Patent ID: 8575501

Claim:
A user interface for an appliance, comprising: a printed circuit board having a microprocessor for executing an operating program to implement a cycle of operation; a face plate overlying the printed circuit board and having indicia corresponding to user inputs, and an opening; a rotary encoder having a knob located relative to the face plate such that a rotational position of the knob provides for selecting one of the indicia and is electrically coupled to the microprocessor to provide a first output indicative of the selected indicia, the knob having a shaft adapted to pass through the opening; a plug for closing the opening when the shaft is not present in the opening; and a touch panel having multiple switches located relative to the face plate such that each of the switches corresponds to one of the indicia and is electrically coupled to the microprocessor to provide a second output indicative of selected indicia; wherein the knob is removably mounted and configured in size and location relative to the multiple switches to block access to the multiple switches thereby providing a user with the ability to select either the rotary encoder or touch panel for user input of the indicia depending on the user's preference by removing or installing the knob.