Display unit and household appliance having same

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to a display unit and a household appliance with the same. A display unit including a display panel (54); a printed circuit board (53) comprising at least one first light emitting element (531) for irradiating the display panel; the light guide part (57) comprises a light incident surface (571) facing the first light emitting element and a light emergent surface (572) facing the rear side of the display panel, and the light emergent surface is closer to the edge of the display panel than the light incident surface in the direction parallel to the printed circuit board.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a display unit and a household appliance having the display unit. [Background Art]

[0002] Household appliances usually have a display unit to enable a user to obtain information about the household appliance and / or to receive input instructions from the user for the household appliance. The display unit usually has a backlight to illuminate the display panel. The range of the area where the display panel can be illuminated is limited by the arrangement range of the backlight device. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] One object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved display unit for a household appliance and a household appliance having such a display unit.

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a display unit for a household appliance on the one hand. The display unit includes: a display panel; a printed circuit board including at least one first light-emitting element for irradiating the display panel; and a light guide member including a light-incident surface facing the first light-emitting element and a light-emitting surface facing the rear surface of the display panel. In a direction parallel to the printed circuit board, the light-emitting surface is closer to the edge of the display panel than the light-incident surface.

[0005] In a possible embodiment, the display panel includes an illuminated area that can be illuminated by the light-emitting portion, and the illuminated area includes a contour line of the display panel at the edge.

[0006] In a possible embodiment, the display panel includes an end face connecting the front surface and the rear surface of the display panel. In a direction perpendicular to the display panel, the projection of the end face is located on the light-emitting surface.

[0007] In a possible embodiment, the light guide member includes a peripheral surface connected to the light-emitting surface, and the peripheral surface is flush with the end face.

[0008] In a possible embodiment, the display unit includes a peripheral wall located between the printed circuit board and the display panel in a direction perpendicular to the display panel. The peripheral wall has a window, and the light guide member is located within the window.

[0009] In a possible embodiment, in a direction perpendicular to the display panel, the light-emitting surface and the window overlap; and / or

[0010] In a direction perpendicular to the display panel, the illuminated area of the display panel illuminated by the light-emitting surface and the window overlap; and / or

[0011] The window is closed by the light guide member; and / or

[0012] The portion of the light guide member exposed outside the display unit is flush with the peripheral wall.

[0013] In a possible embodiment, it includes a chamber located behind the display panel for accommodating at least a part of the printed circuit board, the first light-emitting element is located in the chamber, and the light guide member extends from the chamber to the outside of the chamber to irradiate the rear side of the display panel.

[0014] In a possible embodiment, the display unit includes a bracket located behind the display panel, wherein:

[0015] The bracket includes at least a part of the peripheral wall defining the display unit, and the peripheral wall has a window for accommodating the light guide member; and / or

[0016] The bracket includes a receiving groove for receiving the light guide member, and the receiving groove is open on the front side and a circumferential side facing the display panel; and / or

[0017] The light guide member is clamped to the bracket; and / or

[0018] The bracket has an elastic arm, and the light guide member has a hook portion cooperating with the elastic arm.

[0019] In a possible embodiment, the printed circuit board includes at least one second light-emitting element, the bracket has a light-transmitting groove penetrating the bracket, and the light of the second light-emitting element is projected onto the display panel through the light-transmitting groove; and / or

[0020] The printed circuit board is supported on the back side of the bracket, the display panel is located on the front side of the bracket, and the first light-emitting element emits light suitable for passing through the bracket to irradiate the display panel; and / or

[0021] The receiving groove extends obliquely; and / or

[0022] The receiving groove extends across the entire width of the bracket; and / or

[0023] The light guide member extends across the entire width of the bracket.

[0024] In a possible embodiment, the light guide member is exposed outside the display unit; and / or

[0025] At least a part of the light guide member extends obliquely between the light incident surface and the light exit surface so that the light transmission path in the light guide member has a distance along a direction parallel to the display panel.

