EP2407852B1 - Support for an operating device - Google Patents

Description

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to a holding device for an operating device for mounting on a panel of an electrical appliance and such a panel.

It is known panels of electrical appliances such as ovens or the like. to form, in particular with at least one aperture, that a rotary encoder of an operating device can be attached behind the panel. Its rotary shaft protrudes through the aperture and on the front of a rotary knob is placed. In order to be able to illuminate this operating device or the rotary knob, for example, to display information to an operator, it is according to the EP 1 898 184 A2 possible to arrange LED on a circuit board of the rotary encoder. By means of optical fibers, the light passes through a housing of the rotary encoder, a holding device and through the diaphragm to the rotary knob and to a ring surrounding the rotary knob.

From the DE 102007018872 A1 a generic holding device is known in which a component carrier with lighting means is arranged thereon in a space between a diaphragm mounting part and a light ring part. The component carrier is in each case a circuit board and the light source thereon is an LED.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide a holding device mentioned above and a thus provided aperture with which problems of the prior art can be avoided and in particular to provide an advantageous way to illuminate an operating device of the holding device.

This object is achieved by a holding device with the features of claim 1 and a diaphragm with such a holding device with the features of claim 15. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the other claims and are explained in more detail below. All mentioned for the fixture features can of course apply to the aperture with such a fixture. The wording of the claims is incorporated herein by express reference.

It is provided that the holding device is designed to be attached to the diaphragm or a diaphragm opening. The holding device has a passage for a rotary shaft of a rotary encoder of the operating device. In the simplest case, this can be a central opening. Furthermore, the holding device is designed in the manner of a ring around the bushing or surrounds it and is thus advantageously ring-like. Furthermore, the holding device has an aperture fixing part and a luminous ring part, which is placed on the front of the aperture fixing part. The diaphragm attachment part protrudes into the diaphragm opening and protrudes over it, for example, with a kind of projecting collar, wherein the collar can rest on the front side of the diaphragm. Furthermore, it is provided that the light ring part substantially covers the panel attachment part forward by being placed thereon. The diaphragm attachment part and the illuminated ring part have a space between them, which is of annular design and in which at least one component carrier is arranged. The component carrier carries at least one LED, advantageously a plurality, at least on the side facing the aperture fixing part, that is, pointing into the aperture, as it were, away from the front side of the aperture. Advantageously, the diaphragm fixing part and the light ring part are inserted from the front of the panel or in the aperture, with the light ring part is particularly advantageous rests on the front of the panel.

So it is possible that the LED must not be provided at a greater distance from the diaphragm or a light ring part, but very close to it. You can do so directly without interposing another Light guide or the like. radiate into the luminous ring part or illuminate this for a higher luminosity and better light output.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the luminous ring part is at least partially transparent or light-conducting. It may be advantageous in terms of its light-guiding properties divided into different annular annulus sectors. This makes it possible, for example, to illuminate different angular areas or outer areas of the illuminated ring part differently or differently colored, if desired. Advantageously, the LEDs are arranged radially within an outer edge of the luminous ring part, which should be mainly illuminated and consequently is also translucent or light-conducting. So they can radiate radially outward into corresponding areas.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the light ring part is arranged closed on the panel mounting part or covers and closes this from the front, especially waterproof. For example, it can be glued on, alternatively welded with ultrasound. Furthermore, diaphragm attachment part and / or luminous ring part can seal the diaphragm opening in a watertight manner relative to the front side of the diaphragm, so that no fluid can penetrate through the diaphragm opening.

Advantageously, a plurality of LEDs are provided on the holding device, for which purpose LED chambers between the light ring part and the panel fixing part are provided in the intermediate space between the light ring part and the panel fixing part, which are arranged in an annular manner distributed on the outer circumference of the light ring part. In each case one or more LEDs can be arranged in these LED chambers. Advantageously, the LED chambers are separated or shielded from each other, so prevent over-illumination. It may be provided that a separate light channel or separate light-conducting means run from each individual LED chamber to the illuminated ring part or to its outer edge. This is the previously mentioned regional illumination of the light ring part possible. Advantageously, at least 4 to 16 LEDs are provided in as many LED chambers.

