OPERATING DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE

• US 20070181410A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Baier, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/025 actuated by sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/105 comprising arrangements for illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 25/04 Sealing against entry of dust, weather or the like in selector apparatus for gearings, F16H59/0213
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94073 with capacitive detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/74 Non-metallic plates , e.g. vitroceramic, ceramic or glassceramic hobs, also including power or control circuits

Abstract

An operating device for an electric cook-top is disclosed having a rotary control operating unit, which is retained in position in a magnetic rotary manner on an outer surface of the cook-top. In one embodiment, the rotary control is provided with a contact switch for signal transmission of a switching process to a control unit mounted below the outer surface. In one embodiment, the contact switch is a contact switch with a capacitive coupling through the outer surface.

Claims

1. An operating device for an electrical appliance having an outer surface comprising:

an operating unit and a control unit positioned below said outer surface, said operating unit comprising a rotary or a sliding control and being supported in a rotary or slidable manner on said outer surface, wherein on said rotary or sliding control is provided at least one further switching means for a signal transmission of a switching process of a user to said control unit.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said further switching means is a pushbutton with electrical contacts.

3. The operating device according to claim 2, further comprising a first resonant circuit over said outer surface is provided and a second resonant circuit below said outer surface, said first and second resonant circuits being coupled, and wherein activating said pushbutton modifies or closes said first resonant circuit with the result of a change detected for an evaluation of the operation of said pushbutton.

4. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said further switching means is a capacitively based contact switch or a contact sensor having a contact surface on said rotary control.

5. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein a magnetic armature is provided in said rotary control and, for indicating said rotary position of said rotary control, said operating device connected in said operating unit to said magnetic armature, and underneath said outer surface a plurality of magnetic sensors are provided for detecting movement of said magnetic armature, wherein through the actuation of said further switching means a distance between said magnetic armature and said outer surface changes.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating unit transmits signals of a switching process of said further switching means by changing a magnetic field below said outer surface.

7. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating unit transmits signals of a switching process of said further switching means by changing an electric field below said outer surface.

8. The operating device according to claim 6, wherein said change to said field is initiated by a position change to a part of said operating unit.

9. The operating device according to claim 7, wherein said change to said field is initiated by a position change to a part of said operating unit.

10. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating unit transmits a signal of a switching process of the further switching means by changing an electric field strength below said outer surface, wherein said change is initiated by a human operator contacting said further switching means.

11. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating unit comprises a microprocessor transmitting a signal of a switching process of said switching means in a wireless manner to said electrical appliance.

12. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating unit is constructed for releasable mounting on said outer surface of said electrical appliance.

13. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating unit or rotary control is supported by means of a fixed, rotary shaft which runs through an opening in said outer surface and said shaft is located on a setting device below said outer surface.

14. The operating device according to claim 13, wherein an electric conductor is provided on said shaft in a longitudinal manner along said shaft, wherein signal transmission takes place by said electric conductor.

15. The operating device according to claim 13, wherein switching means are provided in said rotary control and said shaft is connected to said switching means by a direct electrical connection.

16. The operating device according to claim 14, wherein a capacitor plate is attached to said rotary control and said electric conductor is connected to said capacitor plate, wherein said capacitor plate builds up a capacitive coupling with a second capacitor plate provided in said operating device.

17. The operating device according to claim 14, wherein a first capacitor face along an axial circumference of said shaft said is provided being surrounded with a limited spacing by a second capacitor face, wherein said electric conductor is connected in a central area within said first capacitor face.

18. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said rotary control is constructed in multistage manner with a different diameters, with a first diameter toggle portion as a lower part and a second diameter toggle portion as an upper part being located on said first diameter toggle portion, wherein each of said toggle portions has different switching means.

19. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein there is a capacitive detection of said rotary position of said rotary control.

20. The operating device according to claim 19, wherein there is provided at least one capacitive element of said rotary toggle and a plurality of corresponding capacitive elements beneath said outer surface for said capacitive detection of said rotary position of said rotary control.

21. The operating device according to claim 20, wherein said capacitive element of said rotary toggle is electrically connected to a contact sensor on said rotary toggle and wherein another capacitive element is electrically connected to another contact sensor on said rotary toggle.

22. The operating device according to claim 21, wherein a further capacitive element is located in a central area on said rotary toggle.

23. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein at least one capacitive element of said rotary control is connected to a contact sensor on said rotary control and is constructed in such a way that, independently of said rotary position, said capacitive element projects over at least one corresponding capacitive element beneath said outer surface.

24. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein power is provided by contactless power transmission using an inductive power supply.

25. An electrical appliance for cooking with an operating device comprising an operating unit comprising a rotary or a sliding control and being supported in a rotary or slidable manner on an outer surface of said electrical appliance, wherein on said rotary or sliding control is provided at least one further switching means for a signal transmission of a switching process of a user to said control unit wherein by operating said further switching means by moving said rotary or sliding control effects a different switching function as compared to when said switching means is deactivated.

26. The electrical appliance according to claim 25, wherein at least in a first operating mode said further switching means is activated and kept in said activated state, wherein at the same time said rotary control is activated or moved for an operation of said operating device.

27. The electrical appliance with an operating device according to claim 25, wherein activating said further switching means effects a single switching function.

28. The electrical appliance according to claim 27, wherein said single switching function is starting the operation of a functional unit of said electrical appliance by moving said rotary control.

29. The electrical appliance according to claim 28, wherein said switching function determines a power level of said electrical appliance.

30. The electrical appliance according to claim 25, wherein by activating said further switching means a present function of said operating device is chosen.

31. The electrical appliance according to claim 27, wherein by activating said further switching means a present function of said operating device is chosen.

32. The electrical appliance according to claim 27, wherein by moving said rotary control into a specific position a first function is selected and, after either actuation by said switching means or changing said operating mode by a switching means, a second function of said electrical appliance is selected.

33. The electrical appliance according to claim 32, wherein said second function is a setting of a power level for said electrical appliance.

34. The electrical appliance according to claim 32, wherein said second function is a timer function.

35. A method of operating an electrical appliance comprising the step of:

a user activating a switch, wherein the switch comprises an operating unit comprising a rotary or a sliding control and being supported in a rotary or slidable manner on an outer surface of said electrical appliance, wherein on said rotary or sliding control is provided at least one further switching means for a signal transmission of a switching process of a user to said control unit wherein by operating said further switching means by moving said rotary or sliding control effects a different switching function as compared to when said switching means is deactivated.