Sensor element device for a capacitive touch switch of an operating device, operating device, and hob

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9766757-B2
Application number	US-201314401779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2013
Priority date	May 21, 2012
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A sensor element device for a capacitive touch switch of an operating device faces with an upper side toward the underside of a control panel of the operating device and has an illuminated display with a lighting means. Provided around the lighting means is a housing with fastening means for fastening the sensor element device to a component carrier. Provided on the outside of the housing or of the structural unit, in the region toward the upper side there is electrically conductive plastic that extends along an outer periphery of the housing. From the electrically conductive plastic there extends in the direction of the underside, toward the component carrier, a contacting means for the electrical connection thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hob with a hob plate and an operating device comprising at least one sensor element device for a capacitive touch switch of the operating device with a control panel, said operating device comprising:
a component carrier for being arranged thereupon, the control panel being provided, wherein said sensor element device lies on an underside of said hob plate forming said control panel; and
a number of sensor element devices;
wherein each of said sensor element devices comprises:
an upper side, toward an underside of said control panel, and having an illuminated display with a lighting means, with a lighting direction toward said underside of said control panel, wherein a housing is provided around said lighting means and said housing together with fastening means for fastening said sensor element device to said component carrier forming a structural unit;
on said upper side, a sensor element for said capacitive touch switch belonging to said structural unit;
an electrically conductive plastic that extends at least partially along an outer periphery of said housing or of said structural unit, wherein said outer periphery corresponds to an exterior of said housing or of said structural unit, wherein said electrically conductive plastic forms said sensor element;
said electrically conductive plastic protrudes slightly beyond said upper side of said housing or of said structural unit; and
a contacting means extending from said electrically conductive plastic on said upper side of said sensor element device in a direction to said underside, toward said component carrier, for an electrical connection to said component carrier.

2. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive plastic is elastic.

3. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said electrical contacting means for said electrical connection to said component carrier in said lower region of said structural unit also comprises an electrically conductive plastic.

4. The hob as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said electrically conductive plastic is elastic.

5. The hob as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said electrical contacting means for said electrically conductive plastic on said upper side likewise comprise an electrically conductive plastic, which is applied as a continuous layer to said outside.

6. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in case of a polygonal cross section of said housing or of said structural unit, said electrically conductive plastic on said upper side runs along at least one side.

7. The hob as claimed in claim 6 , wherein, in case of a polygonal cross section of said housing or of said structural unit, said electrically conductive plastic on said upper side runs along at least three sides.

8. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, on a lateral outer side of said structural unit, said electrically conductive plastic is largely encapsulated with a plastic such as that which is also used for said housing together with said fastening means.

9. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive plastic is injection-molded onto said housing or said structural unit in a multi-component injection-molding operation.

10. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said upper side of said housing or of said structural unit is likewise formed electrically conductively at least in a region extending peripherally in a manner of a frame within an outer edge of said housing.

11. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said upper side of said housing or of said structural unit is covered with an opaque electrically conductive layer, which is in electrical contact with said externally surrounding electrically conductive plastic, a symbol for a symbol display of the illuminated display being produced by removal of said layer in certain regions.

12. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said housing has on its upper side or toward its upper side a light-conducting body, said light-conducting body extending over said lighting means.

13. The hob as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said housing surrounds said light-conducting body in a manner of a ring, at least in a lower region.

14. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said housing has on its upper side or toward its upper side a light-diffusing body, said light-diffusing body extending over said lighting means.

15. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fastening means comprises at least one downwardly protruding fastening element for inserting into an opening in said component carrier.

16. The hob as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fastening means comprises at least two fastening elements, said at least two fastening elements comprising different cross sections in a direction of insertion and are designed for self-securing insertion.

Assignees

• Ego Elektro Geraetebau Gmbh
• E G O Elektro-Geraetebau Gmbh

Inventors

• Keller Hartmut

Classifications

• G06F2203/04112

  Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material · CPC title

• H03K17/962

  Capacitive touch switches · CPC title

• H03K2217/96079

  using a single or more light guides · CPC title

• H03K2217/96076

  with spring electrode · CPC title

• H03K2017/9602

  characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes · CPC title