Operating device for a welding power supply

1. An operating device of a welding system, having a display means for the visual representation of set parameter values of the welding system, and having input means by means of which parameters of the welding system can be changed,

characterized in that

a plurality of input means of the operating device arranged outside the display means is provided, and these are designed as soft keys, wherein, in an assignment mode of the operating device, each of the soft keys can be successively assigned different parameters of the welding system or functions, via operation of the operating device, due to the fact that the display means designed as a touch-sensitive touchscreen can be actuated, and the respective soft key can be assigned a specific parameter or a specific function by selection from a predefined selection of parameters or functions displayed on the display means and, after selection, in a working mode of the operating device, the respective parameter can be changed or the function can be applied by actuating the respective soft key,

characterized by one or more edge areas of the touchscreen which, when actuated, leads to the activation of the assignment mode for one or more corresponding hardware buttons, wherein all the edge areas are adjacent to all their corresponding hardware buttons.

2. The operating device according to claim 1 , characterized by a plurality of areas of the touchscreen, wherein when one of these areas is activated, the assignment mode is activated for a specific hardware button, in particular only one, or only one rocker button, or only one double button, of the hardware buttons.

3. The operating device according to claim 1 , characterized by at least one double button or rocker button which, when its two buttons are assigned two functions which belong together but are different, upon activation of an area of the touchscreen assigned to them, a separate assignment mode is entered for each of the two buttons of the respective double button or the rocker button.

4. The operating device according to claim 3 , characterized in that, in the case of a double button or a rocker button, in which a separate assignment mode is activated for each of the two buttons of the double button or rocker button, when a function is assigned to one of the two buttons of the double button or rocker button, by means of this assignment both buttons of the double button or rocker button switch into an execution mode.

5. The operating device according to claim 1 , characterized by a configuration of the touchscreen by means of which an automatic change from the assignment mode to the working mode takes place when a parameter or a function is assigned to one of the hardware buttons.

6. The operating device according to claim 1 , characterized by a configuration by which the assignment mode can be activated and preferably also deactivated for at least several of the hardware buttons, separately from other hardware buttons.

7. The operating device according to claim 1 , characterized by at least one pair of hardware buttons by means of which when one hardware button of the pair of hardware buttons is activated, a parameter value changes in one direction, and when the other hardware button of the hardware button pair is actuated, the same parameter value changes in the other direction, wherein different parameters can be successively assigned to the same pair of hardware buttons.

8. A method for controlling a welding system by means of an operating device, which is or can be connected to the welding system for supplying control signals, the operating device being provided for this purpose with a display means for the visual representation of set parameter values of a welding system, and having input means which are actuated to change parameters of a welding system, characterized in that a plurality of input means of the operating device which are designed as soft keys are arranged outside the display means, wherein, in an assignment mode of the operating device, different parameters of the welding system are successively assigned to each of the soft keys by the display means, which is designed as a touch-sensitive touchscreen, being actuated and the respective soft key being assigned a specific parameter by selection from a predefined selection of parameters displayed on the display means and, after selection or at the same time as the selection, in a working mode of the operating device, the respective parameter is changed by actuating the respective soft key, wherein one or more edge areas of the touchscreen which, when actuated, leads to the activation of the assignment mode for one or more corresponding hardware buttons, wherein all the edge areas are adjacent to all their corresponding hardware buttons.