OPERATING ELEMENT AND METHOD OF INPUTTING VALUES INTO A MEDICAL APPARATUS

• US 20080036744A1
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ferton Holding SA
• Original Assignee: Ferton Holding SA
• Inventors: Hartl, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2405 by varying dielectric

Abstract

The present invention relates to an operating element and a method of inputting values into a medical apparatus (1), having a touch-sensitive sensor (19) and an operating surface (22), the sensor (19) being mounted below a cover (20) forming the operating surface (22), which detects the presence or absence of an operating means (11) and generates a contact value (17). A display (14) of the operating element shows a current value (16), which is variable by means of the contact value (17) of the sensor (19) to a value (15) to be set. Advantageously, the current value (16) can be varied by means of contact of the operating surface (22) to any point or to a point which corresponds to the value (15) to be set, respectively depending on the manner of contact of the operating surface (22).

Claims

1. Operating element for inputting values into a medical apparatus, having a touch-sensitive sensor and an operating surface, the sensor being mounted below a cover forming the operating surface,

wherein the sensor detects the presence or absence of an operating means and generates a contact value in response thereto,

characterised in that a display of the operating element displays a current value which may be changed, by means of the contact value generated by the sensor, to a value to be set.

2. Operating element according to claim 1, characterised in that the touch-sensitive sensor is a capacitive sensor, which is mounted below a dielectric cover and in that the operating means is a human finger.

3. Operating element according to claim 1, characterised in that the operating surface is in the form of a dot, a line or a circle.

4. Operating element according to claim 1, characterised in that the display displays the current value continuously even during setting and/or in that markings are provided on or next to the operating surface and indicate the values to be set.

5. Operating element according to claim 1, characterised in that in order to set the value to be set, the operating means can be placed and/or displaced to any position on the operating surface.

6. Operating element according to claim 1, characterised in that the cover forming the operating surface is so formed and/or mounted that the transfer of moisture from the operating means to the sensor is not possible.

13. Dental apparatus having at least one operating element for inputting values according to claim 1, wherein the at least one operating element has an operating surface in the form of a dot, a line or a circle, which is applied to an operating panel for inputting flow rates and/or flow strengths for medicaments or flushing liquids or for the input of other medicinal parameters.

7. Method of inputting values into a medical apparatus, wherein a touch-sensitive sensor is mounted under a cover which forms an operating surface,

wherein the sensor detects the presence or absence of an operating means and generates a contact value in response thereto,

characterised in that a current value is displayed and may be changed, by means of the contact value generated by the sensor, to a value to be set.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the contact value is generated by tapping or touching the value to be set on the operating surface and the current value is set immediately to the value to be set.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the current value is varied continuously by touching the operating surface at any point in the direction of the contact value, until the current value has reached the contact value or until the contact value is reset by absence of the operating means.

10. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the current value is varied continuously by brushing the operating means over the operating surface in an adjustment direction until the contact value is reset by absence of the operating means.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that upon acceleration of the brushing movement of the operating means, the rate of change of the current value is varied.

12. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the current value is displayed continuously or step-wise by means of a display and is variable independently of the point of presence or absence of the operating means.

14. (canceled)

16. Dental apparatus with an operating panel having at least three operating elements, each of said operating elements having a touch-sensitive sensor and an operating surface in the form of a dot, a line or a circle, and being applied to an operating panel for inputting flow rates and/or flow strength for medicament or flushing liquids or for the input of other medicinal parameters,

the sensor being mounted below a cover forming the operating surface,

wherein the sensor detects the presence or absence of an operating means and generates a contact value in response thereto,

wherein a display of the operating element displays a current value which may be varied, be means of the contact value generated by the sensor, to a value to be set.

15. Dental apparatus according to claim 16, characterised in that the operating panel forms a closed, water-tight surface, in which the operating surfaces are formed by depressions.