Abstract:
There is described a design element for a control panel of a device and further a device having a plurality of design elements that can be freely positioned on a control panel, and to a method for configuring such a device and a corresponding computer program. An aim is to provide a control panel which is extremely flexible in its handling. For this purpose, individual design elements are freely positioned on a control panel. Power supply and data transmission to a control module are carried out in a contactless manner. The design elements are preferably printed polymer electronic components having their own electronics.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2005/055126, filed Oct. 10, 2005 and claims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the benefits of German application No. 10 2004 050 907.7 DE filed Oct. 19, 2004, both of the applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a design element for a control panel of a device. The invention also relates to a device with a number of design elements disposed on a carrier element, a device with a number of design elements than can be positioned freely on a control panel and a method for configuring such a device and a corresponding computer program. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Control or operator panels for devices in the field of automation are known, which operate as man-machine interfaces. The appearance and functionality of such control panels are permanently defined at the time of production. A control panel for example thus comprises a number of display elements and a number of operating elements, for example push buttons. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device with a control panel that can be handled in a particularly flexible manner. This object is achieved by the objects to be protected set out in the independent claims. 
     In so doing a core concept of the invention is to position individual design elements freely on a control panel. The design elements here can be elements with a display function, elements with an operating function or elements with both a design and operating function. An operating function here refers in particular to an input or other switching function. 
     Each design element has its own control and communication unit. The communication unit here is preferably configured for wireless communication, in such a manner that a data transmission to the control panel is ensured with free positioning. Each design element also has a unique identifier, which identifies the function of the design element and can be used to address the design element on the control panel. The identifiers of the individual design elements serve during the configuration of the control panel to address the design elements, in such a manner that every design element on the control panel is identified and corresponding addressing information is specified. 
     Reconfiguring the control panel allows its design to be modified at any time. An application-specific design is equally possible, in that new design elements are positioned on the control panel. It is advantageous in this context, if the design elements can be added to the control panel in a removable manner. The control panel itself is connected to a control and communication module, which provides the data transmission to the design elements. 
     It is also particularly advantageous, if a contactless power supply is provided to the individual design elements on the control panel. Complex cabling of the individual design elements is then not necessary. An inductive power supply is particularly advantageous because of is comparatively simple embodiment. Other technologies that can be used are based on radio wave or infrared wave transmission. 
     The components provided for communication between the design elements and the control module of the control panel are configured for contactless data transmission, such that even comparatively large quantities of data can be transmitted quickly and reliably. The data is preferably transmitted using a particularly fast and reliable technology, in particular a high-frequency method. 
     It is of course also possible to provide a common transmission link for a combined power and data transmission. Fewer components are then necessary, reducing the installation space requirement. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the design element has an operating element, for example in the form of a touch-sensitive element or push button. This allows manual operation of each individual design element, which is particularly useful for configuration purposes. 
     The design elements are preferably executed by way of polymer electronic systems. Compared with complex coating or etching methods based on conventional semiconductors, such electronic components can be created using relatively simple printing methods. Printing a number of design elements onto a carrier element, for example in the form of a flexible film (panel), using screen, pad, offset, intaglio or ink-jet printing or microcontact printing, ensures low-cost mass production. The design elements are thereby disposed in lines and columns, in the nature of a matrix, on the carrier element and can be removed, in particular cut out, from said carrier element individually or in groups. 
     Each individual design element, which is fully functional and preferably hermetically sealed per se, can thus be removed from such a panel and positioned on a control panel, for example using adhesive. Adhesion methods or any other connecting methods, which have sufficient connective strength for the respective purpose, can be used for this. Detachable connections are thereby preferably used, so that the individual design elements can be removed quickly and simply from the control panel, if the control panel layout changes, for example due to a new machine component, or if a design element has to be replaced due to a defect, etc. or for maintenance purposes. When the design elements have been positioned, a configuration method is implemented, wherein the individual design elements are assigned to their functions on the control panel. An initialization preferably takes place first, whereby it is determined how many design elements there are on the control panel. This is followed by the address assignment required for operation for each individual design element. It is most particularly advantageous for a particularly simple configuration, if both the control panel and each design element have at least one separate input device, preferably a touch-sensitive region, for inputting commands for the configuration process. 
