Household Appliance Comprising Touch Sensors

• US 20140284196A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Original Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Inventors: Bacaksiz, Mucahit, Yuce, Ahmet Ihsan
• Granted Patent: US 9,306,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/600
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94094 Wired transmission, e.g. via bus connection or similar
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a panel (2) which is produced from at least partially electrically conductive material, a transparent non-conductive plate (3) which is placed onto the panel (2), more than one sensor (4) which is located on the non-conductive plate (3) and detects the touch of the user on the non-conductive plate (3), a circuit board (5) which evaluates the signals received from the sensor (4) and controls the operation of the household appliance (1) according to these signals, and at least one transmission element (6) which transmits the signals received from the sensor (4) to the circuit board (5).

Claims

1. A household appliance (1) comprising a panel (2) which is produced from at least partially electrically conductive material, a non-conductive plate (3) which is placed onto the panel (2), more than one sensor (4) which is located on the non-conductive plate (3) and detects the touch of the user on the non-conductive plate (3), a circuit board (5) which evaluates the signals received from the sensor (4) and controls the operation of the household appliance (1) according to these signals, and at least one transmission element (6) which transmits the signals received from the sensor (4) to the circuit board (5), characterized by at least one spacer (7) which is placed between the panel (2) portion produced from electrically conductive material and the transmission element (6) and prevents the transmission element (6) from contacting the panel (2) portion produced from electrically conductive material

2. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the touch sensor (4) with capacitive sensing feature.

3. A household appliance (1) as in claim 2, characterized by the spacer (7) that is produced from non-conductive material.

4. A household appliance (1) as in claim 3, characterized by the spacer (7) that is produced from polymeric material.

5. A household appliance (1) as in claim 4, characterized by the spacer (7) that is in rectangular prism form.

6. A household appliance (1) as in claim 4, characterized by the spacer (7) that is in half-cylinder form.

7. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, which is a cooker.

8. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, which is an oven.

9. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, which is a washing machine.

10. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, which is a laundry dryer.

11. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, which is a dishwasher.

12. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, which is a refrigerator.

13. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the spacer (7) that is produced from non-conductive material.

14. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the spacer (7) that is produced from polymeric material.

15. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the spacer (7) that is in rectangular prism form.

16. A household appliance (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the spacer (7) that is in half-cylinder form.