The component carrier for the LED described above can run in a single plane. This is advantageous a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the implementation or perpendicular to the rotary shaft, ie parallel to the aperture. Since the light ring part runs essentially in this plane as well, both can run parallel and, in particular, close to one another, possibly even touching one another.

Although it is in principle possible that the component carrier is subdivided into a plurality of individual component carriers, which are then inserted between diaphragm mounting part and luminous ring part. Advantageously, however, a single annular component carrier is used, which simplifies both manufacture and assembly and control.

In general, a component carrier is advantageously equipped on one side, and as described above only on the side in the aperture, ie away from the rotary knob. As a result, it can be achieved that the LED arranged on the component carrier in the direction of the rotary knob where the illuminated ring part runs does not necessarily illuminate the illuminated ring part directly, whereby a more precise and desired irradiation of the light into the illuminated ring part is possible. The component carrier thus shields the illuminated ring part, so to speak, for the most part, so that advantageously light from the LED is coupled into the luminous ring part in a precisely defined manner and then distributed there. It is also possible to provide further components on the component carrier, for example electronic components such as microcontrollers or the like. However, in order for the component carrier to remain as flat as possible, it should not be too many or no large components. Above all, however, electrical contacts are also provided here for controlling or powering the LED.

On the one hand, it is possible that a component carrier is designed as a conventional circuit board, ie as an electrical circuit board. Alternatively, it may be a component carrier made of plastic or a plastic plate, possibly even of foil, are applied to the tracks for the LED and an electrical contact. It can even be the inside of the light ring part. The LEDs are already advantageous because of the size designed as an SMD LED. They can be beneficial multicolored.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a position assurance or anti-rotation for the component carrier may be provided, either on the light ring part and / or on the panel attachment part. Such a backup can be achieved by a recess with a corresponding projection. For this purpose, for example, a hole may be provided on the component carrier and a corresponding projection on the luminous ring part and / or diaphragm mounting part. Such an anti-twist device can also be combined with an attachment, so that the component carrier is already fastened captive after being applied to the illuminated ring part or the panel attachment part.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the implementation forms a kind of pipe section which protrudes from the light ring part in a direction away from the panel attachment part. The implementation may preferably be light-conducting or translucent. It is advantageously formed integrally with the light ring part, wherein here, as described above, certain light-conducting regions may be provided which are separated from each other. This is easily possible by means of a multi-component plastic injection, in which light-impermeable regions are provided between light-conducting regions. The advantage of such a light-conducting and thus illuminated by one of the LEDs implementation is that the rotary knob is attached to this or he covers it. Thus, light can be carried out easily be coupled into the rotary knob or its front for the lighting.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the light ring part can be made transparent or light-conducting from an outer edge to the tubular projection or pipe section on the implementation. As a result, the lighting can be achieved at the light ring part or at its outer edge exactly to the implementation and thus also on a front mounted rotary knob. Then no separate LED are necessary for this, but then no separate lighting is possible.

While, as has been described above, the LEDs are arranged on the side of the component carrier facing into the aperture opening, their direction of illumination extends radially outwards and away from the component carrier and the illuminated ring part towards the aperture fixing part. There, the light can then be coupled either into light guides or into corresponding areas of the light ring part in order to illuminate the light ring part in the second case. In the first case, the LEDs radiate into the outer region of the luminous ring part, which is particularly well possible if this is bent on the outer edge towards the panel and thus engages over the panel attachment part in the outer area. Then the light ring part is located radially outside the LED in a plane parallel to the diaphragm, so that in such a direction of the LED light whose light is coupled directly into the light ring part. For this purpose, the luminous ring portion may also have a light edge obliquely extending to the radial plane of the plane, as just said, reaching as far as the panel.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one contact channel can be provided in the panel fixing part. This can advantageously have a rectilinear extent. It goes from one of the light ring part pioneering side of the panel attachment part through to the component carrier or can end shortly before. By doing Contact channel can run as an opening of the otherwise provided by the diaphragm attachment part shield of the component carrier electrical contact with the LED for their control or power supply. On the one hand, these may be cables or other contact means fastened to the component carrier. It is advantageous a resilient contact device, in particular a metallic contact spring in coil spring form. This is on the one hand pressed on previously mentioned contact fields on the component carrier to the electrical contacting. With another end, the contact springs are located on a contact, for example on a circuit board or a component carrier behind the panel mounting part, to which the encoder is attached. On this board then a drive is provided for the LED or the lighting.

