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Title:
USER INTERFACE FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/149528
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a user interface (10) for a domestic appliance, in particular for a cooking hob and/or cooking oven. The user interface (10) comprises a printed circuit board (12) for supporting at least one illuminating element. The user interface (10) comprises a lighting mask (14) arranged at least partially within a radiation area of the illuminating element on the printed circuit board (12). The lighting mask (14) includes at least one spring element (18). The spring element (18) of the lighting mask (14) penetrates and/or passes by the printed circuit board (12), so that the user interface (10) can be supported between a substructure and a cover element of the domestic appliance.

Inventors:
HOLZINGER JOCHEN (DE)
WUNDLING HOLGER (DE)
MEIDER CLAUS (DE)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2019/051077
Publication Date:
August 08, 2019
Filing Date:
January 16, 2019
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES AB (SE)
International Classes:
F24C7/08; H05B3/00; F27D11/04; H01H13/70; H05B3/60; H05B6/12
Domestic Patent References:
WO2009068518A12009-06-04
Foreign References:
EP2057738A12009-05-13
US5917165A1999-06-29
US6403904B12002-06-11
EP0687131A21995-12-13
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MOHR, Christian (SE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. A user interface (10) for a domestic appliance, in particu lar for a cooking hob and/or cooking oven, wherein:

the user interface (10) comprises a printed circuit board (12) for supporting at least one illuminating el ement,

the user interface (10) comprises a lighting mask (14) arranged at least partially within a radiation area of the illuminating element on the printed circuit board (12) ,

the lighting mask (14) includes at least one spring el ement (18), and

the spring element (18) of the lighting mask (14) pene trates and/or passes by the printed circuit board (12), so that

the user interface (10) can be supported between a sub structure and a cover element of the domestic appli ance .

2. The user interface according to claim 1,

characterised in that

the printed circuit board (12) includes at least one cut-out (20), wherein preferably the spring element (18) of the lighting mask (14) penetrates the corresponding cut-out (20) of the printed circuit board (12) .

3. The user interface according to claim 1 or 2,

characterised in that

the user interface (10) can be pressed against the cover el ement of the domestic appliance by the at least one spring element (18), wherein preferably said cover element is a transparent or semi-transparent panel, in particular a glass ceramic panel.

4. The user interface according to any one of the preceding claims ,

characterised in that

the user interface (10) comprises at least one user input device (16) arranged above or in front of the lighting mask (14), respectively, so that a touch surface can be formed on the panel of the domestic appliance, wherein said touch sur face is arranged on the opposite side of the user interface (10), and wherein preferably the user input device includes at least one touch sensitive sheet (16) and/or at least one touch sensitive key or sensor.

5. The user interface according to any one of the preceding

claims ,

characterised in that

the lighting mask (14) and the at least one spring element (18) are formed as a single-piece part.

6. The user interface according to any one of the claims 1 to

4,

characterised in that

the lighting mask (14) and the at least one spring element (18) are formed as separate parts.

7. The user interface according to any one of the preceding

claims ,

characterised in that

at least one of the spring elements (18) is formed as a leaf spring, preferably as a tongue-shaped leaf spring being in clined and extending downward or rearward, respectively.

8. The user interface according to any one of the preceding

claims , characterised in that

at least one of the spring elements (18) has a Z-shape, C- shape, O-shape, spherical shape and/or helical shape.

9. The user interface according to any one of the claims 2 to

8,

characterised in that

the cut-outs (20) of the printed circuit board (12) are formed as elongated slots, wherein preferably the cut-out (20) of the printed circuit board (12) extends parallel to the projection of the corresponding leaf spring in the plane of said printed circuit board (12) .

10. The user interface according to any one of the preceding claims ,

characterised in that

the at least one spring element (18) can be supported by a base plate and/or a chassis of the domestic appliance.

11. The user interface according to any one of the preceding claims ,

characterised in that

at least a part of the illuminating elements are light emit ting diodes.

12. The user interface according to any one of the preceding claims ,

characterised in that

the lighting mask (14) includes at least one light guide (22) for transmitting light from the illuminating elements of the printed circuit board (12) to at least one indicator (24) of said lighting mask (14) .

