UWB module and household appliance

Abstract

The invention discloses a UWB module and a household appliance. The UWB module comprises a circuit board, a UWB antenna, a shell and a waterproof piece, the circuit board is provided with a first side face and a second side face which are arranged oppositely, and the first side face is provided with an electronic component; the UWB antenna is arranged on the second side surface; the shell is provided with a containing cavity, the circuit board is installed in the containing cavity, and the second side face of the circuit board faces the inner bottom face of the shell; the waterproof piece is arranged in the containing cavity, covers the first side face of the circuit board and is detachably connected with the inner side wall of the shell in a sealed mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic product technology, and more specifically, to a UWB module and a home appliance. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of IoT and smart home technologies, ultra-wideband (UWB) modules are increasingly being used in home appliances such as washing machines, dryers, washer-dryer combos, and dishwashers to achieve precise positioning, intelligent control, and device interconnection. However, the internal working environment of these appliances is often harsh, with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, high humidity, and even liquid splashes or condensation buildup. This environment poses a severe challenge to the circuit boards and their electronic components, easily leading to component failure, short circuits, or performance degradation, thus affecting the reliability and lifespan of the UWB module.

[0003] In view of this, a new technical solution is needed to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this application is to provide a new technology solution for UWB modules and home appliances.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this application, a UWB module is provided, the UWB module comprising: A circuit board having a first side and a second side disposed opposite to each other, wherein electronic components are disposed on the first side. UWB antenna, wherein the UWB antenna is disposed on the second side; A housing having a receiving cavity, a circuit board being mounted in the receiving cavity, and a second side of the circuit board facing the inner bottom surface of the housing; A waterproof component is disposed within the accommodating cavity, covers the first side of the circuit board, and is detachably and sealed to the inner wall of the housing.

[0006] Optionally, the first side of the circuit board and the electronic components are coated with an electronic protective coating, and the waterproof component is disposed outside the electronic protective coating.

[0007] Optionally, the UWB module further includes a sealing ring; the housing has a stepped portion formed on the outer side of the opening end of the accommodating cavity, and the sealing ring is sleeved on the stepped portion.

[0008] Optionally, the housing is provided with a connecting lug on the outer side of the stepped portion, the connecting lug having a connecting hole configured for inserting a fastener to install the UWB module.

[0009] Optionally, the waterproof component is an elastic sealing plug, which is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the housing.

[0010] Optionally, the elastic sealing plug is made of silicone.

[0011] Optionally, the waterproof component includes a connecting plate and a sealing ring, wherein the connecting plate is snapped into the circuit board and the connecting plate is snapped into the inner wall of the housing; The sealing ring is provided at the edge of the connecting plate opposite to the circuit board, and the sealing ring abuts against the inner wall of the housing.

[0012] Optionally, the side of the connecting plate is provided with a first buckle, which is snapped onto the second side of the circuit board.

[0013] Optionally, a second buckle is provided on the side of the connecting plate, and a snap-fit ​​interface is formed on the inner side wall of the housing, wherein the second buckle is snapped into the housing at the snap-fit ​​interface.

[0014] According to a second aspect of this application, a home appliance is provided, the home appliance comprising the UWB module as described in the first aspect.

[0015] In the UWB module provided in this application embodiment, the waterproof component not only provides effective protection for the circuit board and its electronic components, but also the detachable sealed connection between the waterproof component and the housing enables repeated disassembly and assembly of the waterproof component. When the UWB module fails, the waterproof component can be removed to repair or replace the electronic components without replacing the entire UWB module, thereby significantly reducing maintenance costs.

