Glossary · HMI, SCADA and operations
Operator panel
Also known as: Operator terminal, HMI panel, Operator interface terminal
German: Bediengerät
In industrial automation, an operator panel is a hardware device with a display and input elements, such as a touch screen, keys or both, on which an HMI runtime shows screens for operating and monitoring a machine.
- HMI and SCADA
In one sentence
An operator panel is an industrial display device with touch screen or keys on which the HMI runtime runs for machine operation.
Example
The 15-inch operator panel on a swivel arm next to the machine lets the operator start production, change recipes and view alarms.
How it applies
- Engineering: Select panels for display size, IP rating on the front, temperature range, protocols and mounting. Front panels often combine the display with hard-wired control devices such as an Emergency stop device and key switches, which remain separate circuits.
- Installation: Follow the manufacturer's mounting, grounding and cable routing instructions to meet EMC and IP requirements.
- Documentation: The machine's operating manual shows the panel with its controls labeled and distinguishes touch screen functions from hard-wired devices. Include cleaning instructions compatible with the front material.
Operator panel vs. control panel
An operator panel is an electronic display device. A Control panel is a panel or enclosure door with control devices such as buttons, switches and indicators, which may include an operator panel.