[0026] In a possible embodiment, the light guide member includes a part exposed outside the display unit and located between the light exit surface and the light incident surface; and / or; both ends of the light guide member are exposed on both sides of the display unit.

[0027] In a possible embodiment, the light guide member includes a plurality of spaced-apart light incident portions, and each light incident portion has a light incident surface corresponding to one or a group of first light-emitting elements; and / or

[0028] The light guide member includes a light-emitting portion, and the light-emitting surface continuously extends at the front end of the light-emitting portion.

[0029] Another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a household appliance. The household appliance includes the display unit as described in any one of the above.

[0030] In a possible embodiment, a distribution cavity is included, the display unit is distributed along one side of the distribution cavity, and the light guide member is exposed to the distribution cavity.

[0031] The structure of the embodiments of the present invention and its other invention objects and beneficial effects will become more clearly understandable through the description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. [Description of the Drawings]

[0032] As part of the specification and used to provide a further understanding of the present invention, the following drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention and, together with the specification, are used to explain the principles of the present invention. Among them,

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention along Figure 1 A-A in

[0035] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a partial enlarged view of part B in

[0036] Figure 4 is a schematic exploded view of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a bracket and a light guide member separated according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 6 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display unit according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a door of a refrigerating appliance having a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Detailed Description of the Embodiments]

[0042] Please refer to Figures 1 to 7 , the display unit 5 includes a display panel 54 and a printed circuit board 53 located on the back side of the display panel 5. In the description of the present application, the side of the display panel 5 facing away from the printed circuit board 53 is the front side. Generally, when the display panel 5 is installed in a household appliance, the front side of the display panel 5 can be touched and / or seen by the user. The side of the display panel 5 facing the printed circuit board 53 is the rear side or the back side.

[0043] In one embodiment, the display panel 54 may include a transparent substrate and an opaque layer attached to the transparent substrate. The light source of the printed circuit board 53 irradiates the corresponding area of the display panel 54 to display information to the user.

[0044] The printed circuit board 53 has at least one first light-emitting element 531 for irradiating the display panel 5 from the back side of the display panel 5.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the printed circuit board 53 has a plurality of first light-emitting elements 531, and the plurality of first light-emitting elements 531 are spaced apart in rows.

[0046] The display unit 5 may include a touch film 55 disposed along the rear surface 548 of the display panel 54.

[0047] The touch film 55 may be sandwiched between the display panel 54 and the bracket 56. The display panel 5 may be fixed to the front side of the bracket 56 by an adhesive device.

[0048] When the user touches the corresponding area of the display panel 5 (such as Figure 1 the operation portion 512 schematically shown), the corresponding sensing portion 551 of the touch film 55 may transmit a sensing signal to the printed circuit board 53.

[0049] In one embodiment, the printed circuit board 53 is located on the rear side of the bracket 56 facing away from the display panel 54. The touch film 55 is connected to the printed circuit board 53 through a connecting portion 552 spanning the bracket 56.

[0050] The printed circuit board 53 includes a plurality of second light-emitting elements 532. The second light-emitting elements 532 are used to irradiate the display portion 511 and the operation portion 512 of the display unit 5. The bracket 56 has a plurality of spaced light-transmitting grooves 561, and the light of the second light-emitting elements 532 can irradiate the corresponding area of the display panel 54 through the corresponding light-transmitting grooves 561.

[0051] The display portion and the operation portion may be arranged at different positions or at the same position.

[0052] The display unit 5 may include a rear cover 58, and the printed circuit board 53 is located between the brackets 56 of the rear cover 58.

[0053] The display unit 5 includes a light guide member 57 for guiding the light of the first light-emitting element 531 to a specific area of the display panel 5.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the light guide member 57 is configured to guide the light emitted from the first light-emitting element 531 to the edge area of the display panel 5. In this way, the corresponding illuminated area of the display panel 5 can be closer to the contour line 541 visible from the front side by the user than the first light-emitting element 531 or even cover the contour line 541.

