APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING A CONTROL PANEL OF THE SAME

• US 20140203863A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Gillespie, Timothy Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,841,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/517
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination

Abstract

Appliances with control panels and methods for operating the same are provided. The control panel includes a plurality of touch sensors. When an adjustment mechanism approaches the control panel, a sensitivity setting of the plurality of touch sensors is adjusted in order to assist with calculating a time interval or a velocity of the adjustment mechanism. With the velocity of the adjustment mechanism calculated, usage of the control panel can be improved.

Claims

1. A method for operating a control panel of an appliance, the control panel having a plurality of touch sensors, the method comprising:

adjusting a setting of at least one of the plurality of touch sensors to an increased sensitivity setting;

receiving a first signal from the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors when an adjustment mechanism approaches the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors;

changing the setting of the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors to a decreased sensitivity setting after said step of receiving;

receiving a second signal from the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors when the adjustment mechanism touches the control panel at the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors; and

calculating a velocity of the adjustment mechanism based upon a time interval, T, between the first signal and the second signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors detects the adjustment mechanism approaching the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors at a distance, D, from the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors in the increased sensitivity setting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of calculating comprises calculating the velocity of the adjustment mechanism by dividing distance D by time interval T.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining time interval T between the first signal and the second signal by starting a timer of the appliance after said step of receiving the first signal and stopping the timer after said step of receiving the second signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a rate of change for a control panel input based upon the velocity of the adjustment mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the control panel includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface positioned opposite each other on the substrate, the plurality of touch sensors positioned at the back surface of the substrate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving the second signal comprises receiving the second signal from the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors when the adjustment mechanism touches the front surface of the substrate at the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprise a plurality of capacitive touch sensors.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is a finger.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors detects the adjustment mechanism approaching the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors at a distance, D, from the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors in the increased sensitivity setting.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of calculating time interval T between said step of detecting and said step of sensing comprises starting a timer of the appliance after said step of detecting and stopping the timer after said step of sensing.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting a rate of change for a control panel input based upon the velocity of the adjustment mechanism.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the control panel includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface positioned opposite each other on the substrate, the plurality of touch sensors positioned at the back surface of the substrate.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of sensing comprises sensing the adjustment mechanism touching the front surface of the substrate at the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprise a plurality of capacitive touch sensors.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism is a finger.

10. A method for operating a control panel of an appliance, the control panel having a plurality of touch sensors, the method comprising:

adjusting a setting of at least one of the plurality of touch sensors to an increased sensitivity setting;

detecting an adjustment mechanism approaching the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors before the adjustment mechanism touches the control panel;

changing the setting of the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors to a decreased sensitivity setting after said step of detecting;

sensing the adjustment mechanism touching the control panel at the at least one of the plurality of touch sensors; and

calculating a time interval, T, between said step of detecting and said step of sensing.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a velocity of the adjustment mechanism by dividing distance D by time interval T.

19. An appliance, comprising:

a control panel having a front surface and a back surface positioned opposite each other on said control panel, said control panel having a plurality of capacitive touch sensors positioned at the back surface of said control panel;

a controller in communication with the plurality of capacitive touch sensors of said control panel, said controller configured for

adjusting a setting of at least one of the plurality of capacitive touch sensors to an increased sensitivity setting;

receiving a first signal from the at least one of the plurality of capacitive touch sensors when a triggering mechanism approaches the front surface of said control panel;

changing the setting of the at least one of the plurality of capacitive touch sensors to a decreased sensitivity setting after said step of receiving;

receiving a second signal from the at least one of the plurality of capacitive touch sensors when the triggering mechanism touches the front surface of said control panel; and

determining a time interval, T, between the first signal and the second signal.