[0016] Other features and advantages of this application will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0018] Figure 1 This is an exploded structural diagram of a first embodiment of a UWB module according to the present application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the UWB antenna layout on the circuit board of the UWB module according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a first embodiment of the UWB module according to the present application. Figure 4This is an exploded structural diagram of a second embodiment of the UWB module according to the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a second embodiment of the UWB module according to the embodiments of this application; Figure 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a UWB module according to the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 This is a partial structural cross-sectional schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a UWB module according to the present application.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. UWB module; 11. Circuit board; 111. Electronic components; 112. Wiring harness terminal; 1101. First side; 1102. Second side; 12. UWB antenna; 13. Housing; 130. Receiving cavity; 131. Stepped portion; 132. Connecting ear; 1300. Connecting hole; 133. Snap-on interface; 14. Waterproof component; 1401. Slit; 141. Connecting plate; 1402. Notch; 1411. First snap-on; 1412. Second snap-on; 1410. Groove; 142. Sealing ring; 15. Sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Various exemplary embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application.

[0021] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the scope of this application and its application or use.

[0022] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0023] In all the examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0024] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be discussed further in subsequent figures.

[0025] Reference Figures 1-7As shown, according to one embodiment of this application, a UWB module 1 is provided. The UWB module 1 includes a circuit board 11, a UWB antenna 12, a housing 13, and a waterproof component 14. The circuit board 11 has a first side 1101 and a second side 1102 disposed opposite to each other. Electronic components 111 are disposed on the first side 1101; the UWB antenna 12 is disposed on the second side 1102. The housing 13 has a receiving cavity 130, the circuit board 11 is installed in the receiving cavity 130, and the second side 1102 of the circuit board 11 faces the inner bottom surface of the housing 13; the waterproof component 14 is disposed in the receiving cavity 130, the waterproof component 14 covers the first side 1101 of the circuit board 11, and the waterproof component 14 is detachably sealed to the inner sidewall of the housing 13.

[0026] In the UWB module 1 provided in this embodiment, the circuit board 11 has a first side 1101 and a second side 1102 arranged opposite to each other. Electronic components 111 are integrated on the first side 1101, ensuring centralized arrangement of components, facilitating signal transmission and structural compactness. The UWB antenna 12 is arranged on the second side 1102, close to the main structure of the home appliance (e.g., close to the inside of the drum of a washing machine), to facilitate signal transmission and reception of the UWB antenna. In addition, the first side 1101 of the circuit board 11 is also provided with a wire harness terminal 112, which is used for electrical connection between the UWB module 1 and the main board of the home appliance, serving to transmit current and signals.

[0027] The housing 13's accommodating cavity 130 provides mounting space for the circuit board 11, with the second side 1102 of the circuit board 11 facing the inner bottom surface of the accommodating cavity 130, so that the first side 1101 and the wire harness terminal 112 open towards the accommodating cavity 130, facilitating the subsequent installation and maintenance of the waterproof component 14. The waterproof component 14 covers the first side 1101 of the circuit board 11, providing protection for the connections (such as solder joints) between the electronic components 111 and the wire harness terminal 112 and the circuit board 11. At the same time, the waterproof component 14 is detachably and sealed to the inner wall of the housing 13.

[0028] In existing technologies, traditional protection solutions typically involve pouring potting compound onto the circuit board. While this compound can cover the circuit board and electronic components, forming a physical isolation layer that provides some protection against moisture, heat, corrosion, and mechanical damage, it has significant drawbacks. First, once the potting compound cures, it becomes virtually impossible to repair or replace components. If the module malfunctions, the entire module must be replaced, increasing maintenance costs. Second, removing the potting compound is extremely difficult and can easily cause secondary damage to the circuit board and components. Furthermore, in practice, the potting process often encounters problems such as air bubbles in the adhesive and uneven coating thickness. These defects can interfere with the performance of the UWB antenna, causing signal attenuation or radiation mode distortion, thus affecting the overall communication quality of the module. Additionally, the potting process is demanding, complex, and inefficient, making it unsuitable for large-scale production.

[0029] In the UWB module 1 provided in this embodiment, the waterproof component 14 not only provides effective protection for the circuit board 11 and its electronic components 111, but also allows for repeated disassembly and reassembly of the waterproof component 14 through its detachable sealed connection with the housing 13. When the UWB module 1 malfunctions, the waterproof component 14 can be removed for repair or replacement of electronic components without requiring a complete replacement of the UWB module, thus significantly reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, the installation process of the waterproof component 14 involves no potting compound curing, preventing the introduction of air bubbles, uneven adhesive application, or other process defects, thus avoiding interference with the performance of the UWB module and ensuring the stability of the UWB module's communication quality.

