CONTROLLER WITH DYNAMICALLY INDICATED INPUT DEVICES

摘要

A user interface of a controller has multiple touch-sensitive input transducers, e.g., capacitive pads. The pads are dynamically indicated: When any given touch sensitive input device is needed for input at a given step of the programming operation, an associated light source illuminates that input device so it is visible to the user. Those touch-panel input devices not needed for that are left unilluminated, and the microprocessor ignores any input from those input devices. At each step of the operation or programming of the controller, only those input transducers for the inputs that are permitted or relevant to that state are indicated. Correspondingly, only the inputs that are generated by actuating the input transducers for the valid (i.e., permitted or relevant) inputs results in a change in the state of the program in the microprocessor.