# US 2014/0192013 A1 · Operating and display device for a domestic appliance, and domestic appliance

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- Number: US 2014/0192013 A1
- Document ID: US20140192013A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/128,203
- Filed: 2012-06-20
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-21
- Assignees: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
- Inventors: Thomas Lubert; Lothar Knopp; Thomas Ludenia; Gino Wybranietz; Dietmar Bruss; Erich Schmid; Peter Vogelsang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192013A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/044: by capacitive means
- D06F 34/32: characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
- D06F 2101/10: Spin speed
- D06F 2101/12: Washing temperature
- D06F 2101/20: Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programmes, service modes or refreshment cycles
- D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES

## Abstract

The invention relates to an operating and display device (11) for a domestic appliance, comprising operating means for setting at least one parameter of an operating process of the domestic appliance, a light conductor part (24, 34) for conducting light, a plurality of function symbols (13, 14, 15), which each symbolize a respective selectable value of the parameter, and a lighting device (47) for backlighting the function symbols (13, 14, 15), by means of which lighting device the function symbol (13, 14, 15) associated with the presently selected value of the parameter can be optically distinguished from the other function symbols (13, 14, 15), wherein the operating means are designed as touch-sensitive operating means and have a touch-sensitive actuation surface (16), which is arranged such as to overlap with the function symbols (13, 14, 15) and thus the value of the parameter associated with one of the function symbols (13, 14, 15) can be selected by touching the actuation surface (16) in an overlap area (17) that overlaps with one of the function symbols (13, 14, 15).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An operating and display device (11) for a domestic appliance, with:
Operating means for setting at least one parameter of an operational process of the domestic appliance, wherein the operating means is embodied as a touch-sensitive, capacitive operating means and has a touch-sensitive actuation surface (16),
A plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes (31, 44), which are arranged at a distance from the touch-sensitive actuation surface (16),
A light conductor part (24, 34) for conducting light,
A plurality of function symbols (13, 14, 15), which each symbolize a selectable value of the parameter, and
A lighting device (47) for backlighting the function symbols (13, 14, 15), by means of which the function symbol (13, 14, 15) assigned to the respective selected value of the parameter can be optically distinguished from the other function symbols (13, 14, 15),
wherein the touch-sensitive actuation surface (16) is arranged so as to overlap with the function symbols (13, 14, 15) so that, by touching the actuation surface (16) in an overlapping area (17) with one of the function symbols (13, 14, 15), the value of the parameter assigned to this function symbol (13, 14, 15) is able to be selected, characterized in that
the capacitive sensor electrodes (31, 44) are arranged so as to overlap with the touch-sensitive actuation surface (16) and a separate capacitive sensor electrode (31, 44), which is arranged so as to overlap with the function symbols (13, 14, 15) assigned to it, is assigned to at least a part of the function symbols (13, 14, 15) in each case, so that by touching the actuation surface (16) in an overlapping area (17) with one of the sensor electrodes (31, 44) a capacitance of a touch capacitor having one of these sensor electrodes (31, 44) is able to be changed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the function symbols (13, 14, 15) are arranged on the light conductor part (24, 34).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two adjacent function symbols (13, 14, 15) are arranged so as to overlap with a common sensor electrode (31, 44), wherein by sliding over the actuation surface (16) in an overlapping area (17) with the at least two function symbols (13, 14, 15) and the common sensor electrode (31, 44), the respective assigned value of the parameter is able to be selected.

### Claim 4

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating means is embodied for setting an operating temperature as a parameter and at least a part of the function symbols (13, 14, 15) symbolizes a selectable value of the operating temperature in each case.

### Claim 5

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating means is embodied for setting a speed of movement, in particular a rotational speed, of a component of the domestic appliance as the parameter and at least a part of the function symbols (13, 14, 15) symbolizes a selectable value of the speed of movement in each case.

### Claim 6

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating means is embodied for defining an operating program for the operational process as the parameter and at least a part of the function symbols (13, 14, 15) symbolizes a different operating program in each case.

### Claim 7

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a film (25, 39) with the function symbols (13, 14, 15) is attached to the light conductor part (24, 34).

### Claim 8

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plate-like display window (26), embodied at least in some areas from a light-permeable material, especially from transparent plastic, the surface (29) of which forms the touch-sensitive actuation surface (16), is attached to the light conductor part (24, 34).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, except for in the overlapping areas (17) with the function symbols (13, 14, 15), a light-impermeable print mask, especially a screen print, is applied to a rear side (27) of the display window (26) facing away from the actuation surface (16).

### Claim 10 (depends on 8, 9)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a printed mask, especially a screen print, is applied to the rear side (27) of the display window (26) facing away from the actuation surface (16) in the overlapping area (17) with the function symbols (13, 14, 15), which reduces the passage of light, wherein the function symbols (13, 14, 15) are only visible on the surface (29) of the display window (26) when the backlighting is activated.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8, 9, 10)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the display window (26) is formed from a color-tinted material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8, 9, 10, 11)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that a transparent film (30) with the sensor electrodes (31, 44) attached thereto, is arranged on the light conductor part (24, 34) or the display window (26), especially between the light conductor part (24, 34) and the display window (26).

### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, on a rear side (40) of the light conductor part (24, 34) facing away from the actuation surface (16), a printed circuit board (41) with the sensor electrodes (31, 44) is arranged such that the sensor electrodes (31, 44) are brought into contact with the rear side (40) of the light conductor part (24, 34).

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The operating and display device (11) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that lighting elements of the lighting device (47) are arranged on a rear side (46) of the printed circuit board (9) facing away from the light conductor part (24, 34) and:
through-openings (45) are embodied in the printed circuit board (9) through which the light of the lighting elements is able to be conveyed, and/or
the printed circuit board (9) is embodied transparent or translucent at least in some areas, so that the light is able to be conveyed via the transparent or translucent area.

### Claim 15

A domestic appliance with an operating and display device (11) as claimed in one of the preceding claims.