Reciprocal interface panels suitable for multi-purpose actuators

1. A non-destructive inspection and testing instrument comprising:

a user interface including:

a housing,

a first panel with a first type input to be assembled onto the housing, or

a second panel with a different, second type input to be assembled onto the housing,

wherein the first panel includes a first circuit, and the second panel includes a second circuit,

a first GUI module for the first panel implementing a function upon an actuation of the first type input;

a second GUI module for the second panel implementing the same function upon an actuation of the second type input; and

a controller configured to query one of the first or the second panels which is installed on the instrument and identify the panel by either the first or the second circuit and the controller is further configured to select the first GUI module when the first panel is associated with the instrument and to select the second GUI module when the second panel is associated with the instrument,

wherein the first panel includes a first keypad physical interface assembly transmitting a first mechanical move on the first panel to a first corresponding electronic contacting event and the second panel includes a second keypad physical interface assembly transmitting a second mechanical move on the second panel to a second corresponding electronic contacting event.

2. The instrument of claim 1 in which the controller is configured to automatically determine which panel is installed with the instrument.

3. The instrument of claim 1 in which the first circuit includes one or more electrical contacts connected to ground and the second circuit includes one or more electrical contacts connected to a voltage.

4. The instrument of claim 1 in which the first type input includes a knob.

5. The instrument of claim 1 in which the second type input includes navigation arrow buttons.

6. The instrument of claim 1 in which the first keypad assembly is on a front enclosure plate of the instrument.

7. The instrument of claim 6 in which the front enclosure plate includes an orifice for a knob associated with the first keypad assembly.

8. The instrument of claim 1 further including a plug in an orifice in a front enclosure plate when the second keypad assembly is installed on the front enclosure plate of the instrument.

9. The instrument of claim 6 in which the first and second keypad assemblies further include common inputs.

10. A method comprising:

loading an instrument with a first GUI module for a first user interface type;

loading the instrument with a second GUI module for a second user interface type;

installing a user interface including:

a first panel with the first user interface type having at least a first actuatable input, wherein the first panel including a first circuit; or

a second panel with the second user interface type having at least a second actuatable input, wherein the second panel including a second circuit; and

querying the panel installed on the instrument and identifying the panel by determining if the first circuit or the second circuit is connected,

automatically determining which panel is installed,

selecting the first GUI module if the first panel is installed on the instrument,

selecting the second GUI module if the second panel is installed on the instrument,

implementing a function if the first actuatable input is present and activated,

implementing the same function if the second actuatable input is present and activated, and

forming an orifice for a knob in a front enclosure plate and in a first keypad assembly.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the first circuit includes at least one panel pin connected to ground and the second circuit includes at least one panel pin connected to a voltage.

12. The method of claim 10 in which the first panel actuatable input includes a knob.

13. The method of claim 10 in which the second panel actuatable input includes navigation arrow keys.

14. The method of claim 10 in which installing includes fitting the first keypad assembly on a front enclosure plate of the instrument.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the first panel includes the first keypad assembly and the second panel includes a second keypad assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 further including installing a plug in the orifice in the front enclosure plate when the second keypad assembly is installed.

17. The method of claim 15 further including providing common inputs on both keypad assemblies.