Patent ID: 7238929
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: F24C,H05B

Abstract:
1. An operating device for an electrical appliance, said operating device comprising: an operating surface having a plurality of distinct regions, each region uniquely corresponding to one of a plurality of different operating functions of said electrical appliance; at least one operating element below said operating surface, wherein said at least one operating element has at least one movement sensor, and wherein said at least one movement sensor has an optical recording device for detecting a movement or a contact point of a finger at or on said operating surface and determining a position or a position change of said movement or said contact point at or on said operating surface; a lens disposed between the operating surface and at least one optical recording device to enlarge a visual field of the optical recording device such that the operating surface and the optical recording device have an equal number of corresponding surface portions, each surface portion of the operating surface being magnified by the lens to a size larger than the corresponding surface portion of the optical recording device; and an evaluating unit for selectively actuating at least one of said plurality of distinct operating functions based upon said position or said position change of said contact point.