Touch Sensitive Control Panel
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling functions of an appliance comprising:
- a touch-sensitive control panel having a plurality of proximity sensor areas;
driver circuitry operable to output detection signals in response to selection of the proximity sensor areas; and
a controller operable to receive said detection signals from the driver circuitry and activate different functions of the appliance in response thereto, wherein the controller is operable to activate at least one function of the appliance in response to receipt of a pre-determined combination of at least two of said detection signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling functions of an appliance is described having a touch-sensitive control panel resistant to accidental activation. The touch-sensitive panel has a plurality of proximity sensor areas which may be selected by a user wishing to activate associated functions of the appliance. Driver circuitry coupled to the sensor areas is operable to output detection signals to a controller in response to a user selecting ones of the sensor areas. The controller is configured to activate functions of the appliance in response to these detection signals. For one or more functions of the appliance, for example a switching on function, the controller is configured to only activate the function when a user makes a pre-determined combination of at least two selections from the plurality of sensor areas. This reduces the chances of potentially dangerous functions being activated inadvertently and can further help a designer to provide an intuitive and uncluttered appearance to the control panel.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling functions of an appliance comprising:
- a touch-sensitive control panel having a plurality of proximity sensor areas;
driver circuitry operable to output detection signals in response to selection of the proximity sensor areas; and
a controller operable to receive said detection signals from the driver circuitry and activate different functions of the appliance in response thereto, wherein the controller is operable to activate at least one function of the appliance in response to receipt of a pre-determined combination of at least two of said detection signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a touch-sensitive control panel having a plurality of proximity sensor areas;
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17. A method of controlling an appliance having a touch-sensitive control panel comprising a plurality of proximity sensor areas in response to a user input, comprising:
- receiving first and second detection signals corresponding to first and second proximity sensor area selections; and
activating a function of the appliance conditional on the first and second proximity sensor area selections corresponding to a pre-determined combination of first and second proximity sensor area selections associated with that function. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- receiving first and second detection signals corresponding to first and second proximity sensor area selections; and
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24. A method of activating a function of an apparatus having a touch-sensitive control panel including a plurality of proximity sensor areas arranged on a surface, the method comprising:
- selecting a first proximity sensor area by placing an object in a position adjacent the first proximity sensor area;
selecting a second proximity sensor area by sliding the object across the surface of the control panel from its position adjacent the first proximity sensor area to a position adjacent the second proximity sensor area; and
activating the function of the apparatus conditional on the first and second proximity sensor areas being selected within a pre-determined time period. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- selecting a first proximity sensor area by placing an object in a position adjacent the first proximity sensor area;
Specification