EP3399239A1 - Domestic appliance and operating device for a domestic appliance with absolute positioning of a control element in the room - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device (3) for a household appliance (1), with a control element receptacle (4) and with a separate operating element (5), which is placed on the operating element receptacle (4) and removably positioned and with which by specific actuation in Operating conditions of the household appliance (1) are set to the control element receptacle (4), and with at least one acceleration sensor (9), which is arranged in the operating element (5), wherein the operating element (9) is formed as a flat body and with a plane, in which the flat body extends, is arranged vertically oriented in space, and the operating device (3) has an evaluation unit (10) which is mounted on the control element receptacle (4) state of the operating element (5) for determining an absolute position of the operating element (5 ) is formed in the space (x, y, z) depending on acceleration values of the acceleration sensor (9). The invention also relates to a household appliance (1).

Description

The invention relates to an operating device for a household appliance, with a control element receptacle and with a separate operating element, which can be placed on the operating element holder and removably positioned. The operating device also has at least one static acceleration sensor, which is arranged in the operating element. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a household appliance with such an operating device.

From the EP 2 251 762 A2 an operating device for an electrical appliance is known. The operating device has an operating unit which is designed as a rotary control. This control unit can be removed non-destructively detachable from a control element receptacle and put back. Only in the attached state can be adjusted by specific operation of the operating unit operating condition of the electrical device. In the operating unit acceleration sensors can be arranged, which are designed to detect a rotational movement or a sliding movement. The local acceleration sensors are thus designed only to detect a specific dynamic movement in the direction of rotation, so that only angular accelerations are detected. They are not static acceleration sensors that detect in the spatial directions and thus axially the accelerations.

Especially with these separate controls that can be placed non-destructively releasably on a control element recording, the problem is that only these dynamic movements can be detected. Other movements or positions can not be detected there with the means available. This leads among other things to the fact that when placing the local operating unit on the control element recording no information is available, as this control unit is oriented. As a result, the basic operating variability of these local operating devices is limited.

It is an object of the present invention to design an operating device with an acceleration sensor such that the operating functionality of the operating device is improved on the basis of the information of the acceleration sensor. It is also the task to create a corresponding household appliance.

This object is achieved by an operating device and a household appliance according to the independent claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to an operating device for a household appliance. The operating device has an operating element receptacle and a separate operating element. The operating element is designed such that it can be placed on the operating element holder and can be positioned removably. In particular, in the patch on the control element receiving state can then be carried out by specific operation of the operating element setting of operating conditions of the household appliance. The operating device has at least one static acceleration sensor, which is arranged in the operating element. The control element is designed as a flat body and arranged with a plane in which extends the flat body, oriented vertically in space. A vertical arrangement also includes a deviation from the mathematically unambiguous vertical, in particular within a tolerance angle, which thus also includes a substantially vertical arrangement, in particular, may have up to +/- 10 °. The operating device also has an evaluation unit, which is formed in the mounted on the control element recording state of the control element for determining an absolute position of the control element in space depending on the axial and thus occurring in the spatial directions acceleration values of the acceleration sensor. Such an embodiment of an operating device can be determined by this specific orientation of the operating element in operative connection with the information of the acceleration sensor, this absolute position of the control element and thus a position are determined independently for control element recording. By such a now enabled absolute position determination of such a specifically oriented control element, the operating variability can be increased. Because Thus, in particular in every specific position of the operating element, this absolute position can be determined independently of the position of the operating element for operating element recording. This concrete information on how the operating element is oriented in the room itself and independently of other components of the operating device, results in a variety of additional additional operating functions and options to set the operating conditions and / or then display.

In the case of a deviation from the strict verticality, it is also possible to calibrate the acceleration sensor.