     The present invention provides a control panel, for example for an automation device, a mobile telephone or another device for private or industrial use, which can be operated in the manner of a server in a wireless local network. The control panel thereby communicates with the design elements, which serve as clients. When addressing the design elements and implementing the data transmission, technologies and protocols known from conventional, preferably wireless networks, such as WLAN or Bluetooth, are preferably used. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments, which are described with the aid of the figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a carrier element printed with design elements, 
         FIG. 2  shows a simplified diagram of a design element viewed from above, 
         FIG. 3  shows a simplified diagram of a design element in cross section, 
         FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of a design element, 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic diagram of a device with a control panel, control module and communication module, 
         FIG. 6  shows a simplified flow diagram of the configuration method, 
         FIG. 7  shows a symbolic representation of a control panel and the content of a configuration table during the configuration process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a section of a roll or web  1 , essentially comprising a carrier film  2 , with design elements  3  printed on using polymer electronic systems and disposed in lines  4  and columns  5 . Between the individual design elements  3  horizontally and vertically disposed, in some instances prepunched, cutting or separating lines  6  are provided, at which design elements  3  can be cut or removed from the carrier film  2  individually or in groups. Each design element  3  has a three-part identifier in the form “XYZ”. This comprises on the one hand a function code “X” and on the other hand a column number “YZ”. The function code “X” indicates whether the design element  3  is a display element or an operating element or an element with both display and operating functions. The column number “YZ” indicates the position of the design element  3  on the carrier film  2 . Preferably only design elements  3  with identical function codes “X” are positioned on a carrier film  2 . In the example a carrier film  2  with design elements  3  having only display functions is shown. The function code “ 3 ” for example is assigned to such design elements. According to the position of each design element  3  on the carrier film  2 , the identifier of the upper left design element is “ 301 ” and the identifier of the design element disposed to the right of that is “ 302 ”. Both identifiers are shown symbolically in  FIG. 1 . As an alternative to this embodiment of the identifier, a continuous serial number, etc. can also be used. In this instance the function code would be used as part of the serial number. It is important when assigning the identifier that the original position of the design elements  3  on the carrier film  2  can be tracked. 
     An individual design element  3  with a display function is shown viewed from above in  FIG. 2 . The inner region  8  of the design element  3  is thereby enclosed by a peripheral electric line arrangement  9 , used for the inductive power supply to the design element  3 . 
     As shown in the sectional diagram in  FIG. 3 , the design element  3  is structured in layers. The lower or rear side  10  of the design element  3  is thereby formed by a rear cover  11 . The rear cover  11  is provided with an adhesive component (not shown), so that the design element  3  can be removed from the carrier film  2  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) and attached to a control panel. Above the rear cover  11  in a first situation is a touch-sensitive element  13 , which preferably serves to operate the design element  3  during its configuration, to confirm messages or to switch the display mode, as well as various electronic components  14 . These components are covered by a layer-type display unit  15 , which comprises a number of display elements (not shown), for example organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and serves as a display unit. A transparent front cover  16  seals the front or upper side  17  of the design element  3  in such a manner that light emitted from the display unit  15  cannot penetrate outward. The rear cover  11  and front cover  16  enclose the design element  3 , which only has an overall height  18  of a few millimeters, in a hermetic manner, thereby ensuring reliable function even in the most problematic industrial conditions of use. All the components of the design element are preferably executed using polymer electronic systems. If the design element  3  is configured for operating purposes and therefore has operating elements, either exclusively or in addition to the display elements, for example push buttons, switches, etc., these components are also preferably executed using polymer electronic systems. 
