Patent ID: 7661073

Claim:
A user interface of a machine tool, the user interface comprising: a display that is divided into at least a first display region and a second display region, wherein the first display region permanently displays a main menu that comprises a plurality of permanently displayed menu-fields for selecting different main activity modes of the machine tool, wherein each menu-field corresponds to one of the main activity modes of the machine tool, wherein each main activity mode is associated with a main window such that a respective main window is opened in the second display region when the menu-field of the associated main activity mode is selected in the main menu, wherein the main windows are displayed one at a time depending on the main activity mode selected in the main menu, wherein at least one of the main windows comprises a submenu comprising a plurality of submenu-fields for selecting subitems, each submenu-field corresponding to a different subitem of the main activity associated to said main window, wherein the submenu-fields are permanently displayed in said main window, when the respective main window is opened, and, each submenu-field is associated with a subwindow such that the subwindow is opened in said main window when its associated submenu-field is selected, and wherein one or more of the main windows and the subwindows include input fields; and an input unit for selecting the individual menu-fields and submenu-fields and for processing the input fields provided in a window, wherein the first display region permanently displays which one of the main activity modes of the machine tool is selected, and wherein, if in an original main activity mode, a particular subwindow was opened and a user switched from the original main activity mode to another main activity mode, then if the user switches back to the original main activity mode, the particular subwindow is opened upon return into the original main activity mode.