Touch key device and cabinet air conditioner

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of touch key device and air conditioner cabinet, it is related to air conditioner technical field, to solve the problem of touch control sensitivity difference of existing touch key device and design.The touch key device includes floating seat, pedestal, touch control panel and touch signal collection component, wherein, floating seat is elastically floated relative to pedestal, and there is spacing between floating seat and pedestal for limiting the limiting structure of maximum stroke of both;Touch control panel is fixedly set on the side of pedestal away from floating seat;Touch signal collection component includes touch sensing part and soft connection part, touch sensing part is fixedly set on the side of floating seat away from pedestal, and soft connection part is electrically connected with touch control panel.The utility model can improve the sensitivity of touch control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air conditioner technology, and more specifically, to a touch button device and an air conditioner cabinet unit. Background Technology

[0002] In some home appliances (such as air conditioner units), touch buttons are often installed on the front panel to improve human-computer interaction. Users can easily control the appliance using these touch buttons.

[0003] Currently, commonly used touch button devices employ capacitive touch technology, such as... Figure 1 As shown, when filling the gap between the touch control panel (not shown) and the front panel 10, a coil spring 20 is typically placed between the touch control panel and the front panel 10. One end of the coil spring 20 abuts against the touch control panel, while the other end abuts against the front panel 10, providing elastic support for the front panel 10 during the touch process. However, to avoid the front panel 10 being subjected to elastic force in the non-touch state, the coil spring 20 is often made to be in exact contact with the front panel 10 or to have a certain gap during assembly. For the former, the height of the coil spring 20 is difficult to control during assembly; for the latter, it results in poor touch control sensitivity. Utility Model Content

[0004] The first objective of this invention is to provide a touch button device to solve the technical problem of poor touch control sensitivity in existing touch button devices.

[0005] The touch button device provided by this utility model includes a floating base, a base, a touch control board, and a touch signal collection component. The floating base is elastically floating relative to the base, and a limiting structure is provided between the floating base and the base to limit their maximum travel. The touch control board is fixedly disposed on the side of the base away from the floating base. The touch signal collection component includes a touch sensing part and a flexible connection part. The touch sensing part is fixedly disposed on the side of the floating base away from the base, and the flexible connection part is electrically connected to the touch control board.

[0006] The following explanation uses the touch button device in an air conditioner unit as an example. In use, the touch sensing part of the touch signal collection component faces the front panel of the air conditioner unit. The touch sensing part collects touch signals from the front panel and then transmits these signals to the touch control panel via a flexible connection, thus enabling touch control operation.

[0007] Because the floating base is elastically floating relative to the base, and a limiting structure is provided between the floating base and the base to limit their maximum travel, the floating base and the touch sensor mounted on it can always remain in close contact with the front panel when the touch button device is assembled. This ensures that when the front panel deforms due to a touch signal applied to the touch sensor, the touch sensor can receive the signal immediately, resulting in high touch control sensitivity. Furthermore, the elastic floating action of the floating base allows for free adjustment of the touch sensor's pressing height to ensure a tight fit with the front panel.

[0008] In addition, the flexible connection in the touch signal collection component ensures reliable transmission of touch signals to the touch control panel, and also allows the component to adapt and deform with the movement of the floating base when collecting touch signals, so as to avoid the electrical connection being disconnected during the touch pressing process.

[0009] Furthermore, the limiting structure includes a travel limiting hole and a travel limiting part slidably disposed in the travel limiting hole. One of the travel limiting hole and the travel limiting part is disposed in the floating seat, and the other of the travel limiting hole and the travel limiting part is disposed in the base. The relative sliding direction of the travel limiting part and the travel limiting hole is the elastic floating direction of the floating seat. This arrangement can guide the floating seat's movement relative to the base by utilizing the sliding of the travel limiting part in the travel limiting hole, ensuring that the touch sensing unit is always aligned with the sensing area on the front panel, avoiding a decrease in sensitivity due to misalignment.

[0010] Furthermore, the touch button device also includes an elastic element disposed between the floating seat and the base. The elastic element is used to ensure that the floating seat always tends to move away from the base. By providing the elastic element with a tendency to move the floating seat away from the base, the touch sensing part disposed on the floating seat can always be tightly attached to the front panel in the non-touch state to ensure touch sensitivity.

[0011] Furthermore, the limiting structure is provided in multiple sets, which are distributed in a dispersed manner. This arrangement increases the number of connection points between the floating seat and the base, ensuring the reliability of the connection between the floating seat and the base. And / or, the number of elastic elements is multiple, which are distributed in a dispersed manner. This arrangement ensures that the force on the floating seat is more even, preventing jamming of the floating seat's movement during touch and pressing.

[0012] Furthermore, the touch control panel is snap-fitted into the base. This connection method between the touch control panel and the base allows for detachable assembly and disassembly, facilitating the removal of the touch control panel for maintenance.

[0013] Furthermore, the touch sensor is attached and fixed to the floating base. This method of fixing the touch sensor to the floating base not only eliminates the need for complex connection structures, thus reducing the overall size of the touch button device, but also ensures a reliable connection.

[0014] Furthermore, the touch signal collection component is a printed circuit capacitive switch, and the touch button device also includes a connection terminal, through which the flexible connection part is electrically connected to the touch control board. This method of using a printed circuit capacitive switch as the touch signal collection component eliminates the need for physical pressing, provides high touch sensitivity, and results in a better user experience.

[0015] Furthermore, both the front and back of the flexible connector are covered with foam. This design protects the flexible connector from damage caused by external forces during production, transportation, and use.

[0016] Furthermore, the touch signal collection component is an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit). Using an FPC as the touch signal collection component not only facilitates high-density circuit wiring but also improves the adaptability of the touch signal collection component to high-temperature and vibration environments, ensuring its performance stability in harsh environments.

