Operator Control Arrangement For The Driver's Cab Of A Rail Vehicle

Abstract

To be able to manufacture an operator control arrangement cost-effectively, the display and operator control units are embodied such that they are functionally identical and interchangeable. A calculation unit is provided which converts process data of functional units of a rail vehicle into image data and processes operator control data on the basis of operator control actions performed at the display and operator control units. The display and operator control units are connected to the calculation unit via a data network by a network protocol for transmitting the image data and the operator control action data. A status unit is connected to the data network, which status unit determines the respectively valid status of the operator control arrangement by a rail-vehicle-specific configuration logic of the possible combinations of the display and operator control units and the calculation unit as a function of the respective status of the rail vehicle.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An operator control configuration for a driver's cab of a rail vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of display and operator control units being functionally identical and interchangeable;   calculation units for converting process data of functional units of the rail vehicle into image data and processes operator control data on a basis of operator control actions performed at said display and operator control units;   a data network connecting said display and operator control units to said calculation units by use of a network protocol for transmitting the image data and the operator control data; and   a status unit connected to said data network, said status unit determining respectively valid status of the operator control configuration by means of a rail-vehicle-specific configuration logic of possible combinations of said display and operator control units and said calculation units in dependence on a respective status of the rail vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The operator control configuration according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said calculation units are configured to generate the image data to form image sections for displays at said display and operator control units; and   said status unit configured in respect of its configuration logic such that in each case a complete display is created at said display and operator control units from the image data to form the image sections.   
     
     
         10 . The operator control configuration according to  claim 8 , wherein said display and operator control units, said calculation units and said status unit have standardized interfaces for connecting to said data network. 
     
     
         11 . The operator control configuration according to  claim 8 , wherein said data network is an Ethernet network. 
     
     
         12 . The operator control configuration according to  claim 8 , wherein said status unit is embodied to be redundant. 
     
     
         13 . The operator control configuration according to  claim 8 , wherein a function of at least one of said calculation units is integrated into a functional unit of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The operator control configuration according to  claim 8 , further comprising additional calculation units connected to said data network and to an additional functional unit of the rail vehicle.