The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 16, 1996
Satoshi Tochiori, Kawagoe, JP;
Iwao Kumasaka, Aiko-Gun, JP;
Hiroshi Shimatani, Nakakoma-Gun, JP;
Toshihiro Takashima, Kumamoto, JP;
Tokyo Electron Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
By dividing a range within which a control device can be operated into a plurality of hierarchical operating levels corresponding to levels of different users of that control device, and inputting information such as the name and password of each of these users, the present invention makes it possible to set an operating level corresponding to each of these users. Once an operating level is set, an operating portion is configured to disable the operation of the control device in an operating range that exceeds this operating level. The configuration is such that switch portions of the operating panel are allocated to a certain operating level, but switch portions relating to operating levels other than the currently set operating level are disabled.