In particular, it is provided that when placing the operating element on the control element receiving the control element has a touchdown position and in this placement position, the absolute position can be determined. This is a further very advantageous embodiment, that thus always occurs precisely in these specific operating devices with removable and re-attachable controls the initially described situation. Once an operating element has been removed from the operating element receptacle, it can be placed on the operating element receptacle in any other manner, and thus in particular with any orientation about a longitudinal axis of the operating element. Usually, such a position, which is taken on a re-placement of the operating element on the control element receptacle, different from that position, which has exhibited the control element in the previous decrease of the control element recording. By the possibility of Absolutpositionsbestimmung even when the control element has taken the Aufsetzposition, in each case a safe and immediate and accurate assignment to other positions of the operating device and thus to other components of the control device can be made possible for further operation of the control , This also allows very precise and resulting further variability to operate the operating device can be achieved.

It is preferably provided that the evaluation unit is designed, depending on the detected absolute position of the operating element in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the operating element considered a local assignment of a control area of the operating element to determine a range of the control element recording. This is a further very advantageous embodiment, since there is always an exact assignment to local specifications of areas of the control element recording even with very different individual absolute positions, which can occur in particular when a respective operating element is placed on the control element receiver. In this way, a functional assignment between the respective areas can easily be carried out locally safely. This is particularly advantageous if, for example, visual representations between the operating element and the control element recording are to be linked and, as it were, spatially assigned visual displays between the operating element and the control element recording should take place in the context. This may be the case, for example, if a visual display is made on the control element receptacle at a specific local location and a corresponding further visual display is to be made immediately adjacent to the control element. In order to be able to achieve a local and thus local proximity between these optical displays, the aforementioned advantageous embodiment is very helpful. For regardless of how the control element is placed relative to the control element recording on this control element recording is detected by the absolute position of the control, which control element area of the control must be activated for visual display to be associated with the optical display on the control panel recording locally.

This is particularly advantageous when a display is formed on the control element recording, which displays optical information in the attached state of the control element on the control element holder immediately adjacent to the operating element.

If the operating element has at least two touch-sensitive buttons on an upper side, these can be assigned different functions depending on the local assignment of the operating element to a region of the operating element recording. Thus, irrespective of a placement position or a rotational position of the operating element of that touch-sensitive button, which is closest to a defined area of the control element recording, a specific function, such as the activation of a timer, assigned. The adjustment of the time value can then for example, by a rotational movement of the control element. The touch-sensitive keys may be capacitive, optical or piezoelectric. The keys may respond to touch with a finger, or as soon as the finger approaches. The keys are preferably arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the operating element and they are at the same distance from each other. In order to allow the most accurate possible assignment of a key to a defined area of the operating element receptacle, preferably at least 4 touch-sensitive keys are arranged on the top side of the operating element facing a user.

In particular, it is provided that, depending on the absolute position of the operating element, that operating element area can be illuminated by the light emitting device of the operating device which is in the same azimuthal position about the longitudinal axis in the direction of rotation, such as an area of the operating element holder designed for illumination. Thus, in this embodiment, a specific segment of the operating element can be illuminated as a control element region which is located at the same circumferential position about the longitudinal axis, as viewed around this longitudinal axis of the operating element, a region of the control element receptacle.

It is preferably provided that the acceleration sensor is a 3-axis acceleration sensor and thus a 3D acceleration sensor. As a result, the detection of the absolute position can be detected particularly precisely in the room.

It is preferably provided that the operating device has a wireless power supply for the acceleration sensor. This is particularly advantageous when a power supply unit of the operating device is arranged externally to the operating element.

It can also be provided that a power supply unit for supplying energy to the acceleration sensor is arranged in the operating element itself.

The operating element is thus supplied in particular with voltage, wherein this power supply is made inductively, for example via an air transformer, or capacitively. It is also possible, the power supply via a trained as a battery power supply unit, which is arranged in particular in the control itself, or via an additional environmental sensor in the control element, which is designed by a so-called " Energy Harvesting "to supply the electronics in the control element ,

Preferably, the operating element has at least one holding magnet, which is designed to generate a magnetic holding force in the mounted state of the operating element on the operating element holder. In particular, occurs in this patch condition then a magnetic interaction between the holding magnet in the control element and a control element external magnet, which may be a holding magnet of the control element recording on.

