OPERATING DEVICE FOR OPERATING A MACHINE IN THE FIELD OF AUTOMATION ENGINEERING

摘要

An operating device and a method for operating a machine in automation engineering are disclosed. A touch-sensitive screen detects simultaneous contact with the screen at different positions on the screen, and an external key with a geometric key pattern is provided. A reference pattern is stored in the operating device which compares the geometric pattern determined from the different screen positions detected upon contact of the external key with the screen with the stored reference pattern and allows specific operating actions for operating the machine if the determined geometric pattern matches the stored reference pattern. Authorization to operate a machine can thus be easily ascertained.