Abstract: An operating device and an electrical appliance provided with said operating device is disclosed. The electrical appliance comprises light barriers mounted on a frame that rests on a worktop. The light barriers can detect whether a finger is placed on one or more of the control panels for operation or controlling of said operating device or said electrical appliance. The control panels are arranged along one line in front of the light barriers. The control panels are provided at the top thereof with corresponding identifications, for example in the form of symbols. By moving the control panels away from the actual housing of the electrical appliance it is possible to provide larger heated surfaces for the cooking places.

Abstract: A heater for a glass ceramic hob is disclosed, whereby a number of individual modules with induction coils are provided with converters and a converter control for each induction coil. Said modules may be independently handled and are arranged close together beneath the glass ceramic hob and electrically connected. Each module may be controlled separately. A heated surface of any embodiment can thus be achieved.

Abstract: An operating device for an electric cook-top is disclosed having a rotary control operating unit, which is retained in position in a magnetic rotary manner on an outer surface of the cook-top. In one embodiment, the rotary control is provided with a contact switch for signal transmission of a switching process to a control unit mounted below the outer surface. In one embodiment, the contact switch is a contact switch with a capacitive coupling through the outer surface.

Abstract: In an operating device for a cooktop with a liquid crystal display with two LCD plates, on the top of the lower of the two LCD plates is directly applied a microcontroller in the form of semiconductor chip, for example using COG technology. The semiconductor chip not only controls the LCD, but there are also provided capacitive sensor elements located on said LCD that are evaluated by the semiconductor chip, so that an independent module is formed. The module can be connected by suitable electrical connections to the cooktop and can at least partly or completely control the same.

Abstract: In an operating device for a cooking system with a hob and an operating surface, at least one operating element with a contact detection function is positioned under the operating surface. The at least one operating element is implemented as a motion or movement sensor with a camera, which detects a movement or a contact point on the operating surface and determines a position and/or a position change of the contact point on the operating surface. In an operating method for activating an operating function an evaluation unit evaluates the position or the position change of the contact point.

Abstract: A network system includes a network bus structured to power plural network loads. A generator is structured to provide forward power flow to the network bus. A generator protector relay cooperates with the generator. Plural network protectors correspond to plural power source feeders, which are structured to provide forward power flow through corresponding network protectors to the network bus. Each network protector includes a network protector relay having an interface communicating power flow information to a communication network. A controller cooperates with the generator protector relay and includes an interface receiving the power flow information from the communication network and a processor determining whether there is forward power flow through the network protectors to the network bus. The processor enables the generator protector relay responsive to the forward power flow and reduces output from the generator responsive to the forward power flow being less than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An operating device for a cooktop has a cover with a control panel with a plurality of operating areas. Below the panel, several FSR sensors are positioned. When a control panel is pushed down by a process of operation, the FSR sensor changes its electrical resistance resulting in change of a signals that can be detected and interpreted as operation of the appliance by a user.

Abstract: An operating device for an electrical appliance, for example a cooking appliance, is provided with a deformable metallic control panel, underneath which an electret microphone cartridge is disposed. The membrane of the microphone cartridge can be coupled to the lower side of the control panel by means of an elastomer. When pressure is exerted on the control panel by a user pressing on the operating field and causing it to deflect, the membrane of the electret microphone is moved, which in turn causes movement in the microphone and causes a signal that can be evaluated as the operating input by a user.

Abstract: A method and the associated device for detecting cooking or boiling processes in a glass ceramic hob are described, to which power is supplied by a power supply by means of a heating element and said power is transmitted to the cooking vessel standing thereon. During a cooking process a temperature profile of the hob is measured and evaluated. The temperature profile is evaluated after ending the power supply and for evaluation purposes a temperature profile gradient is determined. During evaluation, a normal cooking or boiling process is detected if the gradient exceeds a predetermined threshold. During evaluation, a disturbed or faulty cooking or boiling process is detected if the gradient is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold. Such a disturbed or faulty cooking or boiling process can arise through the cooking vessel boiling dry or empty.

