CAPACITIVE TOUCH MULTI-FUNCTION KEYS

• US 20110234429A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: BURCHILL, MELISSA J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,339,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

The presently described technology relates to an appliance control panel having multi-function keys. The multi-function keys have multiple regions. A control panel operation module is provided for regulating the control panel system between multiple operation input modes. When the control panel system is in one operation input mode, activation of the first key region executes a first appliance function, and activation of the second key region executes a second appliance function. When the control panel system is in another operation input mode, activation the first key region and activation of said second key region execute the same appliance function. A method for operating an appliance control panel system having multi-function keys is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An appliance control panel system comprising:

a control panel interface having at least one multi-function key, said at least one multi-function key having a plurality of key regions, said plurality of key regions having a first key region and a second key region; and

a control panel operation module for regulating said control panel system between a plurality of operation input modes, said operation input modes comprising at least a first operation input mode and a second operation input mode;

wherein, when said control panel system is in said first operation input mode, activation of said first key region executes a first appliance function, and activation of said second key region executes a second appliance function, and when said control panel system is in said second operation input mode, activation said first key region and activation of said second key region execute the same appliance function.

2. The appliance control panel system of claim 1, further comprising a display unit, said display unit positioned operatively relative to said control panel interface, wherein, when said control panel system is in said first operation input mode, said display unit displays a first indicator relative to said first key region and a second indicator relative to said second key region.

3. The appliance control panel system of claim 2, wherein said display unit is positioned above said control panel interface, and said first indicator is displayed above said first key region and said second indicator is displayed above said second key region.

4. The appliance control panel system of claim 1, wherein said first key region and said second key region comprise a capacitive touch key.

5. The appliance control panel system of claim 4, wherein said first key region and said second key region are positioned relative to each other such that, when said control panel system is in said second operation input mode, a user press between said first key region and said second key region is detected as an activation of at least one of said first key region and said second key region.

6. The appliance control panel system of claim 1, said multi-function key having a third key region, wherein, when said control panel system is in said first operation input mode, activation of said third key region executes a third appliance function, and when said control panel system is in said second operation input mode, activation of said first key region, activation of said second key region and activation of said third key region execute the same appliance function.

7. The appliance control panel system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of operation input modes comprises a third operation input mode, wherein, when said control panel system is in said third operation input mode, activation of said first key region executes a first appliance function, and activation of said second key region and activation of said third key region execute a second appliance function.

8. The appliance control panel system of claim 1, wherein said control panel interface has at least two multi-function keys, said at least two multi-function keys each having at least a first key region and a second key region.

9. The appliance control panel system of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board assembly wherein said control panel interface is not in direct contact with said circuit board assembly.

10. The appliance control panel system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of conductive extenders, said extenders being situated between said control panel interface and said circuit board assembly, and wherein said first key region is in electrical connection with said circuit board assembly via a first conductive extender and said second key region is in electrical connection with said circuit board assembly via a second conductive extender.

11. A method for operating an appliance control panel system comprising the steps:

providing a control panel interface having at least one multi-function key, said at least one multi-function key having a plurality of key regions, said plurality of key regions comprising a first key region and a second key region;

providing a control panel operation module regulating among a plurality of operation input modes, said operation input modes comprising at least a first operation input mode and a second operation input mode; and

executing an appliance function when at least one of said first key region and said second key region is activated;

wherein, when said control panel system is in said first operation input mode, activation of said first key region executes a first appliance function, and activation of said second key region executes a second appliance function, and when said control panel system is in said second operation input mode, activation of said first key region of said multi-function key and activation of said second region of said multi-function key execute the same appliance function.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a display unit positioned operatively relative to said control panel interface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying, via the display unit, at least one indicator relative to said first region of said multi-function key and at least one indicator relative to said second region of said multi-function key when said control panel system is in said first operation mode.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said multi-function key has a third key region, and when said control panel system is in said first operation input mode, activation of said third key region executes a third appliance function, and when said control panel system is in said second operation input mode, activation said first key region, activation of said second key region and activation of said third key region of said multi-function key execute the same appliance function.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said plurality of operation input modes comprises a third operation input mode, wherein, when said control panel system is in said third operation input mode, activation of said first key region executes a first appliance function, and activation of said second key region and activation of said third key region execute a second appliance function.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said first key region and said second key region comprise a capacitive touch key.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first key region and said second key region are positioned relative to each other such that, when said control panel system is in said second operation input mode, a user press between said first key region and said second key region is detected as an activation of at least one of said first key region and said second key region.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a circuit board assembly wherein said control panel interface is not in direct contact with said circuit board assembly; and

providing a plurality of conductive extenders, said extenders being situated between said control panel interface and said circuit board assembly, and said first key region and said second key region is in electrical connection with said circuit board assembly.

19. An appliance control panel system comprising:

a control panel interface having at least one multi-function key, said at least one multi-function key having a plurality of key regions, said plurality of key regions having a first key region and a second key region; and

a control panel operation module for regulating said control panel system between a plurality of operation input modes, said operation input modes comprising at least a first operation input mode and a second operation input mode;

wherein, in said first operation input mode, said control panel operation module interprets a signal indicating a user press of said first key region as a first key press and a signal indicating a press of said second key region as a user second key press, and in said second operation input mode, said control panel operation module interprets a signal indicating a user press of said first key region and a press of said second key region as a user first key press.

20. The appliance control panel system of claim 19, wherein, in said second operation input mode, said control panel operation module interprets a signal indicating a user press in between said first key region and said second key region as a user first key press.