control 18 mPmber structure in which the keys have been replaced by an 19 emergency "stop" sign;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a key pad control 21 member structure in which the keys are modified to show 22 different functions, including "alarm" and others;
23 Fig. 8 is a perspecti~e view of a key pad control 24 member structure in which the keys are replaced by a "blank"
dust cover.
26 Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a block of six known 27 temperature controllers, to show limited screen area;
28 Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a block of six t ~
1 temperature controllers incorporating the invention and having 2 relatively greater available screen area.
3 Referring to fig. 1, there is shown a typical known 4 temperature controller 1 having a screen 2 and incorporating at its lower part a fixed key pad 3 including movahle keys 4 each 6 serving for the setting of various parameters and functions, 7 such as l'on-off" points, high and low limits, alarms, timing, 8 ramp and soak functions, calibration and the like, including the 9 setting of various programs Referring to fig. ~, there is shown a temperature 11 controller, by way of example, incorporating the invention and 12 having a body 5 with a screen 6, there being provided in the 13 body 5 a slot 7 for the insertion of a contact bearing portion 14 8 of a key pad 9 having movable keys as necessary. For operation of the apparatus, the removable key pad 9 is inserted fully into 16 the slot 7, and slide contacts 10 on the key pad engage with 17 corresponding counter-contacts (not shown~ in the interior of 18 the body 5, to permit the keyed functions to be transferred to 19 the temperature controller circuitry. Once the keying operation has been completed, the key pad 9 is removed as a whole, and the 21 temperature controller cannot then be tampered with or re-22 adjusted by an unauthorised user not in possession of such a key 23 pad.

1 Referring to fig. 3 there is shown an example of a 2 data logging card 11, having contacts 12, which may be inserted 3 into the slot 7 of the temperature controller of fig. 2 to store 4 recorded parameters, or to enter or to offer additional controls or indicators to the temperature controller of fig. 2 as a 6 supplement to the inbuilt capability of the controller.
7 Referring to fig.4, there is shown an example of a key 8 pad 13 having a contact bearing portion 14 with contacts 15, and 9 a plurality of operating keys 16 at the front for manual lo operation. setween the contact bearing portion 14 and the part 11 of the key pad incorporating the keys 16 there is included a 12 micro-processor 17, and the key pad as a whole may be used for 13 purposes similar to those described above for fig. 3. With this 14 arrangement it is possible to pre-program the device when remote from the temperature controller, and then insert the remotely 16 programmed microprocessor without interfering with the ongoing 17 process while the controller is on-line. Further, once a 18 particular program or sequence has been set, e.g. for a first 19 meter or indicator, the key pad incorporating the microprocessor can be used to provide other such instruments with the same 21 program or sequence.
22 Referring to fig. 5 there is shown an insertable 23 member 18, having a similar body 19 with contacts (not shown), 24 in which the individual keys of the key pad of fig. 2 have been replaced by an auxiliary L.E.D. display 20 to show one or more 26 functions as required.

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1 Referring to fig. 6 there is shown an insertable 2 member 21, having a similar body 22 with contacts (not shown), 3 incorporating an "emergency stop" switch which can be used in 4 place of the key pad, e.g. the pad 9 of fig. 2, when the pad is removed from service.
6 Referring to fig. 7 there is shown an insertable 7 member 23, having a similar body 24 with contacts (not shown), 8 which includes in place of the usual keys a plurality of 9 illuminated presentations 25 of, for example, further important items of information or alarms which are not normally displayed 11 on the screen of the temperature controller.
12 Referring to fig. 8 there is shown an insertable 13 member 26 which has a similar body 27, devoid of contacts, and 14 which can serve as a dust cover for the slot 7 of fig. 2. -;
Reference is now made to fig. 9 and fig. 10. Fig. 9 16 shows a bank of six of the typical known temperature contro:Llers 17 seen in fig. 1. A considerable portion of the frontal area of 18 each controller is occupied by the key pad 3', and this 19 correspondingly reduces the area available for the viewing ` -screen 2. Frequently, several controllers are used on a proc~ss, 21 and it is only desired to be able to view the presentation of 22 the controlled parameters. Once a particular set of parameters 23 has been determined for a particular indicator or controller, 24 the setting keys are then somewhat redundant. Fig. 10 shows a bank of six of the temperature controllers of fig. 2 26 incorporating the invention, each of which can be set up using 27 an insertable and withdrawable key pad 3. It will be seen that 28 the relatively small slot 7 provided in each controller, to ~f l ~ L ~