[0030] In one embodiment, the first side 1101 of the circuit board 11 and the electronic components 111 are coated with an electronic protective coating, and the waterproof component 14 is disposed outside the electronic protective coating.

[0031] In this specific example, the electronic protective coating can be, for example, conformal coating; the conformal coating can further form a protective film on the first side 1101 of the circuit board 11, which plays the role of moisture prevention, mildew prevention and salt spray corrosion prevention; at the same time, the conformal coating process is simple and will not affect the installation and disassembly of the circuit board 11. It works with the waterproof component 14 to form double protection and improve the environmental adaptability of the circuit board 11.

[0032] Reference Figures 1-5 As shown, in one embodiment, the UWB module 1 further includes a sealing ring 15; the housing 13 forms a stepped portion 131 on the outer side of the opening end of the accommodating cavity 130, and the sealing ring 15 is sleeved on the stepped portion 131.

[0033] In this specific example, the step portion 131 provides a positioning mounting position for the sealing ring 15 to prevent the sealing ring 15 from shifting. When the UWB module 1 is installed on the home appliance, the sealing ring 15 is pressed between the housing 13 and the mounting surface of the whole machine, forming a sealing interface between the module and the whole machine. This adds a waterproof layer on top of the waterproof component 14, further improving the overall waterproof performance of the UWB module.

[0034] Reference Figures 1-5 As shown, in one embodiment, the housing 13 is provided with a connecting ear 132 on the outer side of the stepped portion 131. The connecting ear 132 has a connecting hole 1300, which is configured to be used for inserting a fastener to install the UWB module 1.

[0035] In this specific example, during actual installation, for instance, screws can be inserted through the connection hole 1300 to secure the UWB module 1 to the entire home appliance. The design of the connection ear 132 and the connection hole 1300 provides a reliable mechanical mounting structure for the module. The screw-locking method ensures a stable connection and adapts to the vibration environment during the operation of the home appliance. Simultaneously, the connection ear 132 is located on the outside of the stepped portion 131, and its installation position does not interfere with that of the sealing ring 15, ensuring that the sealing performance is not affected after installation, achieving compatibility between convenient installation and sealing protection. Optionally, multiple connection ears 132 can be provided on the housing 13, for example, three connection ears 132, each with a corresponding connection hole 1300.

[0036] Reference Figures 1-3 As shown, in the first embodiment, the waterproof component 14 is an elastic sealing plug, and the elastic sealing plug has a slit 1401 for the wire harness terminal 112 to pass through; the elastic sealing plug is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the housing 13.

[0037] In this specific example, during assembly, the wire harness terminal 112 passes through the slit 1401, and the elastic sealing plug, after being compressed, tightly fits against the inner wall of the housing 13 and the first side 1101 of the circuit board 11. The interference fit of the elastic sealing plug ensures a reliable seal of the accommodating cavity 130, preventing the intrusion of external moisture and dust; the slit 1401 adapts to the passage of the wire harness terminal 112, preventing the wire harness terminal from deforming due to pressure on the sealing structure, and ensuring the stability of current and signal transmission performance; the removable nature of the elastic sealing plug enables quick disassembly and repair, solving the problem that traditional potting compounds cannot be repaired.

[0038] Optionally, the side of the elastic sealing plug may be provided with a slot, and correspondingly, the inner wall of the housing 13 may be provided with a matching buckle. The buckle and the slot engage to improve the connection reliability between the elastic sealing plug and the inner wall of the housing 13.

[0039] In one embodiment, the elastic sealing plug is made of silicone.

[0040] In this specific example, the silicone material has excellent elasticity, high and low temperature resistance and aging resistance. On the one hand, it can ensure the long-term stability of the interference seal between the elastic sealing plug and the inner wall of the housing 13. On the other hand, it can adapt to the complex working temperature environment of home appliances and extend the service life of the module.