[0055] The contour line 541 may be formed by the intersection of the front surface 545 and the end surface 547 of the display panel 54, where the end surface 547 connects the front surface 545 and the end surface 547 of the rear surface 548. In an exemplary embodiment, the contour line 541 may be the edge where the front surface 545 and the end surface 547 intersect.

[0056] By illuminating the outermost edge area of the display panel 54 with light, the user can obtain an illuminated area 54 with no gap between the front side of the display panel 54 and the outer contour of the display panel 541. This enhances the integration of the display unit 54 and the surrounding area.

[0057] In a variant embodiment, a small gap (e.g., not greater than 1 mm) is maintained between the illuminated area 54 and the contour line 541, and the gap between the illuminated area 54 and the contour line 541 is not visible to the naked eye. What the user sees is that the illuminated area 54 extends a predetermined distance inward from the outermost edge of the display panel 54.

[0058] In an exemplary embodiment, the light guide member 57 includes a light incident surface 571 facing the first light-emitting element 531 and a light exit surface 572 facing the rear surface 548 of the display panel 5. In a direction parallel to the display panel 54, the light exit surface 572 is closer to the edge of the display panel 5 than the light incident surface 571, especially closer to the contour line 541 of the display panel 54.

[0059] The light guide member 57 may be configured such that the light entering from the light incident surface 571 is only emitted from the light exit surface 572.

[0060] The light exit surface 572 may be adapted to the shape of the display panel 54. For example, the light exit surface 572 is a flat surface.

[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, the contour line 541 extends along the transverse direction X of the display panel 54. Therefore, there is a gap in the height direction Y of the display panel 54 between the light exit surface 572 and the light incident surface 571 and the first light-emitting element 531. It should be understood that if the contour line extends along the height direction of the display panel, there may be a gap in the transverse direction X of the display panel 54 between the light exit surface 572 and the light incident surface 571 and the first light-emitting element 531.

[0062] Figure 1 Schematically shows the illuminated area 546 where the display panel 5 is illuminated by the light emitted from the light guide member 57. In this embodiment, the illuminated area 546 covers the contour line 541 extending along the lower edge of the display panel 54.

[0063] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the display panel 54 includes an end face 547 connecting the front surface 545 and the rear surface 548 of the display panel 54. In the direction Z perpendicular to the display panel 54, the projection of the end face 547 is located within the light exit surface 572.

[0064] The light guide member 57 includes a peripheral surface 573 connected to the light exit surface 572, and the peripheral surface 573 is flush with the end face 547. The peripheral surface 573 is close to the light exit surface 572 and can be connected perpendicularly to the light exit surface 572.

[0065] The light guide member 57 can be exposed outside the display unit 5. The portion of the light guide member 57 located outside the display unit 5 can form a part of the outer surface of the display unit 5.

[0066] The portion of the light guide member 57 exposed outside the display unit 5 is located between the light exit surface 572 and the light entrance surface 571. The light guide member 57 can be arranged such that light does not emit from the portion exposed outside the display unit 5. As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the peripheral surface 573 is exposed outside the display unit 5 and can be touched from the outside of the display unit 5. On the outer peripheral surface of the display unit 5, the end face 547 and the light guide member 57 can be flush.

[0067] The light guide member 573 includes an inclined light guide portion 574 located between the light entrance surface 571 and the light exit surface 572, so that the transmission path of light in the light guide member has a distance along the direction parallel to the display panel 54, so that the light emitted by the first light emitting element 531 can irradiate the edge area of the display panel 54.

[0068] The display unit 5 has a peripheral wall 565 located between the printed circuit board 53 and the display panel 54 in the direction perpendicular to the display panel 54. The peripheral wall 565 has a window 566, and the light guide member 57 is located within the window 566. Thus, the light guide member 57 is exposed outside the display unit 5.

