Device for operating vehicle component, particularly vehicle heating and air conditioning system, has rotary knob, which rotates around rotational axis and is so gripped with fingers and thumb of one hand that fingers touch contact surface

摘要

The device has a rotary knob (12), which rotates around a rotational axis (14) and is so gripped with the fingers and the thumb of one hand that the fingers touch a contact surface (15) of the rotary knob, and the thumb touches another contact surface which lies opposite the former contact surface. Two proximity sensors (20,22) are provided that are oppositely arranged on the rotational axis for issuing different detection signals during approach of the finger or touching the rotary knob, on the one hand and the thumb of the other hand, to the rotary knob. An independent claim is also included for a method for determining the operation of a rotary knob control unit for a vehicle component.