Patent · US Active

Operating control comprising a capacitive sensor element and an electrical device comprising an operating control of this type

US7667947B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by

17References

22Claims

0Family size

Assignee

E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH · DE

Inventors

Wilfried Schilling · Gondelsheim, DE
Ralf Dorwarth · Oberderdingen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 11, 2006
Grant date	Feb 23, 2010
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 14, 2027

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH03K17/975
WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An operating control device, such as for an appliance, is disclosed comprising sensor elements with a capacitive sensing function, the elements being located underneath a metallic surface that is used as the operating field. An insulating layer is situated between the elements and the metallic surface. When pressure is applied to the metallic surface the capacitance of the sensor element is altered by capacitive coupling. This alteration of capacitance can be determined by a corresponding evaluation circuit or the like for detecting activation of the device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.