Appliance comprising an operating unit
First Claim
1. An appliance with an operating unit, comprising:
- an actuation element to trigger a pre-determined action, the actuation element being actuated by mechanical force of a user on the actuation element; and
a touch-sensitive sensor provided for the actuation unit, to detect skin contact which occurs as a result of the mechanical force on the actuation element,wherein the appliance triggers the pre-determined action only if the actuation element has been actuated by the mechanical force of the user and the touch-sensitive sensor has detected skin contact during actuation of the actuation element, whereinthe actuation element comprises a switch and/or button element with an actuation surface on which the mechanical force is exerted during actuation of the actuation element,the touch-sensitive sensor is integrated into the actuation surface such that the touch-sensitive sensor detects skin contact with the actuation surface,the switch and/or button element is actuated by pressure and/or tension, andthe switch and/or button element comprises a pushbutton.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An appliance has an operating unit with an actuating element for triggering a pre-determined action. The actuating element is mechanically actuatable by force of a user. The actuating element is preferably a mechanically actuatable switch and/or key element. A touch-sensitive sensor is built into the actuating element, for detecting skin contact occurring as a result of the exertion of force for the mechanical actuation of the actuating element. The appliance is also embodied in such a way that, as a requirement for triggering the pre-determined actions, it is checked whether the actuating element is actuated and skin contact is detected by the touch-sensitive sensor. The appliance prevents defective actuations by associating touch-sensitive sensor technology with the mechanically actuatable actuating element. This ensures that mechanical actuation without skin contact does trigger the pre-determined action.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An appliance with an operating unit, comprising:
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an actuation element to trigger a pre-determined action, the actuation element being actuated by mechanical force of a user on the actuation element; and a touch-sensitive sensor provided for the actuation unit, to detect skin contact which occurs as a result of the mechanical force on the actuation element, wherein the appliance triggers the pre-determined action only if the actuation element has been actuated by the mechanical force of the user and the touch-sensitive sensor has detected skin contact during actuation of the actuation element, wherein the actuation element comprises a switch and/or button element with an actuation surface on which the mechanical force is exerted during actuation of the actuation element, the touch-sensitive sensor is integrated into the actuation surface such that the touch-sensitive sensor detects skin contact with the actuation surface, the switch and/or button element is actuated by pressure and/or tension, and the switch and/or button element comprises a pushbutton. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification