Operating panel arrangement for domestic appliances and method for manufacturing an operating panel arrangement

US7863973B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PAS Deutschland GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Ralf Ehrlich · Karlsruhe, DE
• Michael Seikel · Berlin, DE
• Roland Meyer · Jeffery Road, DE
• Marek Betnerowicz · Berlin, DE
• Peter Geiger · Austin, US
• Ronald Hegewald · Hemau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 4, 2011
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49117
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating panel arrangement, in particular for domestic appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers. An operating panel has formed on its outside actuating sections and display sections for operating or monitoring purposes. An electrical circuit arrangement is coupled to the actuating sections and the display sections and is arranged in the region of the inside of the operating panel.In this case, the circuit arrangement has at least three electrodes, which are arranged in a manner distributed approximately parallel to the operating panel. The circuit arrangement has evaluation means which are designed to calculate the spatial position of an operating means in relation to the position of the three electrodes, to be precise by evaluating the fields between the electrodes and the operator. The actuating sections can be freely defined as positions of the operating means in the region of the outside of the operating panel.