OPERATING MECHANISM FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE HAVING AN OPERATING ELEMENT AND A DISPLAY AREA CONFIGURED IN THE OPERATING ELEMENT

Abstract

An operating mechanism for a household appliance includes a rotatable operating element having a display area, and a first display panel configured touch-sensitive and having display areas associated with at least two different functions of the household appliance to enable a user to select one of the functions by touching a corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel. The selected function is defined by a parameter. A display in the display area of the operating element is coupled to the selected function displayed in the corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel, so that the operating element, when actuated, is able to change the parameter of the selected function to thereby set a parameter value which is displayed in the display area of the operating element.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. An operating mechanism for a household appliance, comprising: a rotatable operating element having a display area; and a first display panel configured touch-sensitive and having display areas associated with at least two different functions of the household appliance to enable a user to select one of the functions by touching a corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel, with the selected function being defined by a parameter, wherein a display in the display area of the operating element is coupled to the selected function displayed in the corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel, so that the operating element, when actuated, is able to change the parameter of the selected function to thereby set a parameter value which is displayed in the display area of the operating element.

11. The operating mechanism of claim 10, wherein the operating element includes a rotating ring which surrounds the display area of the operating element.

12. The operating mechanism of claim 10, wherein the display panel is designed as a column such that the functions are displayed as column elements in the display areas.

13. The operating mechanism of claim 10, wherein the display panel is designed as an at least 2×2 matrix and the functions are displayed in matrix fields of the matrix.

14. The operating mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a second display panel arranged separately of the first display panel.

15. The operating mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first and second display panels and the operating element are positioned in a row, said operating element being arranged between the display panels.

16. The operating mechanism of claim 10, wherein the operating element is configured to move about a rotational path which is displayed visually lengthwise by a light band.

17. A household appliance, comprising an operating mechanism including a rotatable operating element having a display area, and a first display panel configured touch-sensitive and having display areas associated with at least two different functions of the household appliance to enable a user to select one of the functions by touching a corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel, with the selected function being defined by a parameter, wherein a display in the display area of the operating element is coupled to the selected function displayed in the corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel, so that the operating element, when actuated, is able to change the parameter of the selected function to thereby set a parameter value which is displayed in the display area of the operating element.

18. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the operating element includes a rotating ring which surrounds the display area of the operating element.

19. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the display panel is designed as a column such that the functions are displayed as column elements in the display areas.

20. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the display panel is designed as an at least 2×2 matrix and the functions are displayed in matrix fields of the matrix.

21. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the operating mechanism includes a second display panel arranged separately of the first display panel.

22. The household appliance of claim 21, wherein the first and second display panels and the operating element are positioned in a row, said operating element being arranged between the display panels.

23. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the operating element is configured to move about a rotational path which is displayed visually lengthwise by a light band.

24. A method for operating an operating mechanism for a household appliance, comprising: coupling a display area of an operating element of the household appliance to a touch-sensitive display panel which has display areas associated with at least two different functions of the household appliance; defining each of the functions by a parameter; allowing a user to select at least one of the functions by touching a corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel; adjusting the parameter of the selected respective function by actuating the rotatable operating element to set a parameter value; and displaying the parameter value in the display area of the operating element.

Description

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below in greater detail using schematic drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive household appliance;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a representation of a first exemplary embodiment of an operating mechanism in a first operating state;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows the representation of the operating mechanism according to FIG. 2 in a second operating state;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an operating mechanism in a first operating state; and

[0023] FIG. 5 shows the representation according to FIG. 4 in a second operating state.

[0024] In the figures identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a household appliance 1 which is designed for the preparation of food and in the exemplary embodiment in particular is an oven. The household appliance 1 for preparing food can however also be a different cooking device. It can also additionally be a household appliance for cleaning crockery or for storing and preserving food or for caring for laundry.

