Operator control panel for a domestic appliance

US8101880B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Werner Kaps · Weiler-Simmerberg, DE
• Thomas Frommelt · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 23, 2009
• Grant date: Jan 24, 2012
• Expiry date: May 16, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K2217/960765
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An operator control panel for a domestic appliance includes a panel body having an operator control face facing a user and a rear face facing away from the operator control face. A sensor element of an electrically conductive material forms a capacitive sensor area together with the panel body. A conversion electronics system converts capacitance values generated in the sensor area into digital signals. The conversion electronics system is electrically conductively connected to the sensor element and is disposed on the rear face of the panel body. The sensor element and the conversion electronics system are firmly connected to the panel body and are two components which are mechanically decoupled from a control electronics system of the domestic appliance.