MXPA96001595A - Manually actuatable integrated control module and method of making same - Google Patents

Abstract

A manually actuatable integrated contact module connecting to an output access module by means of a common communications link. The integrated contact module has an electrical contact, a logic circuit, a communications circuit and a communications terminal mounted on a common printed circuit board. The printed circuit board provides communication between the electrical contact and the logic circuit, between the logic circuit and the communications circuit, and between the communications circuit and the communications terminal. The printed circuit board is enclosed within a protective housing. A contact operator is slidably mounted with respect to the printed circuit board such that it is partially enclosed within the housing and movable between a first position and a second position. An operator interface device is mounted on one side of a control panel and the integrated contact module is attached to the operator interface device on the opposite side of the control panel such that the operator interface device is in communication with that portion of the contact operator outside the protective housing. The contact operator, in response to movement of the operator interface device, causes the contact to change state thereby initiating a signal to be processed by the logic circuit and communications circuit prior to being placed on the common communcations link.

Description

INTEGRATED CONTROL MODULE, MANUALLY POWERED. r "*" 'AND METHOD OF DOING THE SAME Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method of making a manually operable control panel assembly employing input access modules for reporting the status of a manually operable contact block to an output access module remotely located in a shared communications link to activate an output device and an integrated input contact module for use in such a set. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Systems for remotely controlling electrical devices from a manual control panel are well known. In some systems employing point-to-point, or I / O, input / output architecture, each of a plurality of manually activated operator interface devices, such as a button, a key operator, a lever, or a rotary selector , can be used to operate an associated contact block having one or more electrical contacts. Each contact block is electrically connected to a remotely located, associated output device, such as a pilot light, a contact, an overload relay or other electrically controllable device. These individual point-to-point connections between each contact block and its associated output device makes the task of manufacturing a manual control panel assembly extremely labor intensive and expensive. In order to reduce labor costs, as well as the cost of the materials, it is now known how to build manual control panel assemblies where several contact blocks controlled by operator interface are connected to several output devices remotely located by a single time division multiplexer communications link for all the input and output modules of the system. In this system, each contact block is electrically connected to an associated input access module, which provides access to the multiplexer communications link on which the state of that particular contact block is transferred to an output access control module. associated. The output access control module is electrically connected to an associated output device which is finally controlled by the associated operator interface device in the control panel. This mode of operation is defined herein as the stand-alone mode or peer-to-peer mode, where a contact block and its associated input access module send a signal directly to its module. associated output access to control the associated output device. This system can also be used in a host mode where the signal of the input access module is sent to a computer or other device having a central processing unit (CPU) or means to add simple logic functions such as AND, NAND, OR or NOR to the signal. A control system employing a time division multiplexer communications link is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,808,994, issued February 28, 1989 to Riley by "Logic Interchange System" (logical interchange system). ) and in U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 099,788, filed July 30, 1993, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and incorporated herein by reference. In this type of system, both input and output access modules contain a communications circuit for communicating on the common multiplexed, time division communications link and a circuit for implementing basic logic functions, such as AND, NAND, OR and ÑOR. Because the logic circuit is included in each of the input and output access modules, the system can operate in stand-alone mode or in host mode. The state of the contact block is received by the input access module, where it is processed and passed through the communication link in the appropriate time slot to be received by the associated exit access module. The output access module interprets the signal and passes the appropriate signal to the output device for action. It is also known to transfer status information of the contact block and mode status of the input access module between various input access modules and their associated output access modules via network signaling. An example of such a network signaling control system is the Lon orks system, assembled from components manufactured by Echelon Company of Palo Alto, California, United States. The LonWorks system also includes an ASIC, which produces the signals for the network and can also be programmed with computer programs to produce the basic logical functions of AND, NAND, OR and ÑOR. The use of either of these two types of distributed I / O architecture will eliminate the point-to-point cabling between each contact block and its associated output device. However, in the current state of the art, a point-to-point connection is still required between the contact block and some type of input access module associated with the contact block and between the output device and some type of module of exit access associated with the output device. Each connection between an access module and a contact block or output device requires at least two separate cables and sometimes more of these. In the construction of the control panel, the operator interface device is installed on the outside of the panel cover and the contact block is inside the panel cover. The operator interface device and the contact block are in communication with each other such that manually operating the operator interface device will change the state of the electrical contacts within the contact block. The input access module is generally placed in an easily accessible place within the control panel such as the rear wall of the panel housing. There is usually some distance away from the contact block. It is also common for the control panel to include several pilot lights, each indicating the status of an associated output device