[0069] The window 566 can be closed by the light guide member 57, as Figure 3As shown. Along the direction perpendicular to the display panel 54, the light emitting surface 572 overlaps with the window 566, so the illuminated area 546 illuminated by the light emitting surface 572 overlaps with the window 566. The peripheral surface 573 located in the window 566 and exposed outside the display unit 5 can be a plane, so after the window 566 is closed, the peripheral surface 573 and the housing wall 565 can be located in approximately the same plane and be substantially flush.

[0070] The display unit 5 may include a cavity 59 behind the display panel 54 for accommodating at least a portion of the printed circuit board 53. The first light emitting element 531 is located in the cavity 59. The light guide 57 extends from the cavity 59 to the outside of the cavity 59. The peripheral wall 565 defines a portion of the boundary of the cavity 59.

[0071] Along the direction perpendicular to the display panel 54, the illuminated area 546 of the display panel 54 illuminated by the light guide 57 and the light exit surface 572 overlap with the peripheral wall 565 defining the cavity 59. In this way, the technical problem in the prior art that the illuminated area of ​​the display panel 54 cannot exceed the outer surface of the peripheral wall 565 can be solved.

[0072] The printed circuit board 53 may be supported by the bracket 56 . The peripheral wall 565 is located on the bracket 56 , so the bracket 56 forms a part of the outer peripheral surface of the display unit 54 .

[0073] The bracket 56 includes a receiving groove 567 for receiving the light guide 57. The receiving groove 567 communicates the chamber 59 and the front side and the peripheral side of the bracket 56. Thus, the receiving groove 567 is open at the front side and the peripheral side facing the display panel 56. In an embodiment, the receiving groove 567 is open downward.

[0074] The front end of the light guide 57 extends out of the receiving groove 567 and is located in a space 568 formed between the display panel 54 and the bracket 56. The light emitting surface 572 is located in the space 568 and faces the rear surface 548 of the display panel 54. The peripheral surface 573 is exposed outside the display unit 5 at the space 568.

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment, the light guide 57 extends along the entire width of the display unit 5, and thus the receiving groove 567 also extends along the entire width of the display unit 5. Both ends of the light guide 57 may be exposed to both lateral sides of the display unit 5.

[0076] The light guide 57 is adapted to be inserted into the receiving groove 567 from the front side of the bracket 56. Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, the light guide member 57 is held on the bracket 56. The light guide member 57 includes a plurality of upwardly protruding hook portions 575. After the light guide member 57 is inserted into the receiving groove 567 from the front side of the bracket 56, the hook portions 575 are hooked to the free ends of the elastic arms 569 of the bracket 57, thereby preventing the light guide member 57 from withdrawing from the receiving groove 567.

[0077] The rear end of the elastic arm 569 is the free end. During the process of inserting the light guide member 57 into the receiving groove 567, the elastic arm 569 is deformed upward under the action of the top end of the hook portion 575 to allow the hook portion 575 to enter. The light guide member 57 moves to the light incident surface 571 adjacent to the first light emitting element 531. At the installation position, due to the cooperation of the hook portion 575 and the elastic wall 569, the movement of the light guide member 57 in the front-rear direction is restricted.

[0078] A guiding structure between the bracket 56 and the light guide member 57 for positioning and guiding the light guide member 57 to be inserted into the receiving groove 567. The guiding structure may include a plurality of guiding blocks 576 protruding upward from the light guide member 57, and the bracket 56 has guiding grooves 5691 adapted to receive the guiding blocks 576.

[0079] The bracket 56 includes an inclined wall 5692 that defines a part of the boundary of the receiving groove 567. In an exemplary embodiment, the inclined wall 5692 defines at least a part of the lower groove surface of the receiving groove 567. The inclined wall 5692 slopes upward in the front-to-back direction. The light guide member 57 has a slope surface corresponding to the inclined wall 5692.

[0080] During the process of assembling the light guide member 57 to the bracket 56, the guiding blocks 576 are aligned with the corresponding guiding grooves 5691 to limit the position in the left-right direction, and under the guidance of the inclined wall 5692, the rear end of the light guide member 57 moves upward and finally aligns the light incident surface 571 at the rear end of the light guide member 57 with the corresponding first light emitting element 531.