It can be provided that a contact spring is arranged captive in the diaphragm fixing part. For this purpose, the diameter of the contact spring may be partially enlarged in comparison to the diameter of the contact channel or the contact channel may have a constriction compared to the diameter of the contact spring. Advantageously, a helical spring-like contact spring in the front region is slightly thicker or wound with a larger diameter than in the course, so that they can not fall down and so can not be lost during transport and installation.

In order to guide an electrical contacting, in particular an aforementioned contact spring, somewhat further than the panel fixing part, ie as far as a component carrier or a printed circuit board as described above, tubular projections may be provided around the contact channel at the rear side of the panel fixing member. They form a kind of extension and can have a length of about the thickness of the diaphragm mounting part. Thus, a board to which the contact springs contact and which can carry a rotary encoder, as for example from the aforementioned EP 1 898 184 A2 is known to be provided with some distance behind the aperture fixing part and behind the aperture.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims but also from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features each alone or more in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous and protectable Represent embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections as well as intermediate headings does not restrict the general validity of the statements made thereunder.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

einen Schnitt durch eine erfindungsgemäße Blende mit erfindungsgemäßer Haltevorrichtung samt Beleuchtung und

Fig.2

eine Draufsicht auf die Anordnung aus Fig. 1.

An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a section through an inventive aperture with inventive holding device including lighting and

Fig.2

a plan view of the arrangement Fig. 1 ,

Detailed description of the embodiment

In Fig. 1 an aperture 11 according to the invention is shown in section, wherein the aperture 11 has an aperture plate 12 with an aperture 13 therein. This panel 11 may, for example, be a known oven screen or another electrical appliance such as a hob, a washing machine or a tumble dryer. It can also be present as an independently handleable and prefabricated structural unit.

In the aperture 11, a holding device 15 according to the invention is used. The holding device 15 has a rear panel attachment part 17 with a circumferential collar 18, which at an in Fig. 1 upwardly facing front of the aperture plate 12 rests while the aperture 13 overlaps. The majority of the diaphragm attachment part 17 projects into or through the diaphragm opening 13. In the middle or centrally, the diaphragm attachment part 17 has a passage opening 19. This will be explained later. In the radially outer region of the diaphragm attachment part 17, contact channels 21 are provided as through openings, which are extended to a rear side of the diaphragm attachment part 17 so to speak by contact channel projections 22. The number of these contact channels 21 depends on the number of required electrical contacts. This will also be explained in more detail below.

From the front, a light ring part 25 is placed on the panel mounting part 17, which is also round, but rather flat and relatively thin. The light ring part 25 has radially on the outside an oblique outer edge 26 which covers the outer region of the diaphragm mounting part 17 and it also projects radially and also rests on the front of the diaphragm plate 12. Thus, the luminous ring part 25 completely covers the panel fixing part 17. For attachment of the light ring part 25 may be glued to the panel attachment member 17.

In the middle region, the light ring part 25 integrally has a trained lead-through projection 28. This forms, so to speak, in its interior, the continuation of the passage opening 19 of the aperture fixing part. The light ring part 25 may be at least partially made of light-conducting or transparent plastic. This will be explained in more detail below.

Between diaphragm mounting part 17 and light ring part 25 is by the distance between the two parts from each other a relatively shallow space given, the circular ring shape has around the passage opening 19 around. It may have a single or advantageously a plurality of LED chambers 30, be divided into these or at least partially form them. It can also be seen that a circumferential projection 31 is provided on the diaphragm mounting part 17, which separates the gap between radially inward and the LED chambers 30 radially on the outside.

In the intermediate space between the diaphragm mounting part 17 and the light ring part 25, a circuit board 32 is provided, in a substantially circular ring shape. If a single circuit board 32 is provided as shown here, then it may represent a closed circular ring, under certain circumstances for assembly reasons, a cut circular ring or it may be missing a circular ring sector, for example, to allow lateral sliding over the passage opening 19. Alternatively, the board 32 may be divided several times.

