Patent ID: 6944831

Claim:
A programmable controller, comprising: a processing unit programmed to affect a switching sequence between, one of at least one input signal and at least one simulated input signal, and at least one output signal; a display screen including a menu-assisted user interface; an operator unit including a button, the button capable of being switched to an active mode using a programmable function; at least one signal input terminal configured to receive the at least one input signal; at least one signal output terminal separate from the input terminal; and a housing, the processing unit, the display screen, the operator unit, the at least one signal input terminal and the at least one signal output terminal being disposed in the housing; wherein a switching function of the controller programmable in the programmed switching sequence according to predetermined functions using the menu-assisted user interface, and wherein an operation of the button in the active mode is configured to generate the at least one simulated input signal and to affect the switching sequence of the switching function between the at least one simulated input signal and the at least one output signal.