1 receive the insertable key pad, occupies a relatively much 2 reduced proportion of the total front area of the controller, so 3 that the viewing screen 2A can be made that much larger within 4 a similar total frontal area.
Other features and advantages of the invention are:
6 (i) a single portable control key pad can be used to 7 operature a plurality of controllers in the manner of a "master 8 key" used for opening and closing a plurality of locks;
9 (ii) a removable key pad can be provided with both additional indicators and further microprocessor power. Such 11 indicators might be, for example, L.E.D. or liquid crystal 12 displays, or indicator lights such as incandescent bulbs or 13 L.E.D. lights, or again additional alarm or relay or control 14 functions.
It will be appreciated that there may be a 16 considerable economy effected by using a portable 17 interchangeable key pad to communicate with a plurality of 18 controls and/or indicating devices, and in a preferred form the 19 portable key pad is standardized to permit it to have a standard connector pin or key slot configura~ions, for example a BCD port 21 or an IEEE port or a memory card type slot or an RS 232 port 22 type connection.
23 The same key slot or connection portion may be used to 24 add additional processing power or to connect and/or multiplex a number of controls or recording or data-logging devices. For 26 example, the measurement and control of a process utiliæing a 27 differential temperature as a parameter can, by use of this 28 invention, be accomplished with two control devices connected 1 together to act in unison through the same key slot and key pad 2 arrangement. : :~
3 A further feature is that, with the use of a portable 4 key pad and an associated memory card, it is possible to clone the parameters or settings from one meter to another, or to ~: .
6 retain the settings from time to time. ;~

Claims

CLAIM 1 - An improved electronic apparatus comprising:
a first housing having an electronic display assembly mounted thereto;
a second housing having a first electronic control assembly mounted thereto;
one of said first and second housings having a first receptacle opening therein, and the other of said first and second housings having a first substantially rigid projecting member thereon dimensioned to be telescopically received within said receptacle opening for detachably coupling said second housing to said first housing in a substantially fixed-position mechanical relationship therewith;
said projecting member having mounted thereon a plurality of first electrical contact elements, and said one of said housings having mounted thereon within said receptacle opening a plurality of second electrical contact elements positioned to electrically and mechanically engage said first electrical contact elements when said projecting member is inserted into said receptacle opening.
Claim 2 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, further comprising:
a third housing having a second electronic control assembly mounted therein, and further having one of a second substantially rigid projecting member and a second receptacle opening dimensioned to telescopically mate with a corresponding one of said first projecting member and said first receptacle opening, for detachably coupling said third housing to said first housing in a substantially fixed-position mechanical relationship therewith when said second housing is detached from said first housing;
said one of said second projecting member and said second receptacle opening
Claim 3 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, wherein:
said first receptacle opening is formed in said first housing and said first projecting member is formed on said second housing.
Claim 4 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 3, further comprising:
a third housing member having a second electronic control assembly mounted therein, and further having a second substantially rigid projecting member formed thereon dimensioned to telescopically mate with said first receptacle opening in said first housing for detachably coupling said third housing to said first housing in a substantially fixed-position mechanical relationship therewith when said second housing is detached from said first housing;
said second substantially rigid projecting member having mounted thereon a plurality of third contact elements positioned to mechanically and electrically engage the said first electrical contact elements within said receptacle opening when said second projecting member is inserted therein.
Claim 5 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, further comprising:
first data storage means mounted in said first housing;
supplemental data storage means mounted in said second housing;
manually operable switch means mounted on said second housing for altering the state of said first data storage means from a first condition to a second condition prior to separation of said second housing from said first housing.
Claim 6 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 5, wherein:
said manually operable switch means is a conventional keyboard.
Claim 7 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, further comprising:

electronic data processing means associated with at least one of said first and second housings, allowing said improved apparatus to function as a data logging device.
Claim 8 An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, further comprising:
supplementary display means associated with said second housing to display information supplemental to the information displayed by said electronic display assembly on said first housing.
Claim 9 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 8, wherein said supplementary display means is adapted to display warning information indicating the existence of a predetermined electronic signal with said apparatus.
Claim 10 - An improved electronic apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, further comprising:
electronic data processing means associated with at least one of said first and second housings and capable of being set electronically to certain temperature control conditions, enabling said apparatus to function as a temperature controller;
wherein said second housing includes manually settable switch means for setting temperature control conditions within said electronic display assembly, such that detachment of said second housing from said first housing substantially inhibits alteration of the said temperature control settings of said electronic display assembly.