[0041] Reference Figures 4-7 As shown, in the second embodiment, the waterproof component 14 includes a connecting plate 141 and a sealing ring 142. The connecting plate 141 has a notch 1402 for the wire harness terminal 112 to pass through. The connecting plate 141 is snapped into the circuit board 11 and snapped into the inner wall of the housing 13. The sealing ring 142 is provided at the edge of the connecting plate 141 opposite to the circuit board 11, and the sealing ring 142 abuts against the inner wall of the housing 13.

[0042] In this specific example, the connecting plate 141 has a notch 1402 for the wire harness terminal 112 to pass through; the connecting plate 141 is snap-fitted to the circuit board 11, and also snap-fitted to the inner wall of the housing 13; a sealing ring 142 is provided at the edge of the connecting plate 141 opposite to the circuit board 11, and the sealing ring 142 abuts against the inner wall of the housing 13. For example, the sealing ring 142 is specifically formed by coating a ring of sealing silicone along the edge of the connecting plate 141, and allowing the silicone to cure naturally.

[0043] The double-ended snap-fit ​​design of the connecting plate 141 enables rapid positioning and assembly with the circuit board 11 and the housing 13, improving production efficiency. The notch 1402 provides clearance for the wire harness terminal 112, preventing damage to the wire harness terminal due to pressure. The cured sealing ring 142 tightly abuts against the inner wall of the housing 13, forming a reliable seal. The silicone sealing coating process is simple, with no risk of air bubbles entering, and will not interfere with the current and signal transmission performance of the wire harness terminal 112. At the same time, the snap-fit ​​structure facilitates disassembly, solving the problem of difficult rework in traditional potting solutions.

[0044] Reference Figures 6-7 As shown, in one embodiment, the side of the connecting plate 141 is provided with a first buckle 1411, which is snapped onto the second side 1102 of the circuit board 11.

[0045] In this specific example, the engagement between the first latch 1411 and the second side 1102 of the circuit board 11 restricts the displacement of the connecting plate 141 relative to the circuit board 11, ensuring the protective effect of the connecting plate 141 on the first side 1101, while preventing the connecting plate 141 from squeezing the electronic components 111 or wire harness terminals, thus ensuring the structural stability of the core components.

[0046] Reference Figures 6-7 As shown, in one embodiment, the side of the connecting plate 141 is provided with a second buckle 1412, and the inner sidewall of the housing 13 is formed with a card interface 133, and the second buckle 1412 is engaged with the housing 13 at the card interface 133.

[0047] In this specific example, a snap-fit ​​interface 133 is formed on the inner sidewall of the housing 13, and the second snap-fit ​​1412 is snapped into the housing 13 at the snap-fit ​​interface 133. The snap-fit ​​engagement between the second snap-fit ​​1412 and the snap-fit ​​interface 133 enables a firm connection between the connecting plate 141 and the housing 13, ensuring stable pressure between the sealing ring 142 and the inner sidewall of the housing 13, and preventing seal failure. At the same time, the snap-fit ​​structure eliminates the need for additional fasteners, simplifying the assembly process and improving production efficiency.

[0048] Optionally, two first buckles 1411 are respectively provided on both sides along the length direction of the connecting plate 141, for a total of four first buckles 1411, which are snapped together with the circuit board 11; one second buckle 1412 is respectively provided on both sides along the length direction of the connecting plate 141, and on the same side of the length direction of the connecting plate 141, the second buckle 1412 is located between the two first buckles 1411; a groove 1410 is provided on the side of the connecting plate 141 along the length direction, and the second buckle 1412 is disposed in the groove 1410, so that the second buckle 1412 does not protrude from the side of the connecting plate 141, and the side of the connecting plate 141 can fit against the inner sidewall of the housing 13.

[0049] In the above structure, four first buckles 1411 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the connecting plate 141, forming a multi-point uniform snap-fit ​​with the circuit board 11, dispersing the snap-fit ​​stress, avoiding excessive local stress that could cause deformation of the circuit board 11 or the buckles, improving the firmness and stability of the connection between the connecting plate 141 and the circuit board 11, and ensuring the reliability of the protective structure.