[0026] The household appliance 1 comprises a housing 2, in which a cooking compartment 3 is configured, which is delimited by walls of a muffle (not shown). A front loading opening of the cooking compartment 3 and thus also of the muffle can be closed by a door 4. In the exemplary embodiment the door 4 has a door handle 5. Additionally the household appliance 1 has an operating mechanism 6, which has a rotatable operating element 7 and a first display panel 8 as well as a second display panel 9 arranged separate and at a distance therefrom. As can be seen from the representation in FIG. 1, both the electronic display panels 8 and 9 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the operating element 7, such that the operating element 7 is positioned virtually between the display panels 8 and 9, without further components being arranged between a display panel 8, 9 and the operating element 7. It is provided that the display panels 8 and 9 are arranged immediately adjacent and thus very close to the operating element 7. Additionally the components mentioned are arranged in a horizontal row and thus are positioned virtually in a line. It can however also be provided that the components mentioned, namely the display panels 8 and 9 and the operating element 7, are arranged in a perpendicular row and thus in a column

[0027] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary representation of the operating mechanism 6. The operating element 7 can be an individual rotary handle lever. Preferably it is provided that the operating element 7 has a rotating ring 7a which circumferentially fully surrounds a fixed display area 7b of the operating element 7. It can be seen that in the case of the display panel 8, which is configured overall as touch-sensitive, three different functions A, B and C are displayed in a column in respective subregions as an exemplary embodiment. Additionally further functions D, E and F are likewise displayed in a column and in respective subregions in a further display panel 9. The display panel 9 too is configured as a touch-sensitive display panel. In respect of the operating concept it is provided that for example when users wish to select and then perform the function A they press or touch this in the subregion in which this function A is displayed in the display panel 8. It is then selected.

[0028] The display of information in the display area 7b of the operating element 7 is coupled to the selection of a function in a display panel 8 or 9. This is implemented such that a parameter of the selected function can be changed by touching the operating element 7, in particular by rotating the rotating ring 7a and a resultant adjusted parameter value 7c is displayed in the display area 7b of the operating element 7. In the present case a display of the parameter in the display area 7b is thus automatically linked to the selection of the function A and by rotating the rotating ring 7a a parameter value is then changed and this is then displayed or the finally adjusted parameter value is then presented. This is also shown in FIG. 3, in which the further operating state is then shown in which after the selection of the function A in FIG. 2 by touching the specific subregion by rotating the rotating ring 7a said parameter value is changed and displayed. The rotation of the rotating ring 7a is also symbolized by the arrow P in FIG. 3. Advantageously the operating element 7 comprises an annularly configured light band, which is arranged adjacent to the rotating ring 7a, and in the exemplary embodiment in particular is arranged on an inside edge facing the display area 7b.

[0029] Additionally the light band 10 is formed by light elements which when optically illuminated create a continuous line of light or a line of light segmented in this respect, which then for example is shown as a dashed line. Said light band is preferably likewise fixed in its light sources, such that the rotating ring 7a is moved relative thereto. Said light band indicates to users, and enables them to readily perceive, how far they have already rotated the rotating ring 7a in the direction of movement, and thus also readily enables them to recognize, in respect of maximally adjustable parameter values, how high the adjusted value is already set in comparison to the maximum value and/or the minimum value.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the operating mechanism 6. In contrast to the representation according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 the functions A to H shown here and in the respective display panels 8 and 9 are not arranged or grouped in columns but are arranged respectively in matrix fields. Thus in FIG. 4 it can be seen that the functions A to D are presented in a 2×2 matrix 11. Accordingly this is implemented in the display panel with the functions E to H, wherein a 2×2 matrix 12 is configured there too.

[0031] In the exemplary embodiment shown the display panels 8 and 9 and the operating element 7 are arranged in a horizontal row and thus in a line, and thus are positioned immediately and directly adjacent to one another. In this respect a column can also be configured as a then perpendicular row.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0032] 1 Household appliance [0033] 2 Housing [0034] 3 Cooking compartment [0035] 4 Door [0036] 5 Door handle [0037] 6 Operating mechanism [0038] 7 Operating element [0039] 7a Rotating ring [0040] 7b Display area [0041] 8 Display panel [0042] 9 Display panel [0043] 10 Light band