OPERATING DEVICE WITH A CAPACITIVE SENSOR ELEMENT AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE WITH SUCH AN OPERATING DEVICE

摘要

An operating control device, such as for an appliance, is disclosed comprising sensor elements with a capacitive sensing function, the elements being located underneath a metallic surface that is used as the operating field. An insulating layer is situated between the elements and the metallic surface. When pressure is applied to the metallic surface the capacitance of the sensor element is altered by capacitive coupling. This alteration of capacitance can be determined by a corresponding evaluation circuit or the like for detecting activation of the device.