Pump having a control panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12360643-B2
Application number	US-202218278117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2022
Priority date	Feb 22, 2021
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, includes a control panel for manually operating and/or configuring the pump. The control panel includes at least one touch-sensitive surface for user inputs, and at least one film for sealing the touch-sensitive surface from the environment applied on the touch-sensitive surface. The control panel may include features such as light sources, preferably arranged in a ring simulating a mechanical adjustment wheel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pump, comprising:
an electronics housing;
a control panel configured for one or both of manual actuation and configuration of the pump; and
a flat band cable, wherein
the control panel includes at least one touch-sensitive surface that is applied to a substrate, the substrate being a carrier material, and the at least one touch-sensitive surface being configured to receive user inputs and at least one film configured to be applied to the touch-sensitive surface and to seal off the touch-sensitive surface from the surroundings, and
the flat band cable is configured to connect the at least one touch-sensitive surface to a control circuit board inside the electronics housing.

2. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the touch-sensitive surface includes one or more light sources, and
the one or more light sources are arranged in an area around the touch-sensitive surface such that the one or more light sources generate a visual feedback signal in response to a user input.

3. The pump as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
the one or more light sources includes light-emitting diodes.

4. The pump as claimed in claim 3 , wherein
the touch-sensitive surface has a surface accessible to the user with components.

5. The pump as claimed in claim 4 , wherein
the components for implementing touch sensitivity include electrodes of a capacitive surface, and
the at least one light source is arranged on a rear side of the substrate.

6. The pump as claimed in claim 5 , wherein
the substrate includes one or both of a transparent area and a recess in the area of at least one of the one or more light sources.

7. The pump as claimed in claim 6 , wherein
one or both of the touch-sensitive surface and the arrangement of the one or more light sources is ring configured to simulate a positioning wheel.

8. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the touch-sensitive surface includes a PCB flex board and the one or more light sources, and
one or both of the touch-sensitive surface and one or more light sources is ring-shaped.

9. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the at least one film is transparent at least in some sections,
the touch-sensitive surface is formed by a substrate having a surface accessible to the user with components, and
the transparent sections correspond to the arrangement of the one or more light sources, and/or covers a transparent area of the substrate, or both.

10. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the at least one film is self-adhesive.

11. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the film seals off the touch-sensitive surface splash water at least according to a rating of IP44.

12. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronics housing having a surface depression configured to receive the at least one touch-sensitive surface.

13. The pump as claimed in claim 12 , wherein
the surface depression includes at least one slot.

14. The pump as claimed in claim 13 , wherein
the touch-sensitive surface includes a PCB flex board and the one or more light sources, and
the flat band cable contacts the at least one touch-sensitive surface on a side facing the surface depression, the flex board, or both.

15. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the one or both of manual actuation and configuration of the pump is available solely via the one or more touch-sensitive surfaces.

16. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one mechanical input is provided.

17. The pump as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the mechanical input is a membrane button formed in by a deformation or embossing of the at least one film.

18. The pump as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the pump is a centrifugal pump.

19. The pump as claimed in claim 18 , wherein
the centrifugal pump is an in-line centrifugal pump.

20. The pump as claimed in claim 19 , wherein
the in-line centrifugal pump is a heating circulation pump.

21. A pump, comprising:
a control panel configured for one or both of manual actuation and configuration of the pump;
an electronics housing having a surface depression configured to receive the at least one touch-sensitive surface, wherein
the control panel includes at least one touch-sensitive surface that is configured to receive user inputs and at least one film configured to be applied to the touch-sensitive surface and to seal off the touch-sensitive surface from the surroundings,
the surface depression includes at least one slot, and
a flat band cable configured to pass through the slot and connect the at least one touch-sensitive surface to a control circuit board inside the electronics housing.

Assignees

• Ksb Se & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Krill David
• Brueckmann Fred
• Di Santo Federico
• Liboni Mattia
• Prearo Carlo

Classifications

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• G06F3/0362

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title