On the board 32, a plurality of LEDs 33 are arranged and electrically connected, on the side facing the aperture fixing member 17 side. The two outer LEDs 33 are arranged in outer LED chambers 30, the chamber walls 37 are shown. These serve to delimit the LED 33 from each other and prevent over-illumination. Furthermore, they serve for increased contact of the printed circuit board 32 or for more stable support on the front of the diaphragm 12. The LED 33 are designed as side-emitting LED and light to the side and radially outward into an oblique outer edge 26 of the light ring part 25 inside.

Furthermore, a microcontroller 34, which can be used to control the LED 33, is provided on the circuit board 32 in the left region. There are provided above the contact channels 21 lying contact pads 35, which will be discussed in more detail below.

Finally, in the right area of the board 32, a hole 36 is provided therein. Under the hole 36, a further LED 33 is arranged, with its light direction up into the hole 36 into it. Thus, this LED 33 is arranged differently or fundamentally different than the other further outwardly provided LED 33, which should rather radiate radially outward. It can be seen that above the hole 36 in the board 32 of the lead-through projection 28 is located. Thus, therefore, this LED 33 can shine under the hole 36 in the lead-through projection 28 in or illuminate this. This will be discussed in more detail below.

In the contact channels 21 elongated metallic contact springs 39 are used as coil springs. With their upper area, they are in contact with the previously described contact fields 35 on the circuit board 32. With their lower end they lie on a circuit board 40 on or on contacts 41 in the form of fields with tracks. Thus, via corresponding connections on the printed circuit board 40, the electrical contacting to the circuit board 32 or LED 33 and microcontroller 34 take place. For this purpose, a corresponding number of contact springs 39 may be provided, that is, more than the two contact springs shown here, for example, three. The contact springs 39 have a recognizable thickening of the diameter in the upper region, so that they can not fall down in the contact channel 21. So they are captively secured. You may be out in the lower part of the circuit board 40 out as a simple wire in a straight shape for contacting them, so here must not be wound helical spring.

The printed circuit board 40 has the rotary encoder 43 with a housing part 44a above the printed circuit board 40 and a housing part 44b below it. This rotary encoder 43 is advantageously connected to the diaphragm mounting part 17, for example, at the contact channel projections 22. These can, as shown, in the upper housing part 44a rich or just on it. A rotary shaft 45 of the rotary encoder 43 extends through the passage opening 19 and the lead-through projection 28 and thus is well above the aperture plate 12 via. Such a rotary encoder 43 is from the aforementioned EP 1 898 184 A2 known.

On the rotary shaft 45, a rotary knob 48 is placed and both firm and against rotation. The rotary knob 48 has for this purpose a rotary shaft receptacle 49, which extends as a projecting portion into the lead-through projection 28 for a secure fit on the rotary shaft 45. Furthermore, by this rotary shaft receptacle 49 and the outer region of the rotary knob 48, a pivot bearing on the lead-through projection 28th be provided so that tilting forces or forces perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft 45 can be collected from it and not damage the rotary shaft 45 and the encoder 43 itself. In this case, the rotary knob 48 extends almost to the light ring part 25 zoom.

It can also be seen how in the rotary knob 48, a light guide ring 51 is provided, precisely in continuation of the lead-through projection 28. Although the other rotary knob 48 should be made of an opaque material, this light guide ring 51, for example, in the multi-component Spray method has been injected from the corresponding lichtleitendem plastic in the rotary knob 48, also illuminated. It can be clearly seen that light from the lead-through projection 28, as described above, can be coupled directly into the light guide ring 51 and then radiates forward. This is also good in the plan view Fig. 2 can be seen with the light guide ring 51 in the central region of the rotary knob 48. Similarly, in Fig. 2 the light ring part 25 and the oblique outer edge 26 can be seen, which is formed annularly encircling. Here, as shown in various areas, an illumination may be provided by the outer LED 33 according to FIG Fig. 1 ,

An anti-rotation can be done for example in conjunction with the hole 36 in the board 32 by a corresponding photoconductive projection on the underside of the light ring member 25 in extension of the lead-through projections 28 at this point. Alternatively, the hole in the center of the board 32 may be non-circular, for example quadrangular, and may be adapted to a corresponding formation of the passage of the rotary shaft 45 through the light ring part 25. It is shown that the circuit board 32 is drawn to the light-ring part 25 on the left-hand inner area for anti-rotation purposes, but not on the right-hand inner area. Through this non-circular shape, the rotation is generated.