13. The user interface according to claim 12, characterised in that

the indicator (24) is arranged on an upper side or at a front side, respectively, of the lighting mask (14), wherein preferably the indicator (24) is or includes at least one seven-segment display (24), a dot matrix or any other dis play element.

14. The user interface according to any one of the claims 2 to 13,

characterised in that

the at least one indicator (24) is arranged beside the at least one touch sensitive sheet (16).

15. A domestic appliance, in particular a cooking hob and/or coking oven, having a transparent or semi-transparent cover element, preferably a glass ceramic panel, and a user inter face (10), wherein the user interface (10) is aligned at the panel ,

characterised in that

the domestic appliance comprises at least one user interface (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 13.

Description:
Description

User interface for a domestic appliance

The present invention relates to a user interface for a domestic appliance. In particular, the present invention relates to a user interface for a cooking hob and/or cooking oven. Further, the present invention relates to a domestic appliance with a transparent or semi-transparent cover element and a user inter face .

A user interface for a domestic appliance comprises usually a printed circuit board, on which electric and electronic elements and illuminating elements, e.g. light emitting diodes, are sol dered. Further, a lighting mask is arranged above said printed circuit board guiding light from the illuminating elements to a customised symbol. The user interface requires a carrier that presses said user interface against a panel of the domestic ap pliance. For example, the carrier presses the user interface against a glass ceramic panel of a cooking hob.

However, such kind of user interface is very complex.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a user in terface for a domestic appliance with a reduced complexity.

The object is achieved by the user interface for the domestic appliance according to claim 1.

According to the present invention a user interface for a domes tic appliance, in particular for a cooking hob and/or cooking oven, is provided, wherein:

the user interface comprises a printed circuit board for supporting at least one illuminating element, the user interface comprises a lighting mask arranged at least partially within a radiation area of the illuminating element on the printed circuit board,

the lighting mask includes at least one spring element, and the spring element of the lighting mask penetrates and/or passes by the printed circuit board, so that

the user interface can be supported between a substructure and a cover element of the domestic appliance.

The core of the present invention is that the at least one spring element is a part of the lighting mask and penetrates or passes by the printed circuit board. The user interface itself does not require any rear or bottom casing, respectively, for carrying the spring elements. In particular, a conventional car rier, which presses the user interface against the cover element of the cooking hob, is not required. By this way, a substantial component of the user interface is not necessary. This reduces the costs and the complexity for said user interface. Further, the printed circuit board may be provided for supporting elec tric and/or electronic elements.

Preferably, the printed circuit board includes at least one cut out, wherein the spring element of the lighting mask penetrates the corresponding cut-out of the printed circuit board.

In particular, the user interface can be pressed against the cover element of the domestic appliance by the at least one spring element, wherein preferably said cover element is a transparent or semi-transparent panel, in particular a glass ce ramic panel.

Preferably, the user interface comprises at least one user input device arranged above or in front of the lighting mask, respec tively, so that a touch surface can be formed on the panel of the domestic appliance, wherein said touch surface is arranged on the opposite side of the user interface, and wherein prefera bly the user input device includes at least one touch sensitive sheet and/or at least one touch sensitive key or sensor.

In particular, the lighting mask and the at least one spring el ements are formed as a single-piece part. This allows an easy manufacturing, since no further separate spring elements are re quired. The at least one spring element at the lighting mask is sufficient .

Alternatively, the lighting mask and the at least one spring el ement are formed as separate parts.

For example, the lighting mask and the spring elements are made of plastic. This contributes to an easy manufacturing by low costs, since no further spring element or spring loaded carrier is required.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the spring elements is formed as a leaf spring, preferably as a tongue-shaped leaf spring.

Alternatively, at least one of the spring elements has a Z- shape, C-shape, 0-shape, spherical shape and/or helical shape.

Preferably, the tongue-shaped leaf spring or otherwise shaped spring elements are inclined and extend downward or rearward, respectively .

Further, the cut-outs of the printed circuit board may be formed as elongated slots. Moreover, the cut-out of the printed circuit board may extend parallel to the projection of the corresponding leaf spring in the plane of said printed circuit board.