     A schematic diagram of a design element  3  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The design element  3  has a control unit  21 , which is connected both to the display unit  15  and the touch-sensitive element  13 . Connected to the control unit  21  are an image storage unit  22  and a communication unit  23  for high-frequency data transmission. An identification unit  24  is also connected to the control unit  21 . The identifier “XYZ” of the design element  3  is stored in the identification unit  24 , for example in the form of a data record in a data storage unit  25 . The electric line arrangement  9  is used for the inductive power supply to all components of the design element  3 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic diagram of an operating unit  27  of an automation device (not shown). The operating unit  27  thereby comprises a control panel  28  and further components required to operate the control panel  28 . These components are in particular a control module  29 , connected by way of address, data and control lines  30  (for example by way of a profibus connection) to the outside world, for example a computer network or a control unit of an automation device, etc. (not shown) and serving to activate the control panel  28 . A further component is a communication module  31 , which is provided to provide data communication with the communication units  23  of the individual design elements  3  and for high-frequency data transmission. The communication module  31  can be integrated in the control module  29  or be configured separately. 
     The control panel  28 , on which various design elements are disposed, some individually some in groups, is provided with a line arrangement  9  enclosing the entire control panel, used for the inductive power supply to the design elements  3  disposed on the control panel  28 . The contactless transmission method known from RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and based on electromagnetic alternating fields is used to supply power. This technology has the advantage that it can be executed as printable electronic components like all the other components. 
     The wireless data transmission between the control module  29  and control panel  28  using high-frequency technology means that these components can be disposed at a distance from each other. It is therefore possible for the control panel  28  of the operating unit  27  to be positioned on an easily accessibly upper side of an automation device, while the control module  29  and other components of the operating unit  27  are mounted on a less easily accessible rear side.  FIG. 5  symbolizes this separate arrangement with a dot/dash line. 
     The control module  29  is also connected to a storage module  32 , serving to store configuration data, in particular in the form of a configuration table. A touch-sensitive element  33  is also provided, which is connected to the control module  29  and serves to control the control module  29 , in particular during a configuration method. Control module  29 , communication module  32  and storage module  31  are preferably configured as parts of a computer system, on which a computer program runs, which is configured to execute all the processes relating to initialization, configuration and operation of the control panel. 
     Once the various design elements  3  (display or, respectively, operating elements) have been removed from the rolls or webs  1  and have been positioned in the control panel  28  according to the specific requirements of the operating unit  27  or the application, configuration of the control panel  28  takes place, with information being determined about the design elements  3  present and being stored in a configuration table  35  in the operating unit  27 .  FIG. 7  shows exemplary diagrams of the control panel  28  and the configuration table  35 , while  FIG. 6  shows the individual steps of the configuration method. 
     In a first step  41  the configuration method is started by two touches on the operating element  33  configured as the “reset” button on the control module  29 . In a second step  42  the configuration table  35  is loaded into the control module  29  from the storage module  32 . If there is no configuration table stored there as yet, one is now created. 
     At the same time initialization takes place of all design elements  3  disposed on the control panel  28  by means of an initialization process, wherein all the design elements  3  are addressed with the aid of an initialization current surge initialized by the control module  29  and detected on acknowledgement (step  43 ). It is thereby ensured, by an appropriate arrangement of components, that only the control panel  28  associated with the control module  29  is included in the initialization, while other control panels, possibly present in the closer environment, are not addressed. 
     An evaluation of the information contained in the configuration table  35  and a comparison with the information obtained from the initialization (step  44 ) are followed by a display, for example of the form “Name?”, on those design elements  3 , which have not yet been configured (step  45 ).  FIG. 7  shows a control panel  28  in this situation with the associated configuration table  35 . The design element “Name 1 ” is already configured. The configuration table  35  has the corresponding inputs for identifiers  36  and extensions  37 . 
     A specific design element  3  is then selected (step  46 ) by simply touching the touch-sensitive element  13  (“Set”) of the design element (marked “R” in  FIG. 7 ). In the next steps  47 ,  48  the identifier  36  of the selected design element  3  is transmitted to the control module  29  and a free extension  37  is determined. The extension  37  ensures that each design element  3  can be uniquely identified in the address system used. If for example design elements with the same identifiers  36  but from different webs  1  are used on a control panel  28 , these two design elements are distinguished by the extension  37 . The extension  37  is preferably determined using the identifier  36  of the individual design element in conjunction with the selection information generated by pressing the touch-sensitive element  13 . 
     The extension  37  is then input into the configuration table  35  and transmitted back to the design element  3 , where it is stored in the identification unit  24 , for example in a PROM  38  (step  49 ), see also  FIG. 4 . Compared with the alternative of storing the extension  37  solely in the configuration table  35 , the additional storage in the design element  3  facilitates further data processing. 
     Once the extension  37  has been assigned, a name  39  is allocated to the design element  3  and the new name is input into the configuration table  35  (step  50 ). In the second control panel  28 ′ shown in  FIG. 7  the design element “Name 2 ” is already configured. Configuration of the design elements “Name 3 ”, “Name 4 ” and “Name 5 ” now takes place. These three design elements  3  are configured with the aid of an activatable macrofunction provided by the control module  29 , in such a manner that all the design elements  3  not yet configured are automatically configured one after the other, without requiring further manual confirmation of the configuration process by activating a “Set” or “Reset” key. The second configuration table  35 ′ shows a snapshot, wherein it is determined that the design element with the identifier  36  “ 301 ” is already present and “Name 2 ” has been allocated for the design element “Name 2 ”. The extension “01” is then created and the designation “Name 5 ” is assigned to the design element with the identifier “ 301 ” and the extension “01”. During the further course of the configuration the designation “Name 4 ” is assigned to a first design element with the identifier “ 302 ”. For a further design element (“Name 3 ”) with the identifier “ 302 ” unique addressing is enabled by assigning the extension “01”. The extension “00” or no extension at all is preferably assigned automatically to design elements with unique identifiers (in the example the design element “Name 1 ”). 
     If the configuration method is to be continued, a further design element  3  can be selected (step  51 ). Otherwise the configuration table  35  is stored and the configuration method is terminated (step  52 ). The third control panel  28 ″ in  FIG. 7  represents a state, wherein all the design elements  3  have already been configured and are therefore ready to use. The configuration information is shown in the third configuration table  35 ″. 
     If a number of connected design elements  3  are removed in a group from the carrier film  2  and disposed on the control panel  28 , simplified configuration preferably takes place. Since, because of their original position on the carrier film  2 , the design elements have consecutive line/column numbers in their identifier  36  and identical function codes, it is only necessary to configure one of said design elements  3 . Since it is clear after initialization and evaluation (steps  43  and  44 ) whether connected design elements are present, it is thus possible to assign the control panel functionalities to be generated automatically to the previously found design elements. There is then no need for the time and cost-intensive individual configuration of all the design elements. If for example a six-part seven-segment display is provided for the control panel  28 , six connected seven-segment-display design elements can be removed from a corresponding carrier film and disposed on the control panel. After the acknowledgement from all six design elements during initialization, it is then sufficient to configure one of the six design elements, this being started for example by touching the touch-sensitive element  13 , to configure the further five design elements automatically at the same time. In other words the control module  29  automatically identifies that five further identical and connected design elements are present and carries out the configuration, including the inclusion of said design elements in the address system (steps  47  to  50 ). As a result the control module  29  knows the connected arrangement of the six seven-segment-display design elements on the control panel  28 , such that activation of the six-part seven-segment display is possible. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention no design elements are removed from the carrier film  2 , rather the entire carrier film  2  or a fairly large cohesive part thereof is positioned on the control panel  28 . Depending on which control panel functionalities are provided, the control module  29  then searches out the required design elements during configuration, while the design elements that are not required remain unused.