Patent attributes
An adaptive control, capable of operating a plurality of models, that determines which model it is operating by scanning its output device circuits. The control automatically deleting options requiring output devices the scan determines not to be present. A model may be further defined by detecting other components that alter the impedance of the output device circuits. These components allow a circuit to further identify the features beyond simply which output device is present and/or enable the control to determine whether an output device is not present or is non-functional. When applied to control panels using display elements to indicate the options selected, the present invention permits deletion of an option(s) without removing the switch used to select that option. This allows a single contact to select from a group of options any of which may be deleted by removing the corresponding display element from the panel. To extend the model range, control panels using position switches rather than display elements to indicate options can be handled using the I/O and scan. A complete circuit indicates the presence of an option whether it is completed by a display output device or the contacts of a switch.
