Abstract: An operating apparatus for an electrical device has a closed transparent control panel, lighting means underneath the control panel in order to shine through, a plurality of holding magnets underneath the control panel and a movable operating element being held magnetically on the front side of the control panel that can be moved with respect to the lighting means and the holding magnets. A plurality of counter-magnets are provided in the operating element for interacting with the holding magnets in order to guide the operating element as an operating movement and hold it on the control panel, wherein sensor means underneath the control panel detect a rotational position of the operating element. The operating element is transparent in a direction from the lighting means to the operating element, wherein, for this purpose, it has a plurality of transparent regions that are separated from one another without transmission between one another.

Abstract: A device for the dehumidification of air in a processing space of a dishwasher is connected in an air-conducting manner to the processing space of the electric appliance. The device includes carbon-based fibres, which are designed as a fibre unit. The fibre unit is arranged between the processing space or an air duct connected thereto and at least one dehumidification chamber of the device. The carbon-based fibres absorb moisture from the air of the processing space, which they then release again in the dehumidification chamber. During this process, the carbon-based fibres are moved backwards and forwards between the processing space or air duct and the dehumidification chamber, preferably by slow rotation on a support.

Abstract: A heating device has a support and a heating element arranged on it, the heating element having two electrical terminals and a multiplicity of heating conductors that are electrically connected to one another. Starting from the one terminal, the heating element is divided into a number of heating conductors parallel to one another and in series one behind the other toward the second terminal. In this case, at least three heating conductors are connected in parallel next to one another and at least three heating conductors are connected in series one behind the other. Series-connected heating conductor groups can be formed, heating conductors being parallel within a heating conductor group.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for an electrical device has a closed transparent control panel, lighting means underneath the control panel in order to shine through, a plurality of holding magnets underneath the control panel and a movable operating element being held magnetically on the front side of the control panel that can be moved with respect to the lighting means and the holding magnets. A plurality of counter-magnets are provided in the operating element for interacting with the holding magnets in order to guide the operating element as an operating movement and hold it on the control panel, wherein sensor means underneath the control panel detect a rotational position of the operating element. The operating element is transparent in a direction from the lighting means to the operating element, wherein, for this purpose, it has a plurality of transparent regions that are separated from one another without transmission between one another.

Abstract: A device for the dehumidification of air in a processing space of a dishwasher is connected in an air-conducting manner to the processing space of the electric appliance. The device includes carbon-based fibres, which are designed as a fibre unit. The fibre unit is arranged between the processing space or an air duct connected thereto and at least one dehumidification chamber of the device. The carbon-based fibres absorb moisture from the air of the processing space, which they then release again in the dehumidification chamber. During this process, the carbon-based fibres are moved backwards and forwards between the processing space or air duct and the dehumidification chamber, preferably by slow rotation on a support.

Abstract: A pump device for a water-conducting domestic appliance, such as a washing machine or a dishwasher, has a pump chamber with at least two inlets, and has multiple actuators on or in the pump chamber for a liquid-pumping operation in at least one direction. At least one sensor is provided on or in the pump chamber for determining constituents and properties of the liquid in the pump chamber. A storage chamber is connected to an inlet of the pump chamber and contains additives or analytes for the liquid.

Abstract: A heating device has a support and a heating element arranged on it, the heating element having two electrical terminals and a multiplicity of heating conductors that are electrically connected to one another. Starting from the one terminal, the heating element is divided into a number of heating conductors parallel to one another and in series one behind the other toward the second terminal. In this case, at least three heating conductors are connected in parallel next to one another and at least three heating conductors are connected in series one behind the other. Series-connected heating conductor groups can be formed, heating conductors being parallel within a heating conductor group.

Abstract: A hob has a hob plate and a plurality of heating devices arranged beneath the hob plate, wherein the hob plate is designed such that it transmits light in the wavelength range visible to the human eye. The heating device has an electrical resistance heater arranged on a support with thermal insulation. IR-stimulable material including quantum dots is arranged as an indicator light or lighting means on the resistance heater or on the thermal insulation or on the hob plate. The IR-stimulable material is formed in such a way that it can be excited to output light for the indicator light by excitation light in the IR wavelength range.

Abstract: A circuit for switching-on and/or switching-off an electrical load comprises an electrically conductive operator control element, an electrically operated lighting element that is looped-in between the operator control element and a live pole of an AC voltage source in such a way that current flows through the lighting element, as a result of which the lighting element emits light, when the operator control element is operated, an opto-electrical transducer is optically coupled to the lighting element, is shielded from ambient light and converts light emitted by the lighting element into electrical energy, and a switch that is electrically coupled to the opto-electrical transducer and connects the electrical load to a supply voltage (UV) or disconnects the electrical load from the said supply voltage, with the switch connecting the electrical load to the supply voltage when it is supplied with electrical energy by the opto-electrical transducer.

Abstract: An offset operating unit for a home appliance includes a camera, an evaluation unit which evaluates picture data generated by the camera for recognition of an operating gesture from a predefined set of operating gestures, wherein the operating gestures serve for operator control of the home appliance, wherein the home appliance includes a control device for function control spaced apart from the operating unit, an interface for wireless data transmission between the operating unit and the control device, wherein information regarding the recognized operating gesture is transmitted to the control device via the interface in a wireless manner, and a housing in which the camera, the evaluation unit and the interface are integrated.