Abstract: In an operating device for a cooking system with a hob and an operating surface, at least one operating element with a contact detection function is positioned under the operating surface. The at least one operating element is implemented as a motion or movement sensor with a camera, which detects a movement or a contact point on the operating surface and determines a position and/or a position change of the contact point on the operating surface. In an operating method for activating an operating function an evaluation unit evaluates the position or the position change of the contact point.

Abstract: A method and the associated device for detecting cooking or boiling processes in a glass ceramic hob are described, to which power is supplied by a power supply by means of a heating element and said power is transmitted to the cooking vessel standing thereon. During a cooking process a temperature profile of the hob is measured and evaluated. The temperature profile is evaluated after ending the power supply and for evaluation purposes a temperature profile gradient is determined. During evaluation, a normal cooking or boiling process is detected if the gradient exceeds a predetermined threshold. During evaluation, a disturbed or faulty cooking or boiling process is detected if the gradient is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold. Such a disturbed or faulty cooking or boiling process can arise through the cooking vessel boiling dry or empty.

Abstract: A description is given of a device and a method for determining the temperature of a cooking vessel placed on a hotplate of a heating appliance, e.g. on the glass ceramic plate of an inductive cooker, in the vicinity of a heating zone. In the vicinity of the heating zone is applied to the top of the hotplate at least one flat measuring element, e.g. formed by a colour coating and whose top surface comes into flat contact with the cooking vessel bottom on setting down the cooking vessel. As a result the temperature of the measuring element, by heat conduction, reliably matches the cooking vessel temperature, so that by determining the measuring element temperature it is possible to determine the cooking vessel temperature. The measuring element can serve as a reference measuring surface for infrared temperature measurement through the hotplate, the precision of the temperature measurement not being dependent on the emission capacity of the set down cooking vessel.

Abstract: For an electrical system a sensor and associated circuits are provided for on-line monitoring of the state of the high-voltage insulation in the electrical system. In this arrangement, both the power frequency signal and of the radio frequency signals associated with partial discharge activity may be monitored and transmitted from the sensor to remote monitoring instrumentation. The sensor is disposed in a stand-off insulator which also may act to support the high voltage conductor system.

Abstract: The invention provides an embodiment of a touch contact switch with a LC display or LCD (11, 26) having two parallel, superimposed glass plates (12, 13), between which are located conductive layers (15, 16; 27, 28) provided with terminals (29) for displaying individual segments (24, 25) of the LCD. According to the invention, below the surface (14) of the LCD is provided at least one sensor element (19; 21, 22) of the touch contact switch, which is operable by contacting the surface of the LCD above the sensor element. For this purpose on the one hand known sensor elements (19; 21, 22) of touch contact switches can be placed under the LCD and on the other portions of the conductive layers (27, 28) can be activated in interval operation both for displaying LCD symbols (24) and as sensor surfaces of capacitive touch contact switches.

Abstract: A normally ungrounded power system for a oil well is provided which includes a power transformer above ground and a pump motor below ground. There is provided a signal system which includes a below ground sensor system and an above ground signal conditioning and monitoring unit where the sensor system utilizes the main power lines for carrying the sensor signals. A connectable high resistance grounding scheme is provided to the aforementioned floating system, so that in the event of a arcing ground fault or similar occurrence the system may be immediately grounded, thus compensating for the effects of the arcing ground fault and providing personnel safety and electrical equipment protection. When the high resistance grounding system is not utilized the aforementioned signals from the sensors are easily carried by the power conductors.

Abstract: A grounding arrangement for a normally ungrounded multi-phase powerline system, which also carries dc information signals. A resistance and a spark gap device are provided in a path between system neutral and a ground. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined fault condition the spark gap device will conduct, and if the voltage developed across the resistance is of a predetermined value, a current bypass path is established around the spark gap device after a predetermined time delay.