| 摘要 |
<p>A control panel is described for use in an office machine such as a copier having the known characteristics of a programmable touch responsive switch panel, a programmable display for indicating the machine function associated with a region of the switch panel and circuit means programmed to generate a control to initiate a function of the machine in response to touching region of the switch panel which is identified in the display as being appropriate for that function. In accordance with the invention externally programmable controlling means is provided for programming the switch and the display to allow different levels of functionality to be provided according to the users requirements. The display may overlay the switch panel or vice versa. External programming is achieved by transferring data from a suitable data carrier. A machine incorporating such a panel is described as is a method of converting a standard machine having a complex control panel to a machine having a simplified programmable panel in accordance with the invention. A preferred data carrier is an encapsulated microchip memory device which is encrypted with ID data as well as function determining programming data. Machine operation in response to credit such as coins or encoded machine readable cards is readily available as a modification and in an alternative arrangement the programmable display is replaced by a window in which a printed card or plastics sheet can be inserted containing markings denoting the keypad and machine readable data associated therewith causes the appropriate programming of the switch panel which may be above or below the inserted card or plastic sheet. Illumination is provided to render the display visible. A learn mode may be provided whereby one or more functions can be entered into a data carrier by a user so that subsequent use of that data carrier provides those functions.</p> |