Abstract: An operating device for an electric hob comprises a plurality of touch pads as touch points, in which operation takes place by applying a finger to specific defined touch points. The touch pads may be in themselves structurally movable separately of the electric hob or the operating device. The touch pads comprise individual coding circuits which can be accomplished by way of modulation of an electromagnetic field. The operating device has an electrode surface for attachment next to the electric appliance, on which the touch pads are arranged. Capacitive coupling is formed between the touch pads and the electrode surface. The operating device comprises a drive and evaluation device connected to the electrode surface both for detecting touching of a touch pad in general and for detecting and differentiating between touching of a specific touch pad and touching of another touch pad as indicated by the individual coding circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for switching-on and/or switching-off an electrical load comprises an electrically conductive operator control element, an electrically operated lighting element that is looped-in between the operator control element and a live pole of an AC voltage source in such a way that current flows through the lighting element, as a result of which the lighting element emits light, when the operator control element is operated, an opto-electrical transducer is optically coupled to the lighting element, is shielded from ambient light and converts light emitted by the lighting element into electrical energy, and a switch that is electrically coupled to the opto-electrical transducer and connects the electrical load to a supply voltage (UV) or disconnects the electrical load from the said supply voltage, with the switch connecting the electrical load to the supply voltage when it is supplied with electrical energy by the opto-electrical transducer.

Abstract: A method for regulating a cooking process of a cooking product in an oven of a steamer, during which the moisture in the oven coming from the cooking product is at least periodically determined over time by a moisture sensor. During a measuring phase there is no introduction of steam into the steam oven and the moisture sensor is evaluated. For a given cooking process with fixed times for the supply of steam, on the basis of the moisture sensor evaluation during the measuring phase, the end of cooking is determined. Prior to the measuring phase and during a steam phase, steam is introduced into the oven, the steam supply being terminated following the steam phase and prior to the measuring phase during a ventilating phase. During the ventilating phase the steam concentration in the oven is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A sensor for a sensor device on a cooking hob is provided with contacts on a support, an electronic circuit for signal processing and a resistance track for temperature measurement. The sensor is arranged in a tubular metallic housing above a radiant heater of the cooking hob. The metallic housing is operated as an electromagnetic pan recognition sensor. The functions of temperature measurement and pan recognition can be combined in one sensor device as a module. A good transmission of sensor signals can be achieved as a result of the physical proximity of the sensor signal processor to the sensor by placing them on the same support.

Abstract: A control method for an oven comprises the steps of determination of the food product, reading out of a corresponding vector from a memory, whereby the vector is at least two-dimensional and previously empirically determined, with a time value and a scalar value, recording the concentration of a gas characteristic of the cooking product by means of a gas sensor, recording a first point, at which the time curve for the gas concentration has the absolute greatest gradient, storage of the same and the corresponding time, recording a second point, at which the time curve of the gas concentration has a zero gradient and storing the corresponding time, determination of the gradient of the straight line through the first and second points, calculation of the cooking duration by multiplication of the straight line gradient by the scalar value and addition of the time value of the vector.

Abstract: An operating device for an electric hob comprises a plurality of touch pads as touch points, in which operation takes place by applying a finger to specific defined touch points. The touch pads may be in themselves structurally movable separately of the electric hob or the operating device. The touch pads comprise individual coding circuits which can be accomplished by way of modulation of an electromagnetic field. The operating device has an electrode surface for attachment next to the electric appliance, on which the touch pads are arranged. Capacitive coupling is formed between the touch pads and the electrode surface. The operating device comprises a drive and evaluation device connected to the electrode surface both for detecting touching of a touch pad in general and for detecting and differentiating between touching of a specific touch pad and touching of another touch pad as indicated by the individual coding circuit.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling a radiant heater of a cooktop comprising a power controller, a changeover switch and a rod controller in a first operating mode which provides for the interruption of operation at temperatures of approximately 600° C. at a first switching point on the rod controller. In a second operating mode, a switch in the rod controller is set to a different switching point resulting in interruption of the power supply at temperatures of approximately 80° C., so that the radiant heater makes it possible to keep food hot without boiling.

Abstract: A method for regulating a cooking process of a cooking product in an oven of a steamer, during which the moisture in the oven coming from the cooking product is at least periodically determined over time by a moisture sensor. During a measuring phase there is no introduction of steam into the steam oven and the moisture sensor is evaluated. For a given cooking process with fixed times for the supply of steam, on the basis of the moisture sensor evaluation during the measuring phase, the end of cooking is determined. Prior to the measuring phase and during a steam phase, steam is introduced into the oven, the steam supply being terminated following the steam phase and prior to the measuring phase during a ventilating phase. During the ventilating phase the steam concentration in the oven is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A heater for a hob or cooktop having a glass ceramic surface is disclosed, whereby a number of individual modules with induction coils are provided with converters and a converter control for each induction coil. The modules may be independently assembler and/or replaced, and are arranged close together beneath the glass ceramic hob and electrically connected to a busbar. Each module may be controlled separately. A heated surface of using various combinations of modules can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A sensor for a sensor device on a cooking hob is provided with contacts on a support, an electronic circuit for signal processing and a resistance track for temperature measurement. The sensor is arranged in a tubular metallic housing above a radiant heater of the cooking hob. The metallic housing is operated as an electromagnetic pan recognition sensor. The functions of temperature measurement and pan recognition can be combined in one sensor device as a module. A good transmission of sensor signals can be achieved as a result of the physical proximity of the sensor signal processor to the sensor by placing them on the same support.