Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for controlling at least one piece of equipment

US5537605A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
10References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 1995
Grant dateJul 16, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B2219/36128
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An arrangement is provided which enables one or more controllable pieces of equipment to be controlled by a control unit. Each piece of controllable equipment includes a control structure definition for that equipment. The controllable equipment is responsive to a request from the control unit to supply the control structure definitions to the control unit where it is used for programming that control unit. The control unit has a number of user operable input devices, at least some of which are programmable, and a programmable display. The control unit responds to an initial operation (e.g. an initial operation of one of the input devices) to transmit a message to the controllable equipment requesting the control structure definitions for programming the display and/or the input devices. The control unit responds to a message from the controllable unit to carry out the programming. The control structure definitions can be supplied in the form of menus and/or representations of control parameters for display on the control unit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.