In particular, the at least one spring element can be supported by a base plate and/or a chassis of the domestic appliance.

Moreover, the at least one spring element can be supported by any other supporting element of the domestic appliance, which generates a force toward the cover element.

For example, at least a part of the illuminating elements are light emitting diodes.

Further, the lighting mask may include at least one light guide for transmitting light from the illuminating elements of the printed circuit board to at least one indicator of said lighting mask .

Said indicator may be arranged on an upper side or at a front side, respectively, of the lighting mask, wherein preferably the indicator is or includes at least one seven-segment display, a dot matrix or any other display element. In general, the indica tor may be or include arbitrary symbols.

Preferably, the at least one indicator is arranged beside the at least one touch sensitive sheet. In general, the user interface may comprise any other kind of touch sensitive keys or sensors.

Further, the present invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular a cooking hob and/or coking oven, having a trans parent or semi-transparent panel, preferably a glass ceramic panel, and a user interface, wherein the user interface is aligned at the panel, and wherein the domestic appliance com prises at least one user interface mentioned above. Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawing, in which

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic exploded perspective bottom view of a user interface for a domestic appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic exploded perspective top view of the user interface for the domestic appliance according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic perspective bottom view of the user interface for the domestic appliance according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG 4 illustrates a schematic perspective top view of the user interface for the domestic appliance according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic exploded perspective bottom view of a user interface 10 for a domestic appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the user interface 10 is provided for a cooking hob and/or cook ing oven. Preferably, the user interface 10 is provided for an induction cooking hob.

The user interface 10 is provided for a panel of the domestic appliance, wherein the user interface 10 is arranged beneath or behind the panel and opposite to a touch surface of said panel. In particular, the user interface 10 is provided for a glass ce ramic panel of a cooking hob, wherein the user interface 10 is arranged beneath the glass ceramic panel and opposite to the touch surface above said glass ceramic panel. In general, the user interface 10 is provided for a cover element suitable for a touch surface on said cover element. Terms like "up", "down", "upper" and "lower" relate to the user interface arranged be neath a horizontal panel.

The user interface 10 comprises a printed circuit board 12, a lighting mask 14 and a touch sensitive sheet 16. Instead of said touch sensitive sheet 16, the user interface 10 may comprise any other kind of touch sensitive keys or sensors. The printed cir cuit board 12 forms the bottom of the user interface 10. The printed circuit board 12 is provided for supporting electric and electronic elements. In particular, the circuit board 12 sup ports illuminating elements, e.g. light emitting diodes.

The lighting mask 14 is arranged above the printed circuit board 12. Light guides 22 for indicators 24 are formed on the lower side of the lighting mask 14, while indicators 24 are formed on the upper side of said lighting mask 14. Substantially, the light guides 22 are arranged opposite to the corresponding indi cators 24. In this example, the indicators 24 are seven-segment displays. In general, the indicators 24 may be arbitrary sym bols.

The lighting mask 14 includes spring elements 18. Said spring elements 18 extend downwards from the lighting mask 14. In other words, the spring elements 18 extend away from the touch surface of the panel. In this example, the lighting mask 14 includes four spring elements 18 arranged close to the four corners, re spectively, of said lighting mask 14. In general, the lighting mask 14 includes at least one spring element 18. Preferably, the lighting mask 14 and the spring elements 18 form a single-piece part. In this example, the spring elements 18 are tongue-shaped leaf springs. Alternatively, the spring elements 18 may have a Z-shape, C-shape, O-shape, spherical shape or helical shape, for example. Said leaf springs are inclined and extend downwards. Alternatively, the spring elements 18 may be formed as separate parts and permanently or removably fixed at the lighting mask 14.

The spring elements 18 are provided for pressing the user inter face 10 against the panel, so that the user interface 10 is ar ranged opposite to the touch surface of said panel. The spring elements 18 are supported by a base plate, a chassis, any device with suitable supporting geometry or the like of the domestic appliance or cooking hob, respectively.