[0081] In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of first light emitting elements 531 are arranged in a row at the edge of the printed circuit board 53. The light guide member 57 has a plurality of spaced-apart light incident portions 578 at the rear, and each light incident portion 578 is aligned with a corresponding one or a group of first light emitting elements 531, so that the light of the corresponding first light emitting element 531 enters the light guide member 57 from the light incident surface 571 of the corresponding light incident portion 578.

[0082] In an exemplary embodiment, the light guide member 57 includes a light emitting portion 579 connected to the front side of the plurality of light incident portions 578, and the light emitting surface 572 is located at the front end of the light emitting portion 579. The light emitting portions 579 are arranged continuously, so that the light emitting surface 572 is continuous.

[0083] In this way, while a continuous illumination area 546 can be obtained on the display panel 54, by independently controlling the first light emitting elements 531, it is possible to control the illumination area 546 in a partitioned manner.

[0084] In an exemplary embodiment, the illumination area 546 may be a strip extending along the edge of the display panel 54. The first light-emitting element 531 may be used for ambient lighting and / or indicating functions.

[0085] In an exemplary embodiment, there is no gap between the illumination area 546 and the contour line 541, that is, the display panel 54 is illuminated starting from the contour line 541 visible from the front end, and the illumination area 546 extends a preset distance toward the other side of the display unit 5.

[0086] It should be understood that in an alternative embodiment, while the light guide 57 transmits the light of the first light-emitting element 531 in the direction of the contour line 541 for a preset distance to reduce the distance between the illumination area and the contour line 541, there may be a gap between the illumination area 546 and the contour line 541. The relationship between the illumination area and the contour line 541 can be arranged according to design requirements.

[0087] Figure 8 A schematic cross-sectional view of a display unit according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. As Figure 8 shown, the printed circuit board 53a is located between the display panel 54a and the bracket 56a. The light guide 57a guides the light of the first light-emitting element 531a located on the printed circuit board 53a to the edge area of the display panel 54a. The light incident surface 571a and the light exit surface 572a of the light guide 57a have a distance in the height direction of the display unit 5a, so that the illumination area 546a of the display panel 5a illuminated by the first light-emitting element 531a is closer to the edge of the display panel 5a than the first light-emitting element 531a.

[0088] In this embodiment, the illumination area 546a of the display panel 5a illuminated by the light guide and the light exit surface 572a extend beyond the outer surface of the peripheral wall 565 defining the display unit 5a in a direction parallel to the display panel 5a. This is particularly advantageous when the end face of the display panel 5a needs to extend beyond the peripheral wall 565.

[0089] Figure 9 A door 2 of a refrigeration appliance having a display unit 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The door 2 is used to close a storage compartment (not shown) of the refrigeration appliance (not shown). The door 2 includes a dispensing cavity 41 recessed backward from the front side of the door 2 and a display unit 5 arranged along one side of the dispensing cavity 41. The edge of the display unit 5 close to the dispensing cavity 41 can be illuminated, and the illumination area 546 of the display unit 5 covers the contour line 541 of the display panel 54 close to the dispensing cavity 41.

[0090] Thus, when viewed from the front side of the refrigeration appliance, there is a seamless connection between the illumination area 546 and the dispensing chamber 41. This can significantly enhance the sense of integration between the display unit 5 and the dispensing chamber 41. The above technical advantages of the display unit according to the embodiments of the present invention can be achieved without significantly complicating the overall layout of the display unit 5.

[0091] The circumferential surface 574 of the light guide member 5 is exposed to the dispensing chamber 41 because it is exposed to the lower side of the display unit 5.

[0092] It can be understood that the display units 5, 5a can also be arranged at other positions of the refrigeration appliance. The display units 5, 5a are applied to other household appliances, such as different household appliances like clothes washing and / or drying machines, dishwashers, range hoods, ovens, etc.