Preferably, the acceleration sensor of the operating unit is arranged on a circuit board in the operating element, in particular arranged flat thereon. As soon as this acceleration sensor is supplied with energy, it is designed to detect acceleration values, which change depending on the position of the operating element.

Thus, the placement of the operating element on the operating element holder can be detected by this acceleration sensor. By means of the acceleration when positioning or placing the operating element on the operating element recording, the absolute position of the operating element in the room can be determined in particular via trigonometric functions.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that for determining this absolute position, a reference coordinate system, in particular a three-dimensional reference coordinate system is defined with mutually perpendicular spatial directions. In relation to this reference coordinate system, the acceleration of the operating element is then detected. In each position of this control element relative to the coordinate system, an individual and predefinable definition for acceleration values in the respective three spatial directions is preferably formed. By such a configuration, the respective individual absolute position of the operating element can then be easily determined.

In particular, it is also possible that, depending on which side of the acceleration sensor is arranged on the board, different definitions for the acceleration values in the three spatial directions are given.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that it is predetermined as a defined relationship that the acceleration values in the three spatial directions result in a resulting acceleration reference value. For example, it can be provided that the sum of the squares of the acceleration values in the three spatial directions is equal to the square of this acceleration reference value.

In particular, the acceleration sensor supplies these acceleration components or these acceleration values in particular in the three spatial directions, these acceleration values then being evaluated by the evaluation unit.

The evaluation unit may be a separate unit to the acceleration sensor, but it may also be part of the acceleration sensor.

In particular, the evaluation unit is designed to determine a rotation angle of the operating element or a contact angle of the operating element on the operating element recording from a trigonometric context, in particular the following formula 1: $$\beta =\arctan \left(\frac{A_Y}{\sqrt{{\left(A_x\right)}^2+{\left(A_{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="z"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">z</figure-callout>}}\right)}^2}}\right)$$

This formula 1 is exemplary of a coordinate system in which the operating element extends as a flat body in the x-y plane and the z-direction is oriented perpendicular thereto. Of course, the coordinate system can also be spanned otherwise, in which case the formula changes accordingly.

In particular, it is provided that the absolute position is thus determined relative to a reference position, this reference position is in particular a spatial direction, in particular a spatial direction of these three mutually perpendicular spatial directions of the referenced coordinate system.

In particular, the acceleration values in the respective spatial directions are specified as portions of an acceleration reference value.

In particular, by the formula 1 given above can be detected in specific coordinate system position, depending on a positive or negative value of this contact angle β, in which quadrant is the control element or the acceleration sensor is. Due to the sign of the partial accelerations, the absolute angle when positioning or placing the control element can be clearly determined.

It is also possible that the evaluation unit is designed such that, depending on a desired angular resolution when placed in a memory unit, a table is stored in which the respective angles are stored with the corresponding accelerations of the individual spatial directions. Since an acceleration sensor, as provided here, can detect even the smallest changes in acceleration and the resulting smallest vibrations on the absolute contact angle, it is advantageous to determine the measured values, which can be done, for example, via a moving averaging.

In particular, an angular position of the operating element relative to the reference position is determined as an absolute position.

In particular, the angular position is determined as an angle that is functionally dependent on proportionate acceleration values in all three spatial directions, wherein the proportional acceleration values are each related to a maximum reference acceleration value or to an acceleration reference value, as already explained above. Thereupon the possibility is created in a particularly precise and also fast way to determine the absolute position.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the evaluation unit is designed as a function of acceleration values of the acceleration sensor for evaluating a tapping operation of the operating element and / or a tilting movement of the operating element taking place relative to a longitudinal axis of the operating element. It can Thus, not only a fundamental absolute position when placing the control element on the control element recording are determined, but it can then be detected in the context of very specific dynamic movement types and indeed in the respective axis directions or spatial directions based on the information of the acceleration sensor.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a household appliance with an operating device according to the aforementioned aspect of the invention or an advantageous embodiment thereof.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the operating device has an evaluation unit which, in the state of the operating element mounted on the operating element holder, depends on acceleration values of the acceleration sensor for determining or evaluating or detecting a touch operation of the operating element and / or a longitudinal axis of the operating element occurring tilting movement of the control element is formed.