Further, the printed circuit board 12 includes cut-outs 20, wherein each cut-out 20 corresponds with one spring element 18 of the lighting mask 14. Each spring element 18 of the lighting mask 14 penetrates one cut-out 20 of the printed circuit board 12. In this example, the cut-outs 20 are formed as elongated slots. Further, the projection of the spring element 18 in the plane of the printed circuit board 12 extends parallel to said elongated cut-out 20 of the printed circuit board 12. Alterna tively, the spring elements 18 may be arranged outside the printed circuit board 12, so that no cut-outs 20 are required.

Preferably, the lighting mask 14 is made of plastics. In partic ular, the lighting mask 14 with the spring elements 18 is made of plastics and formed as the single-piece part. For example, the lighting mask 14 with the spring elements 18 is made of PC, PPT, PE, PTEE and the like. Further, the spring elements 18 may be made of metal, wherein said spring elements 18 are inserted inside the mould of the lighting mask 14 by 2K-technologies or clamped into the lighting mask 14. Alternatively, the lighting mask 14 may be made of a metal sheet and light guides 22 made of plastic. In general, the lighting mask 14 may be made of any ma terial suitable for directing and/or reflecting the light from the illuminating elements to the panel.

The touch sensitive sheet 16 is arranged upon the lighting mask 14. The touch sensitive sheet 16 is directly aligned at the panel, when the user interface 10 is pressed against said panel by the spring elements 18. For example, the touch sensitive sheet 16 includes capacitive and/or proximity sensors. In gen eral, arbitrary types of touch sensitive elements, e.g. metal spring touches, infra-red sensors, foam touch keys or silicon touch keys, are suitable.

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic exploded perspective top view of the user interface 10 for the domestic appliance according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The user interface 10 comprises the printed circuit board 12, the lighting mask 14 and the touch sensitive sheet 16. The printed circuit board 12 forms the bottom of the user interface 10 and is provided for supporting electric and electronic ele ments. Moreover, the circuit board 12 supports the illuminating elements, preferably the light emitting diodes.

The lighting mask 14 is arranged above the printed circuit board 12. The indicators 24 are formed on the upper side of the light ing mask 14, while the light guides 22 for said indicators 24 are formed on the lower side of the lighting mask 14. Substan tially, the light guides 22 are arranged opposite to the corre sponding indicators 24. In this example, the indicators 24 are seven-segment displays. In general, the indicators 24 may be ar bitrary symbols. The spring elements 18 extend downwards from the lighting mask 14. Preferably, the lighting mask 14 with the spring elements 18 is formed as single-piece part. Alternatively, the lighting mask 14 and the spring elements 18 are formed as separate parts. The printed circuit board 12 includes the cut-outs 20 formed as elongated slots, wherein each cut-out 20 corresponds with one spring element 18 of the lighting mask 14. Each spring element 18 of the lighting mask 14 penetrates one cut-out 20 of the printed circuit board 12.

The spring elements 18 are provided for pressing the user inter face 10 against the panel, so that the user interface 10 is ar ranged opposite to the touch surface of said panel. The spring elements 18 are supported by the base plate of the domestic ap pliance or cooking hob, respectively.

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic perspective bottom view of the user interface 10 for the domestic appliance according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG 3 shows the user interface 10 in the assembled state. In FIG 3 the user in terface 10 is inverted.

FIG 3 clarifies how the spring elements 18 penetrate the corre sponding cut-outs 20 of the printed circuit board 12. The user interface 10 in the assembled state is ashlar-formed. Alterna tively, other shapes for the user interface 10 are also possi ble. The spring elements 18 project downwards.

FIG 4 illustrates a schematic perspective top view of the user interface 10 for the domestic appliance according to the pre ferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG 4 shows the user interface 10 in the assembled state, wherein said user interface 10 is in the same orientation as arranged beneath the glass ce ramic panel of the cooking hob.

The user interface 10 according to the present invention has a compact form. Further, the user interface 10 substantially con sists of three components, i.e. the printed circuit board 12, the lighting mask 14 and the touch sensitive sheet 16.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying draw ings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the in- vention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the ap ¬ pended claims.

List of reference numerals

10 user interface

12 printed circuit board

14 lighting mask

16 touch sensitive sheet

18 spring element

20 cut-out

22 light guide

24 indicator, seven-segment display