SURFACE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a touch command control card system operating behind a metal surface.

STATE OF THE ART

In cases when the touch electronic command control cards are mounted in a way they contact with metal surfaces, their touch function does not work since the metal surface interrupts the magnetic field. Also, when any area on the metal surface is touched, this is sensed by the electronic card as if the command key is pressed. Thus, it is not possible to operate the electronic command control cards while in contact with the metal surfaces with conventional methods. Different methods are used in the industry to address this issue, and the methods used have different advantages and disadvantages. For example, the issue can be solved by mounting a Piezo sensor behind the front panels of domestic appliances, but the sensor is expensive. Another solution method is using an inductive sensor behind the metal panel. Even though it has cost-effectivity in sensors compared to the use of the Piezo sensor, this method brings about disadvantages such as a complex design and high current consumption. Another method used as a solution is using capacitive sensors. In this method, the sensor design consists of pads in the form of buttons and it necessitates a difficult mechanical design to achieve low pressures for pressing the buttons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a touch command control card system operating behind a metal surface to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and bring new advantages to the related technical field. To provide a solution for using touch command control cards on metal surfaces in the domestic appliances industry. The designed touch control command card aims to provide a full-performance operation of touch commands on steel surfaces without needing expensive sensor solutions and/or complex designs. It is aimed to drop the production costs of domestic appliances manufacturers. The invention can be used in command control for various products such as ovens, hoods, microwave ovens with metal surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The drawings prepared to understand the present invention more thoroughly are described below.

Figure 1 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Front Cross-Sectional Exploded View

Figure 2 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Rear Cross-Sectional Exploded View

Figure 3 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Exploded Side View

Figure 4 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Front Cross-Sectional View

Figure 5 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Side View

Figure 6 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Top View

Figure 7 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Frontal View

Figure 8 Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface, Rear Cross-Sectional View

Figure 9 Touch Command Control Card System View

Figure 10 Touch Command Control Card System Closed-up View

REFERENCE NUMBERS The components related to the invention and their reference numbers are given below to explain said invention better.

1. Electronic Card Case

2. Touch command control card

3. Electronic card cover

4. Metal Surface

5. Optical Sensor

6. Led Lighting

7. Touch Command Control Card System Operating Behind A Metal Surface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the novelty of the invention is only explained by way of examples that will not have any limiting effect on understanding the subject matter better. In the invention, an infrared light is directed to the electronic card cover (3) and the reflected light is measured via optical sensors (5) placed in the electronic card case (1), located on the touch command control card (2) and arranged based on the position of the icons on the metal surface (4). Once the user touches the command icons left open on the metal surface (4), the touch command control card (2) detects which command is given by the change in the amount of reflected infrared light. Thus, it is known which key command on the metal surface (4) is pressed.

A background lighting is provided for the command icons on the metal surface (4) by reflecting the led lighting (6) on the touch command control card (2) on the electronic card cover (3).

The icon embossings on the electronic card cover (3) sit in the command icon cavities on the metal surface (4) completely, and they create a smooth surface that will not disturb the user on the metal surface (4), thereby providing steam and moisture isolation.

The functions of the command control card (2) are not affected by the fact that the command keys are located on the metal surface (4) or the user touches other metal surfaces on the domestic appliances since the magnetic field principle is not used in the invention. A touch command control card system operating behind a metal surface (7), characterized in that; it comprises the following:

• An electronic card case (1) which allows to fix and retain the electronic card,

• At least one touch command control card (2), which allows executing the commands of users, detects which command is given and which key command is pressed on the metal surface (4) by using the change in the amount of reflected infrared light once the user touches the command icons left open on the metal surface (4),

• At least one electronic card cover (3) comprising the icon embossings which sit in the command icon cavities on the metal surface (4) completely, have a smooth surface that does not disturb the user on the metal surface (4), and provide steam and moisture isolation,

• At least one metal surface (4), where the command keys are located and which is the front face of domestic appliances,

• At least two optical sensors (5) which sense that the user’s finger is touched the metal surface, are placed in the electronic card case (1), located on the touch command control card (2), and arranged based on the position of the icons on the metal surface (4), and allows that an infrared light is directed to the electronic card cover (3).

The invention can operate behind the metal surface with the optical sensor (5) without the background lighting function.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention has at least two led lighting (6) elements that provide a background lighting for the command keys, reflect the light on at least one electronic card cover (3) and the electronic card cover (3), allow the command icons to be illuminated, and are located on the touch command control card (2).