In particular, it is provided that the operating element has at least two different contact points on an upper side, wherein an individual first number of different tilting movement types, in particular a tilting movement and a rolling movement, can be initiated by actuating the operating element at the first contact point and by actuating the operating element on the Second Berührstelle an individual second and different from the first number number of Kippbewegungsart, in particular only one rolling movement, can be initiated. In addition, the evaluation unit is designed to recognize, depending on the acceleration values of the acceleration sensor generated in each case during the actuations at the contact points, in the spatial directions, at which of the contact points an actuation has taken place.

In particular, a determination of a tilt angle and a roll angle is also possible here depending on trigonometric functions. Here, too, is thus at two different reference positions, which are perpendicular to each other by two consecutive mutually oriented spatial directions are defined in each case, then this respective absolute position determined in such an individual tilting movement.

A roll angle φ can preferably be determined by the formula 2: $$O=\mathit{arctan}\left(\frac{A_{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="x\; A\; Y"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">x\; </figure-callout>}}}{\sqrt{{\left(A_Y\right)}^{}}}\right)$$

On the other hand, an inclination angle φ is determined by the following formula 3: $$\mathrm{\phi }=\mathit{arctan}\left(\frac{A_Y}{\sqrt{{\left(A_x\right)}^2+{\left(A_{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="z"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">z</figure-callout>}}\right)}^2}}\right)$$

The control element extends with its particular design provided as a flat body, in particular as a flat cylinder, in a plane which are spanned by the two spatial directions around which the roll angle and the pitch angle can be determined, here the x-axis and the y-axis. Again, the coordinate system can be otherwise spanned, which then change the formulas 2 and 3 accordingly. In particular, therefore, at least one contact point is arranged in one of these two spatial directions or along these spatial directions, so that then only one Kippbewegungsart according to only one of the two movements, namely a rolling motion or a pitching motion results when pressing this contact point. Another contact point is not formed directly along such a spatial direction, but lying therebetween, so that upon actuation of this further contact point these at least two different Kippbewegungsarten, namely a rolling motion and pitching or tilting movement arise.

In particular, the operating device also has a detection unit, which is designed to detect a rotational movement of the operating element about the axis, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the operating element substantially extends. This may in particular be an optically operating detection unit.

With information "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "width direction", "height direction" etc. are the intended use and proper arrangement of the operating device or of the cooking appliance and at a given then in front of the operating device or the cooking appliance and in the direction of the operating device or the cooking appliance views given observer positions and orientations.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the frame to leave the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, but which emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained. Embodiments and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed, which thus do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Haushaltsgeräts;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht von oben auf das Innere eines Bedienelements eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Bedienvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf ein Bedienelement eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Bedienvorrichtung;

Fig. 4-7

vereinfachte Darstellungen des Bedienelements in unterschiedlichen Absolutpositionen im Raum bezogen auf ein Koordinatensystem; und

Fig. 8

eine weitere Darstellung eines Bedienelements in spezifischer Position in einem Koordinatensystem.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance;

Fig. 2

a top view of the interior of an operating element of an embodiment of an operating device;

Fig. 3

a plan view of an operating element of an embodiment of an operating device;

Fig. 4-7

simplified representations of the control element in different absolute positions in space with respect to a coordinate system; and

Fig. 8

a further representation of a control element in specific position in a coordinate system.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 is shown in a schematic representation of an embodiment of a household appliance, which is designed here as a cooking appliance. This is in the embodiment, an oven 1. However, the cooking appliance may also be, for example, a Mikrowellengargerät or a Dampfgargerät. The household appliance 1 has a housing 2, in which a receiving space for preparing food is formed and which in this respect is a cooking chamber. The cooking chamber can be closed by a door not designated in detail.

The household appliance 1 also has an operating device 3, with which operating conditions of the household appliance 1 are adjustable. The operating device 3 has a control element receptacle 4. The operating device 3 moreover has a control element 5 that is separate from the operating element receptacle 4. The control element 5 is non-destructively detachable placed on the control element holder 4 and again removable and can thus be repeatedly positioned on it and removed again. Only in the attached state of the operating element 5 on the control element holder 4 operating conditions of the household appliance 1 can be adjusted by pressing the control element 5. The operating device 3 also has a display unit 6, on which optical information can be displayed electronically. The control element holder 4 has for this purpose a plurality of regions which are designed for the corresponding optical display. Exemplary is in Fig. 1 such a region 7 of the control element holder 4 symbolically represented. This is formed in specific local position on the control element holder 4. In addition, the operating element 5 is also designed with operating element areas which can be illuminated by a light-emitting device of the operating element. By way of example, control element regions 8a and 8b are shown here, which can be individually illuminated by this light-emitting device of the operating element 5.

The operating element 5 furthermore has at least one internal acceleration sensor 9, which is a static acceleration sensor. This means that it does not detect angular acceleration, but instead detects acceleration values in the spatial directions.

In addition, the operating device 3 has an evaluation unit 10. This can be formed externally to the control element 5. However, it may also be formed internally of the operating element 5, in particular also be part of the acceleration sensor 9.

As already in Fig. 1 can be seen, the operating element 5 is preferably a flat body. He may be in this regard discusartig or formed as a flat cylinder. Also a related angular plate-like configuration may be provided.

In the execution according to Fig. 1 is the operating element 5 in particular vertically oriented, whereby a substantially vertical orientation is included. This means that it is oriented vertically with the plane in which the flat body extends. This means that the operating element 5 is clamped in the xy plane with its plane in which it extends. A longitudinal axis A of the operating element 5 is oriented horizontally here and in particular in the depth direction (z-direction) of the household appliance 1.

It is provided in particular that the operating element 5 has an internal holding magnet. With this holding magnet, a magnetic interaction with a control element external further holding magnet is possible. Holding this control element 5 on the operating element receptacle 4 in the state arranged thereon is thus preferably formed by magnetic holding forces which are generated by the magnetic interaction between the mentioned holding magnets.

The evaluation unit 10 is configured to determine an absolute position of the operating element 5 in the space depending on at least one acceleration value of the acceleration sensor 9 in the state of the operating element 5 placed on the operating element receiving 4.

In particular, when placing the operating element 5 on the control element holder 4, the control element 5 is placed with a touchdown position, wherein in this touchdown position, the absolute position of the control element 5 can be determined in space. Due to the acceleration values occurring during placement, this absolute position of the operating element 9 in space can be determined.

In addition, it is thereby also possible that the evaluation unit 10 is designed, depending on the detected absolute position of the operating element five in the direction of the longitudinal axis A of the operating element 5 considered a local assignment of a control area 8a, 8b of the control element 5 to a range 7 of the control panel recording 4 to determine. This means that, in particular, when two corresponding areas of the operating element 5 to be illuminated adjacent to one another and the control element receptacle 4 on the other hand are desired, depending on the absolute position of the operating element 5, then the operating area 8a directly adjacent to the area 7, for example illuminated optical display. Thus, there is not complete illumination, for example by a circumferential ring about the longitudinal axis A on the control element 5, but only in a locally associated and in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis A only segmented control area 8a, which is illuminated accordingly. It is therefore possible that not a previously predetermined range of the operating element 5 is illuminated when the functionally associated area 7 is illuminated, which could lead to the fact that in the azimuthal direction about the longitudinal axis A illuminating a control panel of the operating element 5 at a local area other than at the azimuth position of area 7. Rather, it is made possible by the configuration of the operating device 3 according to the aforementioned aspect of the invention that based on this particular absolute position of the control element 5 and the knowledge of the illuminated in particular with respect to the azimuth position area 7 then also can be determined which control area 8a, 8b must be illuminated and at which azimuth position a control area 8a, 8b must be illuminated to allow the local corresponding adjacent illumination of these areas 7, 8a, 8b, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 is shown.

The light-emitting device can have one or more light sources, for example light-emitting diodes, which are arranged in the direction of rotation about the axis A and thus in this respect azimuthal direction.

Depending on the particular absolute position of the operating element 5, that particular operating element area 8 can thus be illuminated by the light emitting device, which is in the same azimuthal position in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis A as a region 7 of the operating element receiver 4 designed for illumination.

In particular, the acceleration sensor 9 is a 3-axis acceleration sensor.

In Fig. 2 is shown in a plan view, the operating element 5 in the open state, which means that in the interior 11 can be looked. In this interior 11 of the operating element 5, a circuit board 12 is arranged, on which the acceleration sensor 9 is arranged. In particular, further electronics are arranged on this circuit board 12. This can be designed, for example, for operating the light sources of the light emitting device. However, it can also be, for example, the electronics of the evaluation unit 10. The electronics may also have a power supply unit 20.

In Fig. 3 is shown in a schematic representation of the control element 5 with a view of an upper side 13. In Fig. 3 the control element 5 is shown in the closed state.

In principle, the control element 5 can be formed in one piece, which means that it can only be moved relative to the control element receptacle 4 as a whole. However, the operating element 5 may also be designed in several parts with respect to its housing and to the effect that the two parts are mutually relatively movable. In such a configuration, a first part in the arranged state can then be held on the operating element receptacle 4, for example by the magnetic holding force already explained above. The second part of the control element, in particular the second part of a housing of the control element 5, in particular a cover, can then relative to this first part, in particular a first part of the Housing, to be moved, in particular to be rotated. As a result, an adjustment of operating conditions of the household appliance 1 can take place.

In Fig. 4 1 is a schematic illustration of the operating element 5 in an exemplary reference coordinate system. The reference coordinate system is here spanned by three mutually perpendicular spatial directions, namely the x-direction, the y-direction and the z-direction. For example, the operating element 5 is placed in a touchdown position on the control element holder 4, as in Fig. 4 is shown, the absolute position of the operating element 5 is detected here. This means that the acceleration values of the acceleration sensor 9 detect the corresponding position on the basis of the acceleration values in the three spatial directions. In particular, the absolute position in relation to a reference position, which is here the horizontal and thus the y-direction, is indicated here.

The acceleration components or acceleration values in the three spatial directions, which are always given as a function of the gravitational acceleration, then make it possible to determine the absolute position of the operating element 5.

In particular, it is provided that the sum of the squares of the acceleration value components A _x , A _y and A _z corresponds to the square of a reference acceleration value, for example 1 g.

In the Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 are more schematic representations shown in which the control element 5 in to Fig. 4 different absolute positions in space and thus in this defined coordinate system is arranged.

It is in the Fig. 4 to Fig. 7 each offset by 90 ° positions shown to each other. Of course, each intermediate position of the control element 5 is also determined as an absolute position.

By getting in Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 Resulting, different acceleration values in the spatial directions can then also again the exact defined absolute position let determine. This can also be done in relation to the reference position, here the y-direction. An angle β according to formula 1 can be determined.

In addition to this absolute position, a rotational movement of the operating element 5 about the longitudinal axis A and thus also a dynamic movement can be absolutely detected on the basis of the acceleration values. This can be detected with a further detection unit of the operating device 3. This detection unit can preferably be designed for optical detection, for example by infrared.

It is also possible that in addition to or instead of a tap operation of the operating element 5 and / or a tilting movement of the operating element 5 depending on the axial acceleration values of the acceleration sensor 9 can be determined. Exemplary is in this Fig. 8 a representation of a control element 5 is shown. With regard to the already explained example in Fig. 3 can be provided here that several separate contact points 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are formed by way of example. These lie in azimuthal direction about the longitudinal axis A at specific azimuth positions. For example, in Fig. 8 the contact point 14 is drawn, which is formed along the longitudinal spatial direction. If now touched on this touch point 14 or acted with such a force that the control element 5 moves with a specific tilting movement, namely with a pitching motion about the y-space direction down or tilts down, then the control element 5 performs only a single Kippbewegungsart, namely this tilting movement.