controlled by its associated operator interface device. These pilot lights are actually output devices and therefore require a connection to the common communications link. Each pilot light requires a separate output access module and wiring between the output access module and the pilot light. The wiring between the contact blocks, the pilot lights and their associated input and output access module must be of sufficient length to allow removal of the cover when inspection, maintenance and troubleshooting are required. This usually requires several meters of cable for each connection. Control panels that have a large number of operator interface devices and pilot lights are difficult to wire and assemble due to the many cables required. In this way, even with the communication link common between the input access modules and the output access modules, the control panel itself still requires considerable time and cabling material. The physical size of the control panel housing is also a consideration. For each contact block and pilot light on the control panel, an input and output access module is required. The input and output access modules are at least the same size as contact blocks and pilot lights and in many cases much larger. Therefore, the volume of the control panel must be of sufficient magnitude to accommodate all the input and output access modules and the cable required to connect them to their respective contact blocks and pilot lights. Summary of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a method of making and assembling a manual control panel assembly that greatly reduces the problems of wiring and assembly., labor-intensive, associated with control panels employing contact blocks, pilot light assemblies, input access modules and conventional output access modules, while at the same time facilitating problem resolution and maintenance of the control panel. It is also an object of this invention to reduce the number of individual components required for the system by approximately half, while maintaining the physical size and overall shape of the integrated contact module and integrated pilot light module substantially equal to the block. of contacts not integrated or the pilot light module not integrated. This objective will allow to use the integrated modules with existing devices and as a direct replacement for existing devices without requiring labor and additional components. These objects of the invention are achieved in part by the provision of a method of making a manual control panel assembly, comprising the steps of (1) pre-assembling a manually operable contact block, having a movable electrical contact between a open state and a closed state, in combination with an input access module to form an integrated contact module, (2) mount the integrated contact module to the control panel, and (3) connect the integrated contact module mounted on a communications link on the control panel for communication with an exit access module at a location remote from the control panel to control an associated output device in accordance with the change of contact state. Preferably, the pre-assembly step includes the steps of (1) mounting the manually operable electrical contact of the contact block and circuits to form simple logic functions and communication functions of the input access module on a printed circuit board; (2) place a slide contact operator inside the integrated contact module housing; and (3) placing the printed circuit board within the contact module housing such that the sliding contact operator changes the state of the contact when moving between a first position and a second position. The printed circuit board includes connections to provide electrical communication between the electrical contacts and the logic and communication circuits. The mounting step preferably includes the step of (1) mounting an operator interface device on one side of the control panel cover and (2) attaching the integrated contact module to the operator interface device on an opposite side from the cover of the control panel, the cover being sandwiched between them. The operator interface device is in communication with the sliding contact operator such that manual operation of the operator interface device causes the sliding contact operator to change the state of the contact on the printed circuit board. The object of the invention is also achieved by providing a manually operated, integrated contact module comprising a housing; a printed circuit board housed within the housing; an electrical contact selectively movable between an open state and a closed state and mounted on the printed circuit board, means for manually changing the state of the contact, the means being partially housed within the housing; a logic circuit in electrical communication with the contact to provide a logic function in response to the change of contact state; a communication circuit in electrical communication with the logic circuit to produce a signal in response to the logic circuit; a communication terminal in electrical communication with the communication circuit to provide an external connection to a communication link; and means for attaching the integrated contact module to an operator interface device. It is also preferable that the integrated contact module includes a second contact having a normal state opposite that of the first contact and that the second contact is in electrical communication with a second logic circuit which in turn is in electrical communication with the communication circuit -ciones, which provides a signal in response to the state of the second contact to the communications terminal. The object of the invention is further achieved by providing an integrated pilot light module comprising a housing; a printed circuit board housed within the housing; a communication terminal for external connection to a communication link, a communication circuit in electrical communication with the communication terminal for receiving and interpreting signals directed to the pilot light module, a logic circuit in electrical communication with the communication circuit to carry out basic logic functions in response to the communication circuit signal, an electronic switching device in electrical communication with and responding to signals from the logic circuit; and a pilot light in electrical communication with and selectively switchable between an off state and a state on by the electronic switching device. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, claims and drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a typical control panel having buttons and pilot lights. Figure 2 is an internal view of a prior art contact block with the first contact closed and the second contact open. Figure 3 is an inside view of a prior art contact block with the first contact open and the second contact closed. Figure 4 is an inside view of a prior art contact block with both first and second contacts open. Figure 5 is a block diagram of the components required to assemble a control panel using conventional contact blocks with conventional input and output access modules.

