Operating unit for an electrical apparatus, in particular for a vehicle component

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating unit () for an electrical apparatus, in particular a vehicle component such as, for example, a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, which is provided with a housing () having a front wall (), with an operating strip () that projects beyond the front wall (), which has an elongated operating surface () with a plurality of adjacently arranged operating fields (), and with a support element () for the operating strip (), which is arranged in the housing (). The operating strip () is connected to the support element () by means of connecting webs () which protrude in the respective areas between the operating panels () of the operating strip (). Flexible webs (), which protrude from the operating strip () for each operating field and are connected to the support element (), are arranged between the connecting webs (), namely in an elastic manner and more flexible than the connections of the operating strip () to the support element () via the connecting webs (). At least one operating field actuation sensor () for detecting a local bending of the operating strip (), when a manual actuating force is exerted on a operating field () of the operating strip (), is arranged on the support element () for each flexible web (). In addition, the operating unit () comprises an evaluation and operating unit () for receiving the signals of the operating panel actuating sensors () and for determining, on the basis of said signals, the operating field () on which, upon manual actuation of the operating strip (), the finger of one hand is applied, and for triggering an apparatus function that is associated with the respective operating field () corresponding to the determined operating field ().