Operating device for an electrical appliance having a control panel and subadjacent sensor element and method of operating such an operating device
First Claim
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1. An electrical appliance comprising:
- a cover formed from a sheet metal, said cover comprising a plurality of operating fields wherein each operating field comprises said sheet metal having a first thickness at said operating field and a second thickness surrounding an operating field, wherein said first thickness is thinner than said second thickness, said sheet metal being electrically conductive throughout and having a first side facing a user and a second side; and
a plurality of operating devices, each comprising device comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor element incorporating an FSR sensor arranged below said operating field, wherein a user pressing on said operating field results in deflection of said operating field causing the application of pressure on said FSR sensor, thereby altering the resistance of the FSR sensor and further altering an electrical signal passing through the FSR sensor, thereby signifying operation of the electrical appliance by the user.
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Abstract
An operating device for a cooktop has a cover with a control panel with a plurality of operating areas. Below the panel, several FSR sensors are positioned. When a control panel is pushed down by a process of operation, the FSR sensor changes its electrical resistance resulting in change of a signals that can be detected and interpreted as operation of the appliance by a user.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical appliance comprising:
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a cover formed from a sheet metal, said cover comprising a plurality of operating fields wherein each operating field comprises said sheet metal having a first thickness at said operating field and a second thickness surrounding an operating field, wherein said first thickness is thinner than said second thickness, said sheet metal being electrically conductive throughout and having a first side facing a user and a second side; and a plurality of operating devices, each comprising device comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor element incorporating an FSR sensor arranged below said operating field, wherein a user pressing on said operating field results in deflection of said operating field causing the application of pressure on said FSR sensor, thereby altering the resistance of the FSR sensor and further altering an electrical signal passing through the FSR sensor, thereby signifying operation of the electrical appliance by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating an electrical appliance comprising a cover formed from sheet metal being electrically conductive throughout, said cover comprising an operating field having a first thickness at said operating field and a second thickness surrounding said operating field, wherein said first thickness is less than said second thickness, said operating field capable of deflection and having a pressure-sensitive sensor element incorporating an FSR sensor arranged below said operating field comprising the steps of:
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applying pressure by application of a user'"'"'s finger on said operating field resulting in deflecting the operating field; detecting a change in a signal value as a result of a change in resistance of said FSR sensor; detecting a second change in the signal value as a result in a second change in resistance of said FSR sensor; and determining that the time duration between said first change and said second change is less than a threshold duration thereby defining a user operation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification