EP2101112A1 - Method for operating a touch-sensitive control device for a domestic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting intended adjustment of operating conditions of a cooking hob (1) depending on exceeding of a basic-threshold value of a force exerted on a control surface (15). The force exerted on the control surface during initiation of an adjustment process by an adjusting element e.g. fingers of users, is reduced to 50 percentages of the basic-threshold value for piezosensors (10-14), which are subsequent to an actuation path of the adjusting element. The sensors are operated by contact of the control surface for adjusting the operating conditions.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a touch-sensitive operating device of a domestic appliance, in which at least one operating state of the domestic appliance is adjusted by touching an operating surface of the operating device with an adjusting element and by moving the adjusting element on the operating surface.

From the DE 20 2006 019 447 U1 is a touch-sensitive slider is known, which may have, for example as a push-button piezoelectric sensors. The touch-sensitive slider comprises a touch-sensitive control strip for absolute and / or relative input of a control value, in this context via the control strip, for example by means of a finger can be touched so as to achieve the operation of the sensors and the associated setting.

In addition, from the DE 10 2004 020 824 A1 an adjusting device in an at least two-dimensional sensor area for a household appliance known. Again, the actuator may include piezoelectric sensors, which can be achieved by overriding the surface of the operating device by means of a finger actuation of the sensors and thus adjusting an operating state of the domestic appliance.

In the known control devices, it is necessary that over the entire actuation path when gluing the surface of the operating device permanently a correspondingly large pressure must be established in order to ensure the activation can. Especially with relatively long operating distances, this can not always be guaranteed, so that it can lead to incorrect settings or terminations of the setting in this regard. This is relatively user-unfriendly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method in which a touch-sensitive operating device of a domestic appliance can be operated more user-friendly.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

In a method according to the invention for operating a touch-sensitive operating device of a household appliance, at least one operating state of the domestic appliance is made possible by touching an operating surface of the operating device with an adjusting element and by moving the adjusting element on the operating surface, in which connection sensors of the operating device are actuated. Depending on an exceeding of a predefinable basic threshold value of a force exerted on the operating surface by a force applied to the adjusting element during a setting process, a deliberate setting of an operating state is detected. Depending on this recognition of a desired operating state, the threshold value of the force to be generated by the setting element for recognizing the further desired setting in this initiated setting operation on the operating surface is reduced for a sensor of the operating device following the further actuation path of the setting element in comparison to the base threshold value , By doing so, a much more user-friendly operation of the operating device can be made possible. In a setting in which a control over the control surface of the operating device striped and a corresponding pressure must be exercised, it is thus not necessary that over the entire actuation a relatively large pressure must be exerted in order to achieve the desired setting. The invention thus provides an intelligent approach to the effect that, given a desired setting after a setting initiation, a lesser pressure must be exerted on the operating surface on the further actuating path in order nevertheless to recognize a further setting and to carry it out.

Preferably, the threshold value of the force to be generated by the setting element for recognizing the further desired setting in this initiated setting operation on the operating surface is reduced to less than 80%, in particular less than 60%, in particular 50%, of the base threshold value. Through this procedure, the operation be much easier and for a user of the operating device can be made possible just in settings in which is touched via the user interface for setting, a more reliable setting. Incorrect settings or cancellations due to low applied pressure on the control surface can be significantly reduced.

Preferably, it can be provided that the reduction of the threshold value to a value smaller than the base threshold value is discrete. This means that after initiation of a setting process and recognition of a desired setting for all other subsequent sensors of the operating device, a fixed and permanently set constant threshold value for this setting process is set.

However, it can also be provided that this reduced compared to the base threshold threshold is dynamically reduced during the adjustment process. In this connection, as the adjustment operation progresses, and thus as the actuation path of the adjustment member proceeds for the respective subsequent sensors, a stepwise reduction in the threshold value for the exerting force may be generated on the still possibly pending actuation path. Thus, it may be provided in this context that the threshold value for the sensor following directly on the first-actuated sensor is reduced to a first threshold value smaller than the basic threshold value. If the adjustment is continued by moving the adjusting element on the operating surface and thus the actuation path is continued, it can be provided that a second threshold value, which in turn is smaller than the first threshold value, is set for the third sensor following the second sensor.

Likewise, however, it may be provided that only for a fourth sensor, which follows in sequence on the third sensor along the actuation path, such a second threshold value is set, in which connection the second and the third sensor with a force according to the first Threshold are to be operated.

Such a dynamic configuration of the threshold value allocation during a setting process can also be carried out in many other ways.

Preferably, the base threshold is set to a force less than 4 N, in particular to a force between 2 N and 3 N. On the one hand, such a force is high enough to already interpret undesired actuations or light touches as initiations for a desired setting procedure, but on the other hand is not so high that unpleasantly high pressures must be exerted on the operating surface by a user of the operating device.

Preferably, the operating device has at least two separate sensors, which can be actuated for operating state adjustment of the domestic appliance via the touch of the operating surface, and depending on the order in which the sensors are actuated by the actuating travel of the adjusting on the control surface, the type of operating setting is detected , In this context, a kind of operation setting may be a selection of a specific function. However, it can also be provided that a type of operating setting is understood as increasing or decreasing the operating parameter of a function.

Preferably, before detecting a setting operation or after completing a setting operation, the threshold value of the force to be applied to the operating surface with which a desired setting of an operating state is detected is reset to the basic threshold value. Preferably, therefore, the output condition is always set again by an automatic operation when a setting operation is canceled or completed as desired. Thus, for each further setting process, the same starting conditions and thus basic conditions are generated, so that this is definitely easy for a user to use since he always knows which situation currently prevails and how he can carry out the adjustment.

Preferably, the basic threshold value for the sensors of the operating device is set automatically by a control electronics, depending on the situation. By this control electronics is thus recognized which conditions exist, and whether they require that the setting of the base threshold value should be performed. In this context, situation-specific again and again can easily and reliably be reset to the initial situation, whereby maladjustments or no longer understanding the current operating state by a user can also be avoided here.

Preferably, the threshold value for a detection of a desired further setting of an operating state of the domestic appliance for the second sensor is automatically set to a threshold value smaller than the basic threshold in a setting process, if the setting element for initiating the setting operation on the operating surface in the region of the first sensor Force is applied which is greater than or equal to the base threshold. Even if it can not be detected in which direction the actuation path is performed with the adjustment on the control surface, thus all preventive and situation-dependent all possible adjacent sensors to the first actuated sensor with a lower threshold compared to the base threshold Operating force linked. This also ensures user-friendly operation, since the electronics virtually preventively and proactively reduces the force threshold for the adjacent sensors for all possible actuation paths, so that incorrect operation or discontinuation of settings can also be prevented here.

Preferably, the reduction of the threshold value is maintained as long as the adjustment element permanently exerts a force with a value on the user interface on the further actuation path which is greater than or equal to the reduced threshold value during the further adjustment process.

It can also be provided that the reduction of the threshold value is maintained as long as the adjusting element exerts a force with a value on the operating surface, which is smaller than the reduced threshold value, at most for a presettable period of time during the further adjustment process.

It can be ensured by this alternative, on the one hand, that the adjustment is continued only when the actuation force never falls below the reduced threshold during actuation. This allows a very high level of security in the operation and setting and it can be undesirable settings are avoided.

However, it can also be provided that a termination of a setting does not take place even if the operating force for a relatively short predetermined time period reduced threshold below, so that would actually take place in this situation, a demolition. In order to be able to continue the adjustment precisely in these situations, however, is not canceled even if the operation with a smaller force than the reduced threshold does not exceed the predetermined time. Also, the user-friendliness can be increased, since then, if the user desires a further setting, but briefly presses with a relatively small force on the user interface, no cancellation of the initiated adjustment process takes place.

This time period is preferably less than 1 s, in particular less than 0.5 s.

It is particularly preferred if the operating device has piezo sensors and the operating device operates on the basis of piezo technology.

In an embodiment according to the piezo technology, a continuous input can be realized by sliding over an adjusting element, for example a finger or another element, precisely in the case of a slide controller on a defined operating area. This is realized with capacitive technology by ratio formation of external sensors.

In the piezoelectric technique, the sensors according to the embodiment in the DE 103 50 588 A1 be arranged, in this embodiment, under a metallic control strip a plurality of piezoelectric sensors spaced and are arranged electrically isolated from each other in a row. However, it can also be provided that the piezoelectric sensors are designed in a relatively small size, whereby the distance of two adjacent piezoelectric sensors can be reduced to about 10 mm. In this context, it can also be provided that no insulating webs are formed as intermediate webs between the piezoelectric sensors and thereby a multi-stage sliding region can be realized as a actuation path. In this regard, for example, a Betätigungsweg of up to 170 mm can be realized. Although the actuation area is then constructed discretely, in this context a piezo sensor is provided for each stage, but can be represented as a continuous continuous actuation area by printing on the surface of the operating bar. This has the advantage that no adjustment or tuning of the operating range must be made. However, it may also be provided in this area be that individual keys are realized and this is represented by the printing on the surface of the control bar so.

Especially in the case of piezo sensors, undesired operation triggering can occur due to bending, vibration or distortion of the element. In this context, it can be provided that each key or each sensor of the operating device is automatically discharged flat rate after a predefinable period of time and thus the charge that builds up due to the bending or vibration or tension is dissipated and the sensor is returned to its original state. In this context, for example, a time interval of 20 seconds may be provided after which a discharge always takes place. The occurrence of frequent error messages can be prevented.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a schematic drawing. The single FIGURE shows a perspective view of a hob with an operating device.

In the schematic perspective view according to the figure, a trained as a hob 1 domestic appliance is shown, which is arranged in a worktop 2 and a cutout of the worktop 2. The hob 1 comprises a cooking plate 3, which is formed of glass ceramic. On the cooking plate 3 cooking zones 4, 5, 6 and 7 are formed, which are heated by not shown and arranged under the cooking plate 3 heaters. On a front side of the cooking plate 3, the hob 1 comprises an operating device 8. The operating device 8 comprises a metallic operating bar 9, below which a plurality of piezoelectric sensors 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are arranged. According to the representation in the figure, the operating device 8 moreover comprises further piezoelectric sensors, which are designed analogously to the sensors 10 to 14, but are not designated in greater detail. The piezoelectric sensors 10 to 14 are arranged in a row parallel to the front side of the cooking plate 3 and positioned separately from each other. The sensors 10 to 14 can be actuated by a surface 15 of the control bar 9 is pressed by means of an adjustment, such as a finger of a user.

The operating device 8 is designed so that individual sensors 10 to 14 are actuated by a local local pressing on the surface 15 and depending on an operating state of the hob 1 or a portion thereof, for example, a cooking zone 4 to 7, is set.

In particular, however, the operating device 8 is also designed so that an adjustment of an operating state can be made to the fact that can be touched with a finger over the surface 15 and on this actuation a plurality of sensors 10 to 14 are actuated and thereby a corresponding setting of an operating condition he follows.

In this context, the operating device 8 comprises a control unit, not shown, which is also designed to evaluate the signals of the piezoelectric sensors 10 to 14.

Depending on an exceeding of a predefinable basic threshold value of a force exerted on the operating surface 15 by force with the finger during a setting process, a desired setting of an operating state is detected. Depending on this desired setting, the threshold value of the force to be generated by the finger for detecting the further desired setting in this initiated setting operation on the operating surface 15 for a piezo sensor 10 to 14 following the further actuation path is then compared to the base threshold value reduced. In concrete terms, this means, for example, that when a user presses with a finger in the region of the piezoelectric sensor 10 on the control surface 15 and does this with a force which is greater than the base threshold, which in the embodiment between 2 N and 3 N can be specified, is detected by the electronics that a desired setting is to take place. This initiation thus starts a setting procedure. In addition, the user can then slide along with his finger an actuation path in the direction of the sensors 11 to 14 on the user interface 15.

If a desired setting is detected by the electronics when the piezo sensor 10 is pressed, the electronics automatically set a threshold value for the detection of a desired actuation of one or more of the following sensors 11 to 14 reduced. For example, it may be provided that the immediately following piezoelectric sensor 11 can be actuated for a further desired setting in this initiated setting process by exerting by means of the finger a force which can take place with a reduced threshold compared to the base threshold value. In particular, it can be provided here that this threshold value is 50% of the basic threshold value.