[0050] Furthermore, the second latch 1412 on the same side is located between the two first latches 1411, forming a two-point positioning and intermediate locking snap-fit ​​structure, which optimizes the force distribution, prevents the connecting plate 141 from shifting or warping during assembly or use, and further enhances the connection stability.

[0051] In addition, the second buckle 1412 is built into the groove 1410 and does not protrude from the side of the connecting plate 141, so that the side of the connecting plate 141 can completely fit the inner wall of the housing 13, eliminating the assembly gap caused by the buckle protrusion, improving the tightness of the fit between the sealing ring 142 and the inner wall of the housing 13, and enhancing the waterproof sealing effect; at the same time, it avoids the buckle protruding and scratching the inner wall of the housing 13, reducing assembly resistance and improving assembly efficiency.

[0052] According to another embodiment of this application, a home appliance is provided, the home appliance including the UWB module 1 as described above.

[0053] The home appliance provided in this application embodiment includes the aforementioned UWB module 1. The home appliance can be, for example, a washing machine, dryer, washer-dryer combo, dishwasher, etc. The UWB module 1 is attached to the entire home appliance via the connection hole 1300 of the connecting ear 132, enabling precise positioning and short-range communication functions. By integrating the aforementioned UWB module 1, the home appliance can achieve stable UWB communication performance, and the module possesses excellent waterproof and protective capabilities, adapting to the complex usage environment of the home appliance. Simultaneously, the module's detachable protective structure reduces after-sales maintenance costs, thereby enhancing product competitiveness.

[0054] The above embodiments mainly describe the differences between the various embodiments. As long as the different optimization features between the various embodiments are not contradictory, they can be combined to form a better embodiment. For the sake of brevity, they will not be elaborated here.

[0055] While specific embodiments of this application have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of this application. The scope of this application is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A UWB module, characterized in that, The UWB module (1) includes: The circuit board (11) has a first side (1101) and a second side (1102) arranged opposite to each other, and electronic components (111) are disposed on the first side (1101). UWB antenna (12), which is arranged on the second side (1102); The housing (13) has a receiving cavity (130), the circuit board (11) is installed in the receiving cavity (130), and the second side (1102) of the circuit board (11) is disposed facing the inner bottom surface of the housing (13); Waterproof component (14) is disposed in the accommodating cavity (130), the waterproof component (14) covers the first side (1101) of the circuit board (11), and the waterproof component (14) is detachably sealed to the inner wall of the housing (13).

2. The UWB module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first side (1101) of the circuit board (11) and the electronic components (111) are coated with an electronic protective coating, and the waterproof component (14) is disposed outside the electronic protective coating.

3. The UWB module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The UWB module (1) also includes a sealing ring (15); the housing (13) has a stepped portion (131) formed on the outside of the opening end of the accommodating cavity (130), and the sealing ring (15) is fitted onto the stepped portion (131).

4. The UWB module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The housing (13) has a connecting ear (132) on the outside of the stepped portion (131), and the connecting ear (132) has a connecting hole (1300) configured for inserting a fastener to install the UWB module (1).

5. The UWB module according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The waterproof component (14) is an elastic sealing plug, which is interference-fitted with the inner wall of the housing (13).

6. The UWB module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The elastic sealing plug is made of silicone.

7. The UWB module according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The waterproof component (14) includes a connecting plate (141) and a sealing ring (142). The connecting plate (141) is snapped into the circuit board (11), and the connecting plate (141) is snapped into the inner wall of the housing (13). The sealing ring (142) is provided at the edge of the connecting plate (141) opposite to the circuit board (11), and the sealing ring (142) abuts against the inner wall of the housing (13).

8. The UWB module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The side of the connecting plate (141) is provided with a first buckle (1411), which is snapped onto the second side (1102) of the circuit board (11).

9. The UWB module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The side of the connecting plate (141) is provided with a second buckle (1412), and the inner sidewall of the housing (13) is formed with a card interface (133). The second buckle (1412) is engaged with the housing (13) at the card interface (133).

10. A household appliance, characterized in that, The home appliance includes the UWB module (1) as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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