[0093] Combined Figures 1 to 9 The various embodiments of the individual components described can be combined with each other in any given manner to achieve the advantages of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and other means than the illustrated means can generally be used as long as these means can achieve the same effect.

Claims

1. A display unit for a household appliance, characterized in that, Comprising: Display panels (54, 54a); Printed circuit boards (53, 53a) including at least one first light-emitting element (531, 531a) for irradiating the display panels; And Light guide members (57, 57a) including a light-incident surface (571, 571a) facing the first light-emitting element and a light-emitting surface (572, 573a) facing the rear side of the display panel, and in a direction parallel to the printed circuit board, the light-emitting surface is closer to the edge of the display panel than the light-incident surface.

2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein The display panel includes an illuminated area that can be illuminated by the light-emitting surface, and the illuminated area includes the contour line of the display panel at the edge.

3. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein The display panel includes an end face connecting the front surface and the rear surface of the display panel, and in a direction perpendicular to the display panel, the projection of the end face is located on the light-emitting surface.

4. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein The light guide member includes a peripheral surface connected to the light-emitting surface, and the peripheral surface is flush with the end face.

5. The display unit according to claim 1, characterized in that The display unit includes a peripheral wall located between the printed circuit board and the display panel in a direction perpendicular to the display panel, the peripheral wall has a window, and the light guide member is located within the window.

6. The display unit according to claim 5, wherein In a direction perpendicular to the display panel, the light-emitting surface and the window overlap; and / or In a direction perpendicular to the display panel, the illuminated area of the display panel illuminated by the light-emitting surface and the window overlap; and / or The window is closed by the light guide member; and / or The portion of the light guide member exposed outside the display unit is flush with the peripheral wall.

7. The display unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, Comprising a chamber located behind the display panel for accommodating at least a part of the printed circuit board, the first light-emitting element is located within the chamber, and the light guide member extends from within the chamber to outside the chamber to irradiate the rear side of the display panel.

8. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein Comprising a bracket located behind the display panel, wherein: The bracket includes at least a part of the peripheral wall defining the display unit, and the peripheral wall has a window for accommodating the light guide member; and / or The bracket includes a receiving groove for receiving the light guide member, and the receiving groove is open on the front side and a circumferential side facing the display panel; and / or The light guide member is clamped to the bracket; and / or The bracket has an elastic arm, and the light guide member has a hook portion cooperating with the elastic arm.

9. The display unit according to claim 8, wherein The printed circuit board includes at least one second light-emitting element, and the bracket has a light-transmitting groove penetrating the bracket, and the light of the second light-emitting element is emitted through the light-transmitting groove towards the display panel; and / or The printed circuit board is supported on the back side of the bracket, the display panel is located on the front side of the bracket, and the first light-emitting element emits light suitable for passing through the bracket to irradiate the display panel; and / or The receiving groove extends obliquely; and / or The receiving groove extends over the entire width of the bracket; and / or The light guide member extends over the entire width of the bracket.

10. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein The light guide member is exposed outside the display unit; and / or The light guide member extends obliquely at least in part between the light incident surface and the light exit surface, so that the light transmission path in the light guide member has a distance along the direction parallel to the display panel.

11. The display unit according to claim 10, characterized in that, The light guide member includes a portion that is exposed outside the display unit and is located between the light exit surface and the light incident surface; and / or; both ends of the light guide member are exposed on both sides of the display unit.

12. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member includes a plurality of light incident portions arranged at intervals, and each light incident portion has a light incident surface corresponding to one or a group of first light emitting elements; and / or the light guide member includes a light exit portion, and the light exit surface continuously extends at the front end of the light exit portion.

13. A household appliance, comprising the display unit according to any one of the above claims.

14. The household appliance according to claim 13, wherein, It includes a distribution cavity, the display unit is distributed along one side of the distribution cavity, and the light guide member is exposed to the distribution cavity.

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