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US5155664A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Operator interface panel assembly for use with a programmable logic controller

Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-28
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Granted: 1992-10-13
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Expires: 2010-12-28
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Abstract

Abstract An operator interface panel assembly is used with a programmable logic controller. Through the use of a printed wired circuit board, a wide variety of input and output components that must be accessible to an operator can be assembled by the user at the location of the installation rather than at the point of manufacture. The assembly can be easily reconfigured without costly rewiring of the installation. The same switch or pilot light position can accommodate a variety of one and two pole switches without hardware modification.

Inventors

  • 👤 Randall R. Holterman
  • 👤 John Maggelet

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 23:22
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1462; H05K7/1484; H02; H02B; H02B15/00; H05K7/1464; H05K7/1481

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 190 words
An electrical assembly with a programmable logic controller having a plurality of outwardly extending operator interface components of a predetermined same length functioning as input and output devices therein, the assembly comprising: a front panel means having a plurality of openings for receiving a functional part of said components, said components consisting of an operator and a contact module in which said operator extends through the openings in said front panel means; a circuit board means having a plurality of mounting sockets for receiving a terminal of said components, said circuit board means further having a scanner module for interfacing said assembly to said programmable logic controller; a plurality of standoffs, said standoffs having a predetermined same length, said length for providing the spacing between said front panel means and said circuit board means to accommodate said predetermined same length for said components, said standoffs further providing the means for attaching said circuit board means to said front panel means and further providing the means to secure said components in said assembly; and wherein said components are interchangeable within said assembly without changing said circuit board and said mounting sockets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 190 words
An electrical assembly with a programmable logic controller having a plurality of outwardly extending operator interface components of a predetermined same length functioning as input and output devices therein, the assembly comprising: a front panel means having a plurality of openings for receiving a functional part of said components, said components consisting of an operator and a contact module in which said operator extends through the openings in said front panel means; a circuit board means having a plurality of mounting sockets for receiving a terminal of said components, said circuit board means further having a scanner module for interfacing said assembly to said programmable logic controller; a plurality of standoffs, said standoffs having a predetermined same length, said length for providing the spacing between said front panel means and said circuit board means to accommodate said predetermined same length for said components, said standoffs further providing the means for attaching said circuit board means to said front panel means and further providing the means to secure said components in said assembly; and wherein said components are interchangeable within said assembly without changing said circuit board and said mounting sockets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The assembly as in claim 1 wherein said components are reconfigurable without wiring modifications.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The assembly as in claim 1 wherein said contact module is a pilot lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
The assembly as in claim 1 wherein said operator is a switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The assembly as in claim 4 wherein said contact module is a one pole device having a normally open contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The assembly as in claim 4 wherein said contact module is a two pole device having normally open contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The assembly as in claim 4 wherein said contact module is a two pole device having normally closed contacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The assembly as in claim 4 wherein said contact module is a one pole device having a normally closed contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
The assembly as in claim 4 wherein said contact module is a two pole device having a normally open contact and a normally closed contact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The assembly as in claim 4 wherein said contact module further contains a pilot lamp.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3895268A Cited
US4658375A Cited
US4908738A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-10-13 1996-04-13 1996-10-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-10-13 2000-04-13 2000-10-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-10-13 2004-04-13 2004-10-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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