A rotary encoder 43 may advantageously be a so-called code switch, as he, for example, from the DE 10 2004 004 016 A1 It is known that then has no own lighting here, but only on its circuit board 40, the power supply for the LED 33 as lighting ready. Power on / off, blinking and swelling, however, are still controlled by the code switch. LED 33 for illuminating the outer ring may be provided on the oblique outer edge 26 and / or for the light guide ring 51.

In a further general embodiment, it is provided that the LED 33 is not controlled by an electronics of the rotary encoder 43 or the code switch, but via its own microcontroller 34 on the board 32. This microcontroller 34 communicates with the electronics of the encoder 43 and receives from this corresponding information, in particular about rotation angle or operating conditions. The microcontroller 34 converts these just into different lighting conditions of the LED 33, each of which can be individually controlled. For example, chases and color changes are possible. The board 32 of the lighting receives quasi from the code switch circuit board 40, the data such as rotation angle or operating states in serial digital form and the electrical energy, otherwise it works with the microcontroller 34 control technology virtually self-sufficient. To transfer the data with a bus connection another contact spring is necessary as a third contact spring.

It is also generally possible to use for communication with the microcontroller 34, the serial bus, which is also connected to the encoder. About him this gives corresponding commands to functional units of the aforementioned electrical appliance, such as a heater, or other control of the electrical appliance.

Alternatively, the data transmission can be made optically. For this purpose, a light transmitter is generally provided on the drive, advantageously on the circuit board 40. A corresponding light receiver with Lichtleitkanal through the diaphragm mounting member 17 is disposed on the circuit board 32 as an optical transmission path. The optical method also lends itself to, since the transmission path can hardly be disturbed with appropriate design by extraneous light and the effort is low. On the code switch circuit board 40 then only a simple LED is required as a light transmitter, on the board 32, a corresponding phototransistor as a light receiver. The code switch transmits its angular position and the illumination mode such as off, on, blinking, threshold etc. This means that no special software is required for the respective application. The microcontroller 34 of the lighting calculates based on the received angular position, which or how many LED 33 he must turn on according to the desired lighting mode.

If multi-colored LED 33 is used, the possibility arises to display a colored dot on the illuminated or unlit circular path along the outer edge 26 in accordance with the angular position of the rotary knob, for example instead of currently common display tips on the rotary knob. But it can also be the angular position displayed by the color change. For example, the LEDs from power level 0 to 4 light up red and from 5 to 9 they light up white.

Such a display of the power level, for example, according to the rotational position of the rotary knob 48, can also be generated by a kind of annular bar graph, so a strip of luminous LED 33, the light ring part 25 and outer edge 26. Assuming full performance at a power reading of one full turn, half of the power can be used to illuminate half a turn section with a more intense luminosity or more conspicuous color, advantageously from a visible clockwise point. The other half-round section shines less or with a more unobtrusive color and closes the gap to the first circulation section. This is due to the different thickness hatching on the outer edge 26 in Fig. 2 , shown. This ratio shifts at a higher power such that the more noticeable first circulation section becomes longer and the other shorter. At a lower power it becomes shorter and the other longer. The different hatching on the fiber optic ring should represent its illumination. It is divided into only two sectors, but it can be as many as LED 33 or LED chambers 30 and then with other divisions and colors shine.

With different lighting modes, different operating states or operating information as well as fault information can be displayed in a controller, for example, the electrical appliance or in the rotary encoder 43. This is possible by different flashes regarding brightness and duration or frequency and especially by flashing or lights with differently arranged and different numbers of sectors. In complicated error messages complex flashing or light patterns can be generated in a hand or the like. are then noted in detail. However, it is also possible to advantageously display prompts to an operator or also input confirmations.

