Capacitive touch multi-function keys
First Claim
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 of said first key region and activation of said second key region execute the same appliance function.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An appliance control panel system comprising:
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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 of said first key region and activation of said second key region execute the same appliance function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for operating an appliance control panel system comprising the steps:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An appliance control panel system comprising:
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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 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 third key press. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification