Display module and refrigeration equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a display module and refrigeration equipment, the display module comprises a panel support, a display support, a display panel fixedly connected with the panel support and a display panel connected with the display support, the display panel comprises a plurality of display areas, the display support comprises a plurality of light-emitting cavities, and the light-emitting cavities are arranged in the display areas. The display panel comprises a light-emitting unit and an open hole corresponding to the light-emitting cavity, the open hole is aligned with the display area at the same time, the light-emitting cavity and the open hole are filled with light-transmitting filler, and light emitted by the light-emitting unit is emitted to the open hole through the light-transmitting filler. According to the display module, scattered light is formed by utilizing reflection of the light-emitting cavity and divergence of the light-transmitting filler, so that the light irradiated on the display area is uniform, small in space size and thin in thickness, and the occupied space is greatly reduced; and on the other hand, the sealing performance is good, and the interior is completely filled with the light-transmitting filler, so that water vapor cannot enter the interior, and mist generated by low temperature is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a display module, and more particularly to a refrigeration device having the display module. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of smart homes, some refrigeration devices, such as smart refrigerators, now have displays and touchscreens. Currently, the display module in a refrigerator is generally located on the outside, not inside. This is because, firstly, the low temperature and high humidity inside a refrigerator require a sufficiently well-sealed display structure to ensure the normal operation of electronic components and prevent fogging on the screen. Secondly, due to the limitations of the existing internal structure, redesigning the display module requires specially designated areas, and the module itself needs a certain thickness. Specifically, point light sources need to be spaced at certain intervals to produce a uniform surface light source. Therefore, the inability to place the display module inside the refrigerator hinders the further development of smart homes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the problem that existing refrigeration equipment cannot accommodate a display screen, the present invention aims to provide a display module and refrigeration equipment that can accommodate a display module inside the refrigeration equipment.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, one embodiment of the present invention provides a display module for a refrigeration device, characterized in that it comprises:

[0005] Panel bracket; The display panel is fixedly connected to the panel bracket, and the display panel includes several display areas; The display panel includes a light-emitting unit and an opening, the opening being aligned with the display area; A display bracket, which engages with the display panel, the display bracket comprising: Support sidewall; The cavity is enclosed by the side wall of the support; A plurality of light-emitting coupling units are disposed in the cavity. Each light-emitting coupling unit includes an inner wall, a light-emitting cavity formed by the inner wall and the display panel, and a light-emitting port communicating with the light-emitting cavity. The light-emitting port faces the opening. The light-emitting cavity and the opening are filled with a light-transmitting filler. The light-emitting unit emits light in the opposite direction to the display direction of the display panel, and the light emitted by the light-emitting unit is reflected by the light-emitting cavity and scattered by the light-transmitting filler before being directed to the display panel through the opening.

[0006] As a further improvement of the present invention, the light-emitting unit is disposed at the edge of the opening.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, the light-emitting cavity and the interior of the opening are completely filled with the light-transmitting filler.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the inner wall abuts against the display panel.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, each of the light-emitting mating units includes a first glue inlet hole and a second glue inlet hole, wherein the first glue inlet hole is away from the light-emitting port and the second glue inlet hole is connected to the cavity.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the display bracket also includes a plurality of third adhesive inlet holes communicating with the cavity.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the display module further includes a display film, which is attached to the display panel. The display film includes a plurality of markings corresponding to the display area, and the markings are aligned with the openings.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the size of the display film is the same as that of the display panel; Both the panel bracket and the display panel are bonded to the display film; The display panel includes a touch-sensitive part, and the display panel includes a touch area. The touch-sensitive part is aligned with the markings on the display film corresponding to the touch area.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the display bracket includes a stepped portion disposed on the side wall, the side wall enclosing an upper opening, the stepped portion being disposed around the upper opening and forming a recess in the thickness direction of the side wall, the display panel abutting against the stepped portion, and the cross-section of the upper opening matching the outer contour of the display panel.

[0014] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objectives, one embodiment of the present invention provides a cooling device, including the aforementioned display module.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has the following advantages: The display module does not directly illuminate the display area with light from the light-emitting unit. Instead, it utilizes the reflection from the light-emitting cavity and the dispersion of the light-transmitting filler to form scattered light, ensuring uniform light distribution across the display area. This structure results in a smaller and thinner display module, significantly reducing space requirements. Furthermore, it provides excellent sealing; since the interior is completely filled with the light-transmitting filler, moisture cannot enter, effectively preventing fogging caused by low temperatures. In addition, the light-emitting unit's emission direction is opposite to the display panel's display direction, avoiding the problem of localized overbrightness caused by direct point light source illumination of the display film. This ensures that the light reaching the display panel is only reflected or scattered light from the light-emitting cavity and dispersed light through the light-transmitting filler. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a first exploded view of a partition assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a second exploded view of a partition assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a top view schematic diagram of a display module being removed from the display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a bottom view schematic diagram of a display module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a display bracket and a display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of a display module according to an embodiment of the present invention; Among them, 1000 is the partition assembly; 2000 is the inner liner; S1 is the refrigerator compartment; S2 is the freezer compartment; 100 is the display module; 200 is the main partition; 300 is the secondary partition; 10 is the panel bracket; 11 is the slot; 111 is the protrusion; 15 is the second engaging part; 17 is the second mating part; 18 is the buckle; 20 is the display bracket; 21 is the inner wall; 210 is the light-emitting cavity; 211 is the first glue inlet hole; 212 is the third glue inlet hole; 22 is the bracket side wall; 220 is the cavity; 221 is the step part; 222 is the groove; 23 is the second glue inlet hole; 30 is the display panel; 31 is the opening; 32 is the light-emitting unit; 40 is the display panel; 50 is the display film; 60 is the double-sided adhesive; 61 is the exposed hole; 70 is the upper partition; 71 is the display groove; 72 is the first engaging part; 73 is the first mating part. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] It should be understood that terms such as “above,” “over,” “below,” and “under” used herein to indicate spatial relative position are for illustrative purposes to describe the relationship of one unit or feature relative to another unit or feature as shown in the accompanying drawings. The terms “spatial relative position” may be intended to include different orientations of the equipment in use or operation other than those shown in the figures.

[0019] The refrigeration equipment in this embodiment can be a refrigerator, freezer, upright refrigerator, wine cabinet, etc. The following embodiment will use a refrigerator as an example. The refrigeration equipment includes a cabinet, an inner liner 2000 disposed within the cabinet, a door frame enclosing the connection between the inner liner 2000 and the cabinet, a refrigeration cavity enclosed by the inner liner 2000, an opening of the refrigeration cavity enclosed by the door frame, and a door covering the opening. The refrigeration equipment also includes a partition assembly 1000 fixedly connected to the inner liner 2000. The inner liner 2000 includes a pair of inner liner 2000 side walls disposed on the left and right sides, and the partition assembly 1000 is fixed between the inner liner 2000 side walls. Figure 1 As shown, the partition assembly 1000 can divide the refrigeration chamber into two chambers, namely the refrigerator chamber S1 and the freezer chamber S2.

[0020] To clearly express the positions and directions described in this embodiment, the partition assembly 1000 is defined to divide the refrigeration cavity into upper and lower cavities. The distinction between the upper and lower cavities can also be referenced to the direction of gravity. In this case, the refrigerator is placed vertically on the ground, and the partition assembly 1000 can be horizontally fixed to the inner liner 2000. The direction of the door relative to the inner liner 2000 is defined as front, and the opposite direction is defined as back. Taking a user facing the open door from front to back as an example, the user's left hand is left, and their right hand is right. "Horizontal" is merely a noun and is not limited to the physical meaning of "horizontal"; however, in this preferred embodiment, "horizontal" can be parallel to the horizontal plane in physics.

[0021] In addition, the partition assembly 1000 can be divided into upper and lower spaces, or left and right spaces, including conventional refrigeration spaces or multi-functional refrigerators and freezers. This invention will be described in detail using the partition assembly 1000, which is used in a refrigerator to divide upper and lower spaces, as an example. The freezer compartment S2 is located below the refrigerator compartment S1.

[0022] The partition assembly 1000 of this embodiment includes a main partition 200, a secondary partition 300, and a display module 100. The main partition 200 includes an upper partition 70 and a lower partition. A display slot 71 is provided above the upper partition 70, and the display module 100 is fixedly connected to the display slot 71. A main cavity is formed between the lower part of the upper partition 70 and the lower partition. An insulation component is provided inside the main cavity. The insulation component can be a foamed material, such as... Figure 1 and 2 As shown.

[0023] This configuration, from bottom to top, is: freezer compartment S2 - lower partition - insulation component - upper partition 70 - display module 100 - refrigerator compartment S1. In other words, the display module 100 is separated from the freezer compartment S2 by an insulation component, preventing the display module 100 from directly contacting the very low temperature of the freezer compartment S2, and exposing it only to the refrigerator compartment S1. This allows the display module 100 to be positioned on the partition assembly 1000 while also preventing excessively low temperatures from affecting the display module 100.

[0024] The main partition 200 is fixedly connected to the inner liner 2000 of the refrigeration equipment, and the secondary partition 300 is fixed in the accommodating space by the limiting part. The partition assembly 1000 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the secondary partition 300 is accommodated in the accommodating space and the secondary partition 300 simultaneously closes the upper opening and the lower opening. In the second state, the secondary partition 300 is moved out of the accommodating space.

[0025] The display module 100 is positioned in front of the sub-partition 300. This gives the partition assembly 1000 more functions, allowing it to be both installed / removed and used for display. It also facilitates intelligent interaction between the user and the refrigeration equipment. The installation / removal of the sub-partition 300 does not affect the display of the display module 100.

[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, the display module 100 includes a panel support 10, a display support 20, a display panel 40 fixedly connected to the panel support 10, a display film 50, and a display plate 30 coupled to the display support 20. Specifically: The panel bracket 10 includes a slot 11, in which the display panel 30 is embedded. The size of the slot 11 can be the same as that of the display panel 30, or the shape of the slot 11 can be the same as the outer contour of the display bracket 20.

[0027] The display panel 40 includes several display areas, which are arranged upwards and exposed above the refrigerator compartment S1. The display panel 40 has a touch area and / or a display area. In this embodiment, the display panel 40 can be made of ultra-white glass and is fixed to the panel support 10 with double-sided adhesive 60, forming a glass support assembly. The double-sided adhesive 60 has an exposure hole 61, through which light emitted from the lower display panel 30 passes and is used for touch sensing.

[0028] The display film 50 is attached to the display panel 40. The display film 50 includes several markings corresponding to the display areas, and the markings are aligned with the openings 31. The display film 50 is attached to the display panel 40 and aligned with the slot 11. The display film 50 has several markings corresponding to the touch area and / or display area. The display film 50 can be a colored sticker, which displays the operating parameters of the refrigerator or the options for adjusting the operating status, such as refrigeration mode, quick cooling, energy saving, temperature, preservation, defrosting, and network connection. The display unit on the display panel 30 emits light to illuminate the corresponding markings, or the touch sensor aligns with these markings. Both the panel bracket 10 and the display panel 30 are attached to the display film 50.

[0029] The display bracket 20 includes several light-emitting cavities 210. The light-emitting cavities 210 themselves do not emit light. The light from the display panel 30 is irradiated into the light-emitting cavities 210, and then scattered, reflected, refracted and emitted.

[0030] The display panel 30 includes a light-emitting unit 32 and an opening 31 corresponding to the light-emitting cavity 210. The opening 31 is aligned with the display area, and the light-emitting unit 32 emits light downwards. The display panel 30 may also include a touch-sensing part corresponding to the touch area. Each light-emitting unit 32 corresponds to each light-emitting cavity 210, and the touch-sensing part is aligned with the mark on the display film 50 corresponding to the touch area.

[0031] The light-emitting cavity 210 and the opening 31 are filled with a light-transmitting filler. The light emitted by the light-emitting unit 32 passes through the light-transmitting filler and is directed to the opening 31. At least part of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 32 passes through the light-emitting cavity 210 and is directed upwards to make the light illuminating the display area uniform.

[0032] Although the light-emitting unit 32 is close to the icon on the display film 50, the light is diffused within the light-transmitting filler, which is a transparent milky white colloid, due to the reliance on reflection and the fact that the sealed light-transmitting filler is a transparent milky white colloid, resulting in the icon on the display film 50 being illuminated evenly.

[0033] Furthermore, the light-emitting unit 32 emits light in the opposite direction to the display direction of the display panel 40. This avoids the problem of localized overbrightness caused by direct point light source irradiation of the display film 50. In this way, the light reaching the display panel 40 can only be light reflected or scattered by the light-emitting cavity 210 and diffused through the light-transmitting filler.

[0034] The light-emitting unit 32 is disposed at the edge of the opening 31, such as Figure 7 As shown, each light-emitting cavity 210 corresponds to two or four light-emitting units 32, and every two light-emitting units 32 are positioned opposite each other in the opening 31. This makes the illumination more uniform and avoids local areas being too bright or too dark.

[0035] Furthermore, the display film 50 is the same size as the display panel 40, which avoids the alignment problem of attaching the display film 50 to the display panel 40 and facilitates faster production.