[0017] The second objective of this utility model is to provide an air conditioner cabinet unit that solves the technical problem of poor touch control sensitivity of the existing air conditioner cabinet unit's touch button device.

[0018] The air conditioner cabinet unit provided by this utility model includes a casing and the aforementioned touch button device, wherein the casing includes a front panel; the touch button device is located inside the casing, and the touch sensing part of the touch button device is in close contact with the inner surface of the front panel.

[0019] By incorporating the aforementioned touch button device into the air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit gains all the advantages of the aforementioned touch button device, which will not be elaborated upon here. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 A partial structural diagram of a touch button device provided in the prior art;

[0022] Figure 2 An exploded view of the structure of the touch button device provided in the embodiment of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 A front view showing the connection between the touch signal collection component and the connection terminal of the touch button device provided in this embodiment of the utility model;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a side view of the connection between the touch signal collection component and the connection terminal of the touch button device provided in this embodiment of the utility model, and both the front and back of the flexible connection part are covered with foam.

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the connection terminal of the touch button device provided in the embodiment of this utility model.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0027] 10 - Front panel; 20 - Coil spring;

[0028] 100-Floating base; 200-Base; 300-Touch control panel; 400-Touch signal collection component; 500-Limiting structure; 600-Elastic element; 700-Connecting terminal; 800-Foam;

[0029] 210 - Second buckle;

[0030] 410 - Touch sensor; 420 - Flexible connection;

[0031] 510 - Travel limit hole; 520 - Travel limit part. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of this utility model and are not intended to limit it.

[0033] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the touch button device provided in this embodiment. Figure 2As shown, this embodiment provides a touch button device, including a floating seat 100, a base 200, a touch control board 300, and a touch signal collection component 400. The floating seat 100 is elastically floating relative to the base 200, and a limiting structure 500 is provided between the floating seat 100 and the base 200 to limit their maximum travel. The touch control board 300 is fixedly disposed on the side of the base 200 away from the floating seat 100. The touch signal collection component 400 includes a touch sensing part 410 and a flexible connection part 420. The touch sensing part 410 is fixedly disposed on the side of the floating seat 100 away from the base 200, and the flexible connection part 420 is electrically connected to the touch control board 300.

[0034] The use of this touch button device in an air conditioner unit will be explained as an example. In use, the touch sensing part 410 of the touch signal collection unit 400 is oriented towards the front panel of the air conditioner unit. The touch sensing part 410 collects touch signals from the front panel and further transmits the touch signals to the touch control panel 300 through the flexible connection part 420 to realize touch control operation.

[0035] Because the floating seat 100 is elastically floating relative to the base 200, and a limiting structure 500 is provided between the floating seat 100 and the base 200 to limit their maximum travel, the floating seat 100 and the touch sensing unit 410 mounted thereon can always remain in close contact with the front panel when the touch button device is assembled. This ensures that when the front panel deforms due to a touch signal applied to the touch sensing unit 410, the touch sensing unit 410 can receive the signal immediately, resulting in high touch control sensitivity. Furthermore, due to the elastic floating action of the floating seat 100, the pressing height of the touch sensing unit 410 is freely adjustable to ensure a tight fit with the front panel.

[0036] In addition, the flexible connection part 420 in the touch signal collection component 400 not only ensures the reliable transmission of touch signals to the touch control panel 300, but also allows it to adapt and deform with the movement of the floating seat 100 when collecting touch signals, so as to avoid the electrical connection being disconnected during the touch pressing process.

[0037] It should be noted that this embodiment only uses the application of the touch button device in an air conditioner unit as an example. It is understood that the touch button device can also be applied to other electrical appliances that require touch control, and this embodiment will not list them one by one.

[0038] Please continue to refer to Figure 2In this embodiment, the limiting structure 500 may include a travel limiting hole 510 and a travel limiting part 520 slidably disposed in the travel limiting hole 510. The travel limiting hole 510 is disposed on the base 200, the travel limiting part 520 is disposed on the floating seat 100, and the relative sliding direction between the travel limiting part 520 and the travel limiting hole 510 is the elastic floating direction of the floating seat 100.

[0039] The limiting structure 500 has two advantages. First, the sliding of the travel limiting part 520 in the travel limiting hole 510 guides the floating seat 100 relative to the base 200, ensuring that the touch sensing part 410 is always aligned with the sensing area on the front panel, thus preventing a decrease in sensitivity due to misalignment. Second, it limits the maximum distance between the floating seat 100 and the base 200, so that the distance between the floating seat 100 and the base 200 is fixed after the touch button device is assembled as a module. This ensures that when the touch button device is installed as a whole in the air conditioner unit, the floating seat 100 can fit tightly against the inner surface of the front panel, guaranteeing the sensitivity of touch control.

[0040] Specifically, in this embodiment, the travel limiting part 520 includes a first buckle, and the first buckle is elastically deformable. When it is necessary to assemble the floating seat 100 and the base 200 together, the first buckle can be elastically contracted to insert into the travel limiting hole 510; after the first buckle has completely passed through the travel limiting hole 510, under the action of its own elastic restoring force, the first buckle resets, thereby locking onto the side of the base 200 away from the floating seat 100, completing the assembly of the floating seat 100 and the base 200.

[0041] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the travel limiting hole 510 can also be provided on the floating seat 100, and the travel limiting part 520 can be provided on the base 200. This arrangement can also use the cooperation between the travel limiting part 520 and the travel limiting hole 510 to guide the floating seat 100 during the floating process and limit the farthest distance between the floating seat 100 and the base 200.

[0042] Please continue to refer to Figure 2 In this embodiment, multiple sets of limiting structures 500 are provided, and the