FR2459564A1 - REMOVABLE CONTROL PANEL, FOR EXAMPLE FOR AN INFRARED RADIUS APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION CONCERNS A REMOVABLE PANEL 6 CARRYING BUTTONS AND KNOBS FOR THE CONTROL OF AN APPARATUS 1 (FOR EXAMPLE AN INFRARED-RADIATION APPARATUS) TO WHICH IT IS CONNECTED BY AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CABLE 3 AND TO WHICH IT IS FIXED BY A MEANS EASY DETACHABLE SUCH AS A PERMANENT MAGNET, AND CAN, IF NECESSARY, BE EASILY AND QUICKLY DETACHED AND FIXED ON ANOTHER DEVICE 2 (FOR EXAMPLE A DETECTION DEVICE) TEMPORARILY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST, OR AT ANOTHER FARTHER POINT, TO RETURN IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR.

Description

The present invention relates to an autonomous control panel, joined by

  an electric cable to the main device which is functionally associated with it The traditional control panels are either integrated into the main device or consist of units of the kind defined at the start due to the unfavorable position of the device or the operator But until now, there was no known control panel that could be removably mounted, either on the main unit or in any other place suitable for the operator, without having to establish

  or interrupt electrical connection.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to produce a control panel constituting one of the components of a given main appliance although having

  very extensive mobility. This goal is achieved,

according to the invention, by a device in the-

  which control panel is shaped so that

  can be fixed at will and always amo-

  visible, either to the main unit itself, or to

  another device mechanically and / or functionally-

combined with the main unit, or any other object. This arrangement allows, among other facilities, to operate without constraint several devices adapted to each other by a single operator even if the various individual control panels were originally provided, that is to say in their irremovable version, in contradictory or humanly unfavorable points

of these devices.

  A development of the present invention provides that

  the control panel can be fixed via the

  medium of planar contacts provided on its rear face and on the surface opposite to the latter. Such a control panel can, as long as it has appropriate geometric dimensions, be easily mounted on the main device itself, but it can be detached from it as easily and as quickly to be mounted at another location. For this, the planar contacts should be made up, either both by a permanent magnet, or by a permanent magnet and a ferrous surface,

  either by an adhesive strip. These fasteners

tion allow the installation of the control panel

  ask with your eyes closed and almost in any position as long as you have enough grip

  Regarding the embodiment of the con-

  cable connection, it is advantageous for the electrical cable to be fixed at each of its ends by means of a gas-tight cable bushing, the bushing close to the control panel being rotatable, this arrangement allowing the panel of

  command to always be able to adapt to changes

essential position information. To protect the connection cable from damage caused by

  inclement weather or mechanical actions, there are

  ge that it goes through an appropriate recess of the

wall of the appliance or is surrounded by a sheath pro-

cover such as an armored tube.

Another characteristic of the invention provides that the control panel is shaped so that it can be actuated by keys arranged on its front face and corresponding to four fingers of the human hand, as well as by rotary knobs placed

on its front side.

  The invention is described below in detail in detail.

  referring to a preferred, non-limiting example, of realizing

sation shown in the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 is a side view of two mechanically joined devices and the device placed at the top of the drawing comprises a control panel which can also be attached to the device placed at the part lower;

- Figure 2 is a front view on a larger scale -

the of the control panel of the devices of the fi-

gure 1; and

- Figure 3 is a side view of the control panel

  figure 2 after rotation of 902 on its

longitudinal axis.

It may happen in practice that, for example, two individually capable devices must also, in order to meet specific requirements,

  jointly enter into action according to a predeter mode-

  mined with conjunction. In the example of implementation shown in Figure 1, it is a device to

  thermal images 1 not to be mounted on an ins-

daytime detection only when put on

  in action at night or in bad weather.

In a device of this kind, scene 17 is frequent

  only observed by the eyepiece 16, by an operator lying on his stomach. In this case, the position of this operator or its distance from the control panel 6, shown in solid lines, from the thermal imaging device can be unfavorable enough not to

allow the operation of the latter device,

  while looking into the eyepiece, only briefly and

  at the cost of great physical constraints. But com-

me the observation generally requires a fairly long time requiring a proportionately as long operation of the devices, the control panel can also be brought into the position shown in broken lines more accessible, in this case, to the operator The control panel 6 is joined, by the rotary cable crossing 7, to the cable 3 which is itself joined, by the cable crossing 4, to the thermal image apparatus 1. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the rear face of the control panel is provided with planar contacts 8 requiring the presence of contacts

  corresponding to the place where it must be fixed.

Each of these planar contacts is constituted by at least one permanent magnet on either side, or by a permanent magnet and a ferrous surface. According to

  another embodiment of the invention, this

tact can also take the form of a dovetail guide, an adhesive band joint or

a push button seal.

The numbers 9, 10, 11 and 12 represent keys arranged on the front face of the control panel 6, offered with four fingers of the human hand, with the exception of the thumb, for recording digital data. In addition, the front of the panel

command carries keys 15 and 16. All these keys

They are in the form of push buttons or rotary buttons that can be operated even blindly

in a favorable position for the operator.

If now the operator position requires that the control panel be brought from its fixed position

on the main device (thermal imaging device

  ques 1), which is also the position of trans-

  port, at another position such as that shown in Figure 1 by dashed lines, it will suffice

that the operator separates this panel from the main device

cipal and places it in the desired location on the other device

reil (detection device 2).

  It is obvious that the removable control panel according to the invention is not limited to the application

described but that it is susceptible of other applica-

  without leaving the field of the invention. One can for example conceive another application case in which, for example, a vehicle commander entrusts

  temporarily to the driver of this vehicle functions

technical equipment normally assigned to this commander. In this case also, the movement of the control panel should be able to be done quickly and without unduly distracting

driver's attention.

Claims (6)

  1. Autonomous control panel, joined by a cable   electric to the main unit that is assigned to it   functionally integrated, characterized in that it is shaped so that it can be fixed at will and always removable, either to the device main itself, or to another mechanical device nically and / or functionally combined with the app- the same principal, either to any other ob- jet   2. Control panel according to Claim 1, characterized in that it can be fixed by the   intermediate of planar contacts provided on its face rear and on the surface opposite to it.   3. Control panel according to Claim 2, characterized in that the planar contacts are - constituted, either both by a permanent magnet, either by a permanent magnet and an iron surface reuse, either by dovetail guidance, or by an adhesive strip, or by a button joint- pusher   4. Control panel according to any of the Reven- dications 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cable   electrical connection cable is fixed to each of its ends by means of a gas-tight cable bushing, the bushing close to the   control panel being rotatable.   5. Control panel according to any of the Reven-   dications 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the   electrical connection cable goes through a hollow   appropriate wall of the device or is surrounded by a protective sheath such as a shielded tube   6. Control panel according to any of the Reven- dications 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that it is shaped so that it can be actuated by   keys arranged on its front face and cor-   respundant with four fingers of the human hand, thus   if by rotary knobs placed on its front face.