[0036] The following is combined with Figure 6 Let's elaborate further from the perspective of the display bracket 20: The display bracket 20 includes a bracket sidewall 22, a cavity 220 enclosed by the bracket sidewall 22, and a plurality of light-emitting mating units disposed in the cavity 220. Each light-emitting mating unit includes an inner wall 21, a light-emitting cavity 210 enclosed by the inner wall 21, a light-emitting port communicating with the light-emitting cavity 210, a first glue inlet hole 211 and a second glue inlet hole 23. The inner wall 21 abuts against the display panel 30, the light-emitting port faces the opening 31, the first glue inlet hole 211 is away from the light-emitting port, and the second glue inlet hole 23 communicates with the cavity 220.

[0037] The light-emitting unit 32 can be an LED lamp bead, emitting a point light source. If the point light source is too close to the display film 50, the display effect will be that some areas are too bright and other areas are too dark. However, with this solution, when viewed from above, the markings on the display film 50 have uniform brightness, resulting in a better display effect.

[0038] like Figure 4 and 5 As shown, the shape of the slot 11 is consistent with the outer contour of the display bracket 20. A certain tolerance distance can exist in the production process. For example, the gap between the display bracket 20 and the slot 11 is about 0.2mm. The gap is very small. After the display panel 30 is tightly attached to the display bracket 20, it is to prevent the glue from entering the interior of the display bracket 20 after potting, especially from entering the light-transmitting hole, which would affect the propagation of light and cause uneven display brightness.

[0039] At least a portion of the light-emitting cavity 210 corresponds to two first adhesive inlet holes 211, with the two adhesive inlet holes respectively located at both ends of the light-emitting cavity 210. For example... Figure 5 As shown, applying glue from both directions simultaneously will result in more thorough application.

[0040] In addition Figure 5 In the middle, two adjacent first glue inlet holes 211 correspond to different light-emitting cavities 210 respectively. The two light-emitting cavities 210 are separated by an inner wall 21, which can prevent the light in the two light-emitting cavities 210 from affecting each other. The inner wall 21 is used for separation. The display bracket 20 also includes a third adhesive inlet 212 for multiple communicating cavities 220. The third adhesive inlet 212 is still as... Figure 5As shown, although the third glue inlet hole 212 does not directly fill the light-emitting cavity 210 with glue, it serves to speed up the filling speed of the cavity 220, avoiding the slow speed caused by filling the glue only through the first glue inlet hole 211. On the other hand, it can monitor the filling status to avoid local positions being too fast or too slow and unable to be adjusted. At the same time, it facilitates the discharge of internal gas during the filling process.

[0041] The more specific location of the third glue inlet 212 is outside the light-emitting cavity 210. The area should be hollowed out as much as possible. The hollowed-out area can serve as the third glue inlet 212 and also facilitate the observation of whether the light-transmitting filler is fully filled after glue filling.

[0042] The first injection hole 211, the second injection hole 23, and the third injection hole 212 ensure that the light-transmitting filler fully fills the cavity 220, especially the light-emitting cavity 210, during the glue-filling process, thereby stabilizing the light emission. Since the cavity 220 is filled with the light-transmitting filler, the gaps are blocked by the light-transmitting filler, preventing moisture from entering the display module 100 and improving the sealing performance.

[0043] The display panel 30 includes a circuit board and several touch-sensing units connected to the circuit board. Each touch-sensing unit abuts against the display film 50. Each touch-sensing unit may include a touch-sensing capacitor disposed on the circuit board. Since the capacitor is close enough to the display panel 40, a spring is not required. The touch-sensing unit corresponds to the markings of the touch area, and the opening 31 corresponds to the markings of the display area. Thus, touch control is achieved when the markings of the corresponding touch area on the display film 50 are touched from the outside.

[0044] The light-emitting cavity 210, filled with glue, operates normally as follows: Figure 7 As shown, after the light shines downwards, it is reflected and scattered, achieving a better display effect with a thinner footprint.

[0045] Furthermore, the display bracket 20 includes a stepped portion 221 disposed on the side wall, the side wall enclosing an upper opening, the stepped portion 221 being disposed around the upper opening and forming a recess in the thickness direction of the side wall, the display panel 30 abutting against the stepped portion 221, and the cross-section of the upper opening matching the outer contour of the display panel 30.

[0046] During installation, the display panel 30 is first fixed to the display bracket 20, the display film 50 is pasted under the display panel 40, the display panel 40 is then fixed to the panel bracket 10, the display bracket 20 is fixed to the panel bracket 10 from below, and then glue is applied to complete the installation of the entire display module 100.

