Optically based operating device for a household appliance
AssigneeE.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
InventorBaier Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An operating element can be used to operate or control a household appliance, for example a cook top heating element. A seven-segment display is arranged beneath a cover in the region of a contact surface. A light source and a light receiver are arranged inside respectively of four LED elements of the seven-segment display in two channel-type openings oriented towards the contact surface. The insertion of the light source and receiver into the openings enables the contact surface to the positioned directly above the display and shields the light receiver from scattered light. Placement of a finger on the contact surface results in light from the light source to be reflected and detected by the light receiver, and thus effect control of the household appliance.
Claims20
An operating device for operating an electrical appliance, said operating device having a seven-segment display made up of LED elements for displaying an operating state of said electrical appliance or an instruction to an operator, said operating device further having a touch or contact switch for operating purposes, wherein said touch or contact switch is constructed as a reflected light barrier and has a light source and a light receiver with a beam path between said light source and said light receiver, wherein said beam path passes at least once centrally through said seven-segment display.
A optically based display and control device for an applicance comprising
- a seven-segment display having seven display segments in a planar arrangment, the seven-segment display having a first area bounded by a first set of four of the seven segements and having a first light channel formed in the first area, the seven-segment display also having a second area bounded by a second set of four of the seven segments and having a second light channel formed in the second area;
- a light source generating light positioned below the planar arrangement of the first area such that the light passes through the first light channel away from the light source;
- and
- a light detector capable of detecting the light generated by the light source, the light detected positioned below the planar arrangement of the second area such that the light when reflected passes through the second light channel and is detected by the light detector.
A optically based display and control device for an applicance comprising:
- a seven-segment display having seven display segments in a planar arrangment having a first area bounded by a first set of four of the seven segements and having positioned therein a first light channel, the seven-segment display having a second area bounded by a second set of four of the seven segments and having positioned therein a second light channel;
- a circuit board to which the seven-segment display is mounted;
- a light source affixed to the circuit board and positioned within the first light channel so as to result in light passing out of the light channel;
- a light receiver affixed to the circuit board and positioned within the second light channel so as to receive reflected light from the light source;
- and
- a planar cover positioned generally parallel to the circuit board such that the light generated by the light source is reflected and received by light receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.