Figure 6 is a block diagram of the components required to assemble a control panel using integrated contact module and integrated output devices of the present invention. Figure 7 is an internal view of an integrated contact module constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line AA of Fig. 1 showing an integrated contact module constructed in accordance with the present invention and a button operator interface in the normal position (first contact closed , second open contact). Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line AA of Fig. 1 showing an integrated contact module constructed in accordance with the present invention and a button operator interface in the intermediate position (both open contacts ). Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line AA of Fig. 1, showing an integrated contact module constructed in accordance with the present invention and a button operator interface in the fully depressed position (first open contact, second contact closed). Figure 11 is a cut-away view of the interior of an integrated pilot light module constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Figure 11, showing an integrated pilot light module constructed in accordance with the present invention. Before an embodiment is explained in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and description or those illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being implemented or carried out in various other ways. Likewise, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be considered as limiting. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1, it can be seen that a typical control panel assembly, as generally indicated by reference number 10, includes several manual operator interface devices such as the button operator 14, a rotary selector 18 or a key operator 22. These operator interface devices are interfaced with contact blocks that provide the means to control various output devices at remote locations of the control panel assembly 10. It is also common that the control panel assembly 10 includes various output devices such as pilot lights 26, which indicate the status of remotely located, associated output devices controlled by the operator interface devices. Referring now to Figure 2, a conventional contact block 30 of the prior art is shown, including a housing 34 housing a first set of stationary spaced contacts 38, a second set of staggered spaced contacts 42, a set of movable contacts 46 electrically connected together by means of a bridge 50 which is attached to a slidably movable arrow 54 and connector bars 58 between the stationary contacts 38 and 42 and external electrical terminals 62. The sliding arrow 54 is normally biased to a first position by a spring 66 and manually move to a second position. In the first position, the movable contacts 46 are in electrical contact with the first set of stationary contacts 38, thereby making them normally closed and therefore the second set of stationary contacts 42 are normally open. By manually moving the slider arrow 54 from the first position to the second position, as shown in Figure 3, the movable contacts 46 are placed in electrical contact with the second stationary contacts 42, making them closed and thereby opening the first set of stationary contacts 38. As shown in Figure 4, in an intermediate position between the first and second positions, both first and second station contacts, 38 and 42 respectively, are open . This type of contact block construction requires structural support components 70, integrally formed from portions of the interior of the contact block housing 34, for mounting and holding the stationary electrical contacts 38 and 42 and the associated connecting rods 58 of those contacts to their associated external wiring terminals 62. Accordingly, making an integrated contact module of the present invention using this type of construction would require a considerable increase in the size of the housing in order to accommodate a printed circuit board with electrical components and the required electrical connections between the contacts, the printed circuit board and the external wiring terminals. Reference will now be made to Figure 5, which illustrates in block diagram form a conventional manually operable contact block 30 and the components of a control panel system, indicated generally by reference number 74, to which the contact block 30 is connected. The system 74 generally includes several contact blocks 30, each having a first contact 38 and a second contact 42. The contact block 30 is electrically connected to an input access module 78 that includes a first logic circuit 82, a second logic circuit 86, a communication circuit 90 and a communication terminal 94 for connecting to a common communications link 98. Various output devices 102, such as a pilot light 106, or other devices electrically controllable, such as contacts and relays, each associated with a particular contact block 10 and an input access module 58, are connected electrically to an associated output access module 110. Each output access module 110 includes a first logic circuit 114, a second logic circuit 118, a communications circuit 122, and a communication terminal 126 to connect to the common communications link 98. In a control panel system 74, as described above, the electrical connection between each contact block 30 and its associated input access module 78 and between each output access module 110 and its associated output device 102. must be physically wired by the panel assembler. It should be noted that since two logic circuits are included in each output access module 110, two output devices 106 can be controlled by a single output access module 110. Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which illustrates how block diagram a manually operable integrated contact block 150 constructed in accordance with the present invention and the components of a control panel system, generally indicated by the reference number 154, to which the integrated contact block 150 is connected. The system 154 generally includes several integrated contact modules 150, each having a first contact 158, a logic circuit 162, a communications circuit 166 and a communication terminal 170 to be connected to a common communications link 174. The contact modules 150 integrators preferably include a second contact 178 and a second logic circuit 182. Various output devices 102 such as pilot lights, contacts, relays or other electrically controllable devices, each associated with a particular integrated contact module 150 are electrically connected to an associated output control module 110, as described above. As an alternative to the output access devices 102 and pilot lights 106, an integrated pilot light module 186 can be used to further reduce assembly time and control panel wiring. The integrated pilot light module 186 includes a communications terminal 190, a communications circuit 194, a logic circuit 198, an output switch 202 and a pilot light 204. The communication terminal 190, the communications circuit 194, the circuit logic 198, and output switch 202 may also be integrated into other electrically controllable output devices such as contacts or relays to form integrated output devices 208. These integrated output devices 208 eliminate the need for physical cabling between an access module output 110 and its associated output device 102. The system, as described above, can be used in a multiplexed time division system or a network signaling control system. In some time division multiplexed systems, a communication link control module 212 may be required to provide the clock timing circuit for the system. In this type of system, the communications link control module 212 may also be programmed to dispose the system 154 in the standalone set mode or the host mode. In a network signaling control system, the logic circuits and communication circuits are programmable by computer programs to operate in a particular direction, form simple logic functions and operate in the standalone or host mode. In the network system, a communication control module 212 is not required. Referring now to Fig. 7, the integrated contact block 150 includes a housing 216 that houses and protects a printed circuit board 220, which has a first side 222 generally flat. The first and second contacts 158 and 178, respectively, are mounted on the first side 22 such that one is separated from the other. The first and second logic circuits 162 and 182, respectively, the communications circuit 166 and the communication terminal 170 are also mounted on the printed circuit board 220. A contact operator 224 is housed partially within the housing 216 such that a first end 228 is housed within the housing 216 and a second end 232 extends out of the housing 216. The contact operator 224 is slidably mounted such that it is movable between a first position and a second position. The first end 228 is spaced from the first surface 221 such that it moves in a plane generally parallel to the first surface 221 as the contact operator 224 moves between its first and second positions. The contact operator 224 is normally biased to the first position by means of a spring 236 and moved to the second position by manually moving the second end 232. In order that the integrated contact module 150 maintains a physical size and shape comparable to the contact block 30 not integrated, the electrical and mechanical components contained within the housing 216 must be extremely small. The printed circuit board 220 is a two-sided card having a generally planar second side 238 in which other electrical components 240 such as integrated circuits, resistors, etc. can be mounted to conserve space. The first and second contacts 158 and 178, respectively, are miniature, normally open, cane switches, such as those identified with catalog number MITI-3, manufactured by Hamlin. These contacts 158 and 178 are operated by a small permanent magnet 244, such as the one identified with catalog number 27941, manufactured by Arnold Engineering Company. The magnet 244 is fixedly attached to the contact operator at a point near its first end 122. The logic and communication circuits are implemented in a specific application integrated circuit or ASIC. The communications terminal 170 is modular type for mounting on a printed circuit board such as the catalog number MLAS100-5-C, manufactured by Panduit. Referring now to Figure 8, for the steps of constructing a control panel assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention, it can be seen that the control panel assembly 10 includes a cover 246 having holes 250 through which Operator interface devices are mounted. For simplification purposes, the button operator 14 will be used to illustrate the steps and operation of the control panel assembly. The cover 246 is generally flat and has an outer surface 254 and an inner surface 258. The hole 250 provides communication means between the outer surface 168 and the inner surface 258 such that operator interface devices can be installed on the cover 246. A button operator assembly 262 includes a housing 266 having a button end 270 and a contact block end 274, a plunger 278 slidably mounted within the housing 266 having a push button end 282 and an operator surface 286. The push button end 270 of the housing 266 is sized to pass through the hole 250 while the contact block end 274 is larger than the hole 250 and therefore can not pass through. The button operator assembly 262 is attached to the cover 264 by passing the button end 270 through the hole 250 from the inner surface 258 such that it extends outwardly beyond the outer surface 254. The contact block end 274 of the housing 266 presses against a sealing sheave 290 positioned between the inner surface 258 of the cover 246 and the contact block end 274 of the housing 266. An anti-turn sheave 294 is slidably received on the end of the button 270 of the housing 266 such connecting the cover 246. A retaining sleeve 298 is then received threadedly onto the button end 270 of the housing 266, thereby tightly gripping the cover 246 between the anti-rotation sheave 294 and the sleeve 298 on the outer surface 254 and the sealing sheave 290 and the end of the contact block 274 of the housing 266 on the inner surface 258. In this way, the button assembly 262 and s securely attached to the cover 246 of the control panel assembly 10. The integrated contact module 150 is now positioned against the contact block end 274 of the housing 266 such that the second end 232 of the contact operator 224 is in proximity close to the operator surface 286 of the piston 278 and then attached to the housing 266 by means of a screw 302. The common communication link 174 is then connected to the integrated contact module 150 in the communications terminal, thereby completing the installation of the button operator assembly 262 and the integrated contact module 150. As can be seen in Figure 8, the plunger 278 is normally biased to a first position by means of a spring 306. In this position, the contact operator 224 is also in its first polarized position where the magnet 244 in the contact operator 224 is placed immediately adjacent to the first contact 158, thereby The first contact 158 is in a closed condition. Referring now to Figure 9, when the button end 282 is depressed by the operator of the machine, the plunger 278 moves to a second position, thereby causing the operator surface 286 to link the second end 232 of the operator of the machine. contacts 224, causing it to move from its normally polarized position to its second position. At an interim point between the first and second positions of the plunger 278 and the contact operator 224, as shown in Figure 9, the magnet is between the first and second contacts 158 and 178, respectively, thereby allowing both contacts to be in its normally open condition. When the button end 282 is fully depressed, as shown in FIG. 10, the plunger 278 and the contact operator 224 reach their second position. When the contact operator 224 is in its second position, the magnet 244 is placed immediately adjacent to the second contact 178, thereby causing it to be in the closed condition.