[0047] Then, the display module 100 is connected to the display slot 71 via circuitry: Wiring is installed in the display slot 71, and the display panel 30 includes leads. The wiring and leads are directly connected. This direct connection is different from the connection through plug-in connectors. Since plug-in connectors have a certain height, they occupy space, and the display module 100 and the main partition 200 need to be stabilized during installation before the plug-in connectors can be inserted, which is more troublesome. However, when using the structure of this embodiment, the factory can easily operate and connect the display module 100 by a single person without the need for both hands to fix the connectors, which simplifies the installation process and improves production efficiency.

[0048] Then, the display module 100 is fixedly connected to the display slot 71: Several first engaging parts 72 are provided on the front side of the display slot 71, and the panel bracket 10 is provided with second engaging parts 15 that mate with the first engaging parts 72; both the first engaging parts 72 and the second engaging parts 15 are set in an "L" shape, and the two "L" shaped engaging parts engage with each other.

[0049] Several first mating parts 73 are provided on the rear side of the display slot 71, and the panel bracket 10 is provided with second mating parts 17 that mate with the first mating parts 73. The first mating parts 73 and the second mating parts 17 can both be holes, wherein the first mating parts 73 have threads, and screws or bolts are provided to pass through the second mating parts 17 and the first mating parts 73 in sequence to fix the display module 100.

[0050] During installation, the display module 100 is first assembled, and then the second engaging part 15 at the front end of the display module 100 is engaged with the first engaging part 72 of the display slot 71 to fix the front end of the display module 100 relative to the display slot 71. Then, the display module 100 is flipped over, and the second mating part 17 at the rear end of the display module 100 is also fixed with the display slot 71, thus completing the installation of the display module 100 on the partition assembly 1000.

[0051] In addition, the upper surface of the upper partition 70 that is not covered by the display module 100 is on the same plane as the upper surface of the display panel 40. This results in better integration and also makes it easier to place items on it.

[0052] Compared with the prior art, this embodiment has the following beneficial effects: The display module 100 does not directly illuminate the display area with light from the light-emitting unit 32. Instead, it uses the reflection of the light-emitting cavity 210 and the dispersion of the light-transmitting filler to form scattered light, making the light illuminating the display area uniform. This structure makes the display module 100 small in size and thin in thickness, greatly reducing the space occupied. On the other hand, it has good sealing performance. Since the interior is completely filled with light-transmitting filler, no water vapor will enter the interior, avoiding fogging caused by low temperature.

[0053] It should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This way of describing the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0054] The detailed descriptions listed above are merely specific descriptions of feasible embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent embodiments or modifications made without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display module for refrigeration equipment, characterized in that, include: Panel bracket; The display panel is fixedly connected to the panel bracket, and the display panel includes several display areas; The display panel includes a light-emitting unit and an opening, the opening being aligned with the display area; A display bracket, which engages with the display panel, the display bracket comprising: Support sidewall; The cavity is enclosed by the side wall of the support; A plurality of light-emitting coupling units are disposed in the cavity. Each light-emitting coupling unit includes an inner wall, a light-emitting cavity formed by the inner wall and the display panel, and a light-emitting port communicating with the light-emitting cavity. The light-emitting port faces the opening. The light-emitting cavity and the opening are filled with a light-transmitting filler. The light-emitting unit emits light in the opposite direction to the display direction of the display panel, and the light emitted by the light-emitting unit is reflected by the light-emitting cavity and scattered by the light-transmitting filler before being directed to the display panel through the opening.

2. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-emitting unit is disposed at the edge of the opening.

3. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light-emitting cavity and the interior of the opening are completely filled with the light-transmitting filler.

4. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall abuts against the display panel.

5. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the light-emitting mating units includes a first glue inlet and a second glue inlet, wherein the first glue inlet is away from the light-emitting port and the second glue inlet is connected to the cavity.

6. The display module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The display bracket also includes multiple third adhesive inlet holes that connect to the cavity.

7. The display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display module further includes a display film, which is attached to the display panel. The display film includes a plurality of markings corresponding to the display area, and the markings are aligned with the openings.

8. The display module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The display film has the same size as the display panel; Both the panel bracket and the display panel are bonded to the display film; The display panel includes a touch-sensitive part, and the display panel includes a touch area. The touch-sensitive part is aligned with the markings on the display film corresponding to the touch area.

9. The display module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The display bracket includes a stepped portion disposed on the side wall, the side wall enclosing an upper opening, the stepped portion being disposed around the upper opening and forming a recess in the thickness direction of the side wall, the display panel abutting against the stepped portion, and the cross-section of the upper opening matching the outer contour of the display panel.

10. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, Includes the display module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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