On the other hand, on the also exemplary in Fig. 8 drawn further contact point 19, which may be a second contact point, touched or acted with such force from above, that the operating element 5 tilts down and is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis A and thus to the longitudinal axis A, the acceleration sensor 9 performs a tilting movement or pitching movement about the y-space direction and a rolling movement about the x-space direction. As a result, upon touching this further contact point 19, which is not arranged along the x-space direction and not along the y-space direction, a movement takes place which includes at least two different types of tilting movement, namely this tilting movement and this rolling movement.

By means of the evaluation unit 10, in turn, these different acceleration values in the respective spatial directions which then occur when the contact point 14 is actuated or when the contact point 19 is actuated can also be evaluated, and the actually touched contact point can also be detected. As a result, the operating condition of the household appliance 1 which accompanies this then actuation of the contact point can be selected and / or adjusted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

household appliance

2

casing

3

operating device

4

Operating element receptacle

5

operating element

6

display unit

7

Area

8a, 8b

Operating element areas

9

accelerometer

10

evaluation

11

Inner

12

circuit board

13

top

14

contact point

15

contact point

16

contact point

17

contact point

18

contact point

19

contact point

20

Power supply unit

A

longitudinal axis

Claims (15)

Control device (3) for a domestic appliance (1), with a control element receptacle (4) and with a separate control element (5), which can be placed and removably positioned on the control element receptacle (4) and with which by specific actuation in the control element receptacle ( 4) attached state operating conditions of the household appliance (1) are adjustable, and with at least one acceleration sensor (9), which is arranged in the operating element (5), characterized in that the operating element (9) is designed as a flat body and with a plane in extending the flat body, is arranged vertically oriented in space, and the operating device (3) has an evaluation unit (10) in the mounted on the control element receptacle (4) state of the operating element (5) for determining an absolute position of the operating element (5) in the space (x, y, z) is formed as a function of acceleration values of the acceleration sensor (9). Operating device (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that when placing the operating element (5) on the operating element receptacle (4), the operating element (5) has an attachment position, and in the placement position, the absolute position can be determined. Operating device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (10) is designed, depending on the detected absolute position of the operating element (5) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (A) of the operating element (5) considered a local assignment from a control element area (8) of the control element (5) to a region (7) of the control element receptacle (4). Operating device (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that the operating element (5) on an upper side (13) has at least two touch-sensitive keys to which different functions are assignable depending on the local assignment. Operating device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element (5) has a light emitting device, with which a first control element region (8a) can be illuminated and with which at least one different second control element region (8b) is independent of the illumination of the first control element area (8a) is illuminated. Operating device (3) according to Claims 3 and 5, characterized in that, depending on the absolute position, that operating element region (8a) can be illuminated by the light emitting device which is in the same azimuthal position in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis (A) as a region designed for illumination ( 7) of the control element receptacle (4). Operating device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acceleration sensor (9) is a 3-axis acceleration sensor. Operating device (3) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating device (3) has a wireless power supply for the acceleration sensor (9). Operating device (3) according to claim 8, characterized in that a power supply unit for powering the acceleration sensor (9) control element is arranged externally. An operating device (3) according to claim 8, characterized in that a power supply unit (20) for energizing the acceleration sensor (9) in the control element (5) is arranged. Operating device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absolute position is determined relative to a reference position, in particular relative to a spatial direction. Operating device (3) according to claim 11, characterized in that an absolute position is determined as an angular position of the operating element (5) relative to the reference position. Operating device (3) according to claim 12, characterized in that the angular position is determined as an angle which is functionally dependent on proportionate acceleration values in all three spatial directions (x, y, z), wherein the proportional acceleration values each relate to a maximum reference acceleration value are. Operating device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (10) depends on acceleration values of the acceleration sensor (9) for evaluating a tap operation of the operating element (5) and / or a longitudinal axis (A) of the operating element (5 ) Tilting movement of the operating element (5) is formed. Domestic appliance (1) with an operating device (3) according to one of the preceding claims.

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