The change of state of each of the first and second contacts 158 and 178, respectively, is communicated to their respective logic circuits 162 and 182 and of the logic circuits 162 and 182 to the communications circuit 166 and then to the communications terminal 170. and to communication link 174. The signal is then received by the appropriate integrated pilot light module 186, the integrated output device 208 or the output access module 110 for action on the output device. A second integrated contact block 150 can be attached to the button operator assembly 262 or other operator interface device, as shown in Fig. 10. Referring now to Fig. 11, the integrated pilot light module 186 also includes a housing 310 housing a printed circuit board 314 to which the communication terminal 190, the communication circuit 194, the logic circuit 198, and the output switch 202 are connected, and are in communication with each other. The circuit board 314 is two-sided, so that electrical components 316 such as integrated circuits, resistors and transistors can be mounted on both sides to conserve space within the housing 310. The output switch 202 is preferably a switching transistor or relay and is in electrical communication with the pilot light 204 such that it can be turned on and off in response to a signal from the logic circuit 198. Referring now to Figure 12, the integrated pilot light module 186 preferably incorporates a bayonet base. miniature 318 for receiving the pilot light 204. The base is attached to the housing 310 such that the terminals 322 pass through the housing 310, thereby providing means for electrically connecting the pilot light 204 to the output switch 202. The pilot light 204 can be a commercially available LED module (light emitting diode) having a bayonet base or an incandescent light of Low voltage that has a bayonet base. When using an LED module, no external power source is required; however, the low-voltage incandescent light requires a pair of external power terminals 326 that are in electrical communication with the output switch 202 on the printed circuit board 314 such that the output switch 202 controls the power supplied to the pilot light 204. The integrated pilot light module 186 may be attached to a pilot light lens assembly, shown in Figure 1, or to an illuminated operator interface device. A translation pin 330 passes through the pilot light housing 310 to communicate the manual movement of the operator interface device to a conventional contact block 30 or integrated contact module 150 that can be attached to the back of the pilot light 186 The printed circuit board 314 may integrate the communication terminal 190, the communication circuit 194, the logic circuit 198, and the output switch 202 in other output devices 102 for controlling the output device 102.

Claims (28)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method of making a manual control panel assembly, comprising the steps of: preassembling a manually operable electrical contact in combination with an input access module to form an integrated contact module; mounting a manually operable operator interface device in said control panel; attaching said integrated contact module to said operator interface device; and connecting said integrated contact module to a common communications link in the control panel for communication with an output access module spaced from said control panel to control an associated output device in response to the manual operation of said contact. The method of claim 1, wherein the preassembly step includes the steps of: mounting said manually operable electrical contact on a printed circuit board; mounting a communication circuit, a logic circuit, and a communication terminal of the input access module on said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board providing electrical communication between said contact and said logic circuit, between said logic circuit and said communication circuit, and between said communication circuit and said communication terminal. The method of claim 2, wherein the preassembly step further includes the step of: mounting a second manually operable electrical contact and a second logic circuit associated with said second contact on said printed circuit board, said circuit card printed circuit providing electrical communication between said second electrical contact and said second logic circuit and between said second logic circuit and said communication circuit. The method of claim 2, wherein the preassembly step includes the steps of: mounting said printed circuit board within a protective housing; and slidably mounting a contact operator partially within said housing such that said contact operator is movable toward and away from a contact drive position. The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting step includes the steps of: mounting an operator interface device on one side of said control panel; and joining said integrated contact module to said operator interface device on an opposite side of said control panel such that they are in communication with each other. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting step includes the step of: attaching a common communications link or connector to said communications terminal. The method of claim 1, including the steps of: mounting a plurality of operator interface devices to said control panel; joining a plurality of integrated, pre-assembled contact modules to said operator interface devices; and connecting each of said integrated contact modules through said common communications link to a plurality of associated output access modules. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-assembly steps include the step of pre-assembling said integrated, manually operable contact module with a multiplexed communications circuit to transmit control signals responsive to said contact electrically operable to an output access module in a time division multiplexing base. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-assembly steps include the step of pre-assembling said integrated contact module, manually operable with an encrypted network transmission signal communications circuit for transmitting control signals ciphers that respond to said manually operable electrical contact to an output access module in a network signaling base. 10. An integrated, manually actuable contact module, comprising: a housing defining a hollow interior; a printed circuit board, mounted within said housing and having generally flat first and second surfaces; a contact operator, partially housed within said housing and slidably movable between a first position and a second position; a first electrical contact mounted on said first generally flat surface of said printed circuit board, such that the movement of said contact operator between said first and second positions causes a change of state of said electrical contact; a first logic circuit mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said electrical contact, such that a logic function can be produced in response to said change of state of said electrical contact; a communications circuit mounted on said circuit card and in electrical communication with said logic circuit, said communication circuit producing a control signal in response to said logic function; and a communication terminal mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said communication circuit, said communication terminal providing access to a common communications link such that said control signal can be placed on the common communications link to control a associated output device that also has means to access the common communications link. The integrated, manually operable contact module of claim 10, wherein said circuit card is of two sides, such that electrical components can be placed on both said first and second generally flat sides of said printed circuit card to conserve space. The integrated, manually operable contact module of claim 10, wherein said communication circuit is of the type that provides communication signals for use in a time division multiplexer communications link. The integrated, manually operable contact module of claim 10, wherein said communication circuit is of the type that provides communications signals for use in an encrypted network communications link. The integrated contact module of claim 10, wherein said contact operator further comprises: a first end housed within said housing, said first end being spaced apart from and being movably slidable in a plane generally parallel to said first generally flat surface of said printed circuit board; a second end extending out of said housing; and a magnet attached to said contact operator at a point near said first end, said magnet being adjacent said first generally flat surface of said printed circuit card, such that it is movable in a plane generally parallel to said first generally flat surface of said printed circuit board when said contact operator moves between said first and second positions. 15. The integrated contact module of claim 14, wherein said first electrical contact is a cane switch. The contact operator of claim 14, wherein said contact operator is normally biased to said first position, wherein said magnet is immediately adjacent to said first contact, thereby causing said first contact to be in a closed state. The contact operator of claim 16, wherein in said second position said magnet is moved sufficiently far from said first contact, thereby causing said first contact to be in an open state. 18. The manually operated, integrated contact module of claim 14, wherein a second electrical contact is mounted on said first generally flat surface of said printed circuit board such that the movement of said contact operator between said first and second positions causes a change of the state of said second electrical contact, said second electrical contact being spaced from said first electrical contact. 19. The integrated contact module of claim 18, wherein said second electrical contact is a cane switch. The integrated, manually operable contact module of claim 18, wherein a second logic circuit is mounted on said circuit board and is in communication with said second electrical contact such that a logic function can occur in response to said state change of said second electrical contact, said second logic circuit being in communication with said communication circuit. The contact operator of claim 18, wherein said contact operator is normally biased to said first position, wherein said magnet is immediately adjacent said first contact, thereby causing said first contact to be in a closed state and sufficiently far of said second contact, thereby causing said second contact to be in an open condition. The contact operator of claim 21, wherein in said second position said magnet is moved sufficiently far from said first contact, thereby causing said first contact to be in an open state and immediately adjacent to said second contact, thereby making that said second contact is in a closed condition. The contact operator of claim 22, wherein in an interim position between said first and second positions said magnet is sufficiently far from both first and second contacts, thereby causing said first and second contacts to be in an open state. 24. An integrated pilot light module, comprising: a housing defining a hollow interior; a bulb plug, attached to the outside of said housing and having terminals for connection to a power source within said hollow interior of said housing; a pilot light received in said bulb plug; a printed circuit board mounted inside said housing; a communications terminal mounted on said circuit card to provide access to a common communications link; a communication circuit mounted on said circuit card and in electrical communication with said communication terminal, said communication circuit interpreting a control signal received from said communications link; a logic circuit mounted on said circuit card and in communication with said communication circuit such that a logic function can be applied to the control signal interpreted by said communication circuit; and an output switch mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said logic circuit such that the state of said switch can be changed in response to said logic function applied to the control signal received and interpreted by said communication circuit from said common communication link, the state of said output switch determining the on or off state of said pilot by passing or blocking the flow of electrical current to said bulb plug terminals. 25. The integrated pilot light module of claim 24, wherein said pilot light is an LED module. 26. The integrated pilot light module of claim 24, wherein said pilot light is a low voltage incandescent light. 27. The integrated pilot light module of claim 24, wherein said output switch is a switching transistor. 28. The integrated pilot light module of claim 24, wherein said output switch is an electronic relay.