Claims (15)

1. A holding device (15) for an operating device to be held on a front cover (11) of an electric appliance, wherein the holding device:

   - is designed for attachment to the front cover (11) and for that purpose has a front cover attachment part (17, 18) and a lighting ring part (25) which is fitted onto the front of the front cover attachment part,

   - has a feedthrough (19) for a rotating shaft (45) of a rotary encoder (43) of the operating device, and

   - is embodied in an annular fashion around the feedthrough (19),

   wherein the lighting ring part (25) essentially covers the front cover attachment part (17, 18) toward the front, and wherein the front cover attachment part and the lighting ring part have a circular-ring-like intermediate space between them, in which intermediate space at least one component carrier (32) is arranged,
   characterized in that
   the component carrier (32) has at least one LED (33) on the side toward the front cover attachment part (17, 18).
2. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lighting ring part (25) is at least partially translucent or light-guiding, in particular in various circular ring sectors which are divided up in the manner of circular rings.
3. The holding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lighting ring part (25) is arranged in closed form at the front cover attachment part (17, 18) and/or covers the latter toward the front.
4. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting ring part (25) is bonded onto the front cover attachment part (17, 18), in particular bonded in a watertight fashion.
5. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of LEDs (33) are arranged in LED chambers (30) between the lighting ring part (25) and the front cover attachment part (17, 18), wherein the individual LED chambers (30) are separated from one another and form, in particular, separate light ducts or light-guiding means from the LEDs (33) to the lighting ring part (25), which light ducts or light guiding means are arranged distributed in an annular manner around the outer circumference of the lighting ring part (25), preferably at least 4 to 16 LEDs (33) in as many LED chambers (30).
6. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one component carrier (32) runs in a single plane, in particular perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the feedthrough (19).
7. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a single, circular-ring-like component carrier (32) is provided, which is equipped, in particular, on the one side.
8. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an anti-rotation means is provided for the component carrier (32) on the lighting ring part (25) and/or on the front cover attachment part (17, 18), in particular in the form of a non-round and/or polygonal central recess or opening on the component carrier (32) having a correspondingly formed projection on the lighting ring part (25) and/or front cover attachment part (17) which projection engages in the central recess or opening.
9. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feedthrough (19) is embodied as a tubular section which protrudes from the lighting ring part (25) in the direction away from the front cover attachment part (17, 18) and is preferably light-guiding or translucent, wherein in particular the lighting ring part (25), from an outer edge of the lighting ring part up to the tube-like projection on the feedthrough (19), is translucent or light-guiding, preferably in radially running regions which are separated from one another in a non-translucent fashion.
10. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting direction of the LEDs (33) is radially outward and/or away from the component carrier (32) and from the lighting ring part (25) toward the front cover attachment part (17, 18), wherein the LEDs (33) are preferably embodied as laterally emitting LEDs.
11. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting ring part (25) extends radially to outside the LEDs (33), in particular with a lighting edge (26) which runs obliquely with respect to the radial plane.
12. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one contact duct (21) is provided, in particular in a linear extent, in the front cover attachment part (17, 18), said contact duct extending through from a side of the front cover attachment part (17, 18) facing away from the lighting ring part (25) up to the component carrier and being designed to accommodate a resilient contact device (39), in particular a metallic contact spring (39), embodied in the manner of a helical spring, for the purpose of bringing about electrical contact between the component carrier (25) and an actuation device or the like arranged behind the front cover attachment part (17, 18), in particular an actuation by means of the rotary encoder (43).
13. The holding device according to claim 12, characterized in that the contact spring (39) is arranged in a secure or captive fashion in the front cover attachment part (17, 18), preferably by means of a diameter of the contact spring which is enlarged at least in certain areas compared to the diameter of the contact duct (21) or a diameter of the contact duct which is reduced compared to the diameter of the contact spring.
14. The holding device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a microcontroller (34) is arranged on the component carrier (25) for the purpose of actuating the LEDs (33), which microcontroller has a means of transmitting data to the actuation device according to claim 12, wherein preferably for optical data transmission, a light transmitter is provided on the actuation device, in particular in the rotary encoder (43), and a light receiver which is connected to the microcontroller (34) is provided on the component carrier (25).
15. A front cover (11) for an electrical appliance having a front cover opening (13), characterized in that a holding device (11) according to any of the preceding claims is arranged and attached in the front cover opening, wherein a rotary encoder (43) is attached to the holding device behind the front cover, with a rotating shaft (45) which extends through the passage and on which a rotary knob (48) is fitted in front of the front cover.

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