PROGRAMMABLE DEVICE USING SELECTIVELY CONNECTABLE MEMORY MODULE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEFINE THE FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITY AND THE DISPLAY ASSOCIATED WITH INPUT SWITCHES

A programmable device and method of operating the same, including a memory module connectable to a core device consisting of a processor having an operator interface. Displays in this operator interface act as alterable labels for their associated switches. The operator interface includes of a plurality of switches with associated displays. Upon insertion, the module simultaneously establishes the information content of the displays, and the functional capabilities of the processor. Generally, the information content of the displays is identical to labels normally associated with the switch. The core device without the memory module is practically devoid of functional capabilities. An output device may be added to the device so that the processor may communicate with the operator other information such as the status of the operation being performed or the like. The connectable module, preferably, is a plug-in type and is constructed of programmable read only memory (PROM) circuits or Read Only Memory (ROM) circuit.