When walking along the control surface 15 in the direction of the sensors 11 to 14, the user thus only has to exercise a smaller force with his finger in order to be able to carry out the further adjustment in this initiated setting process.

It can also be provided that the determination of the threshold values for the actuation of the sensors 11 to 14 is dynamically adjusted during this further adjustment in the case of this desired setting process initiated and recognized via the piezo sensor 10. In this context, it can be provided that when the finger is pushed in the direction of the sensor 11 on the control surface 15, a further threshold value for the application of force for the subsequent piezo sensor 12 is automatically reduced in turn. In this context, it can then be provided that, for example, the threshold value for the actuation of the piezoelectric sensor 11 is less than 80% of the basic threshold value and the threshold value for the actuating force of the subsequent piezoelectric sensor 12 is only 60% of the basic threshold value ,

The piezoelectric sensors 11 to 14 following in the exemplary embodiment on the piezo sensor 10 which initiates the adjustment operation are, as long as detected, detected with a threshold value reduced for the actuation force as long as it is detected that the initiated adjustment process has not yet been completed. If this initiated setting process is terminated by the set desired result or aborted beforehand, the threshold value for the actuating force of the sensors 11 to 14 is automatically reset to the basic threshold value. This is done via the control electronics.

It can be provided that an initiated adjustment process is considered as incomplete as long as long on the control surface 15 with a permanent Force greater than the reduced threshold is pressed. It can be provided that, if the reduced threshold value is undershot, the initiated setting process is aborted.

However, it can also be provided that this reduced threshold value can be undershot for a predefinable period of time without the initiated setting process being aborted.

Claims (12)

Method for operating a touch-sensitive operating device (8) of a domestic appliance (1), in which at least one operating state of the domestic appliance (1) by actuating at least one sensor (10 to 14) of the operating device (8) by touching a control surface (15) of the operating device ( 8) is set with an adjusting element, characterized in that depending on an exceeding of a predefinable basic threshold value of the operating surface (15) force exerted by a force caused by the adjusting element during a setting force a deliberate setting of an operating condition is detected, and dependent of which the threshold value of the force to be generated by the setting element for recognizing the continuing intended setting in this setting process on the operating surface (15) for a subsequent on the further actuation path of the adjusting element sensor (10 to 14) of the operating device (8) in comparison to the base S value is reduced. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the threshold value is reduced to less than 80%, in particular less than 60%, in particular 50% of the base threshold value. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base threshold value to a force less than 4 N, in particular between 2 N and 3 N, is specified. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating device (8) has at least two separate sensors (10 to 14) which can be actuated for operating state adjustment of the domestic appliance (1) via the touch of the operating surface (15), and depending on the Sequence in which the sensors (10 to 14) are actuated by the actuating travel of the adjusting element on the operating surface (15), the type of operation setting is detected. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that prior to detection of a setting operation or after completing a setting operation, the threshold value to be exerted on the control surface (15) force, with a desired setting of an operating condition is detected, is reset to the base threshold , A method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the basic threshold value for the sensors (10 to 14) is set automatically by situation specific situation by a control electronics. Method according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the threshold for detection of a desired continuing setting an operating state of the domestic appliance (1) for the second sensor (10 to 14) in a setting automatically to a threshold value smaller than the base threshold is set when with the setting element for initiating the setting operation on the operating surface (15) in the region of the first sensor (10 to 14) a force is exerted which is greater than or equal to the base threshold value. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reduced threshold value is maintained as long as the adjustment element permanently exerts a force with a value on the operating surface (15) on the further actuation path, which is greater than or equal to the reduced one during the further adjustment process Threshold is. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the reduced threshold value is maintained as long as the setting element exerts a force with a value on the operating surface (15) which is smaller than at most for a presettable period of time during the further adjustment process the reduced threshold. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the time duration is less than 1 s, in particular less than 0, 5 s. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating device (8) has piezo sensors (10 to 14), and works on the basis of piezo technology. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reduction of the threshold value relative to the base threshold value is carried out dynamically depending on the actuation path already taken and / or the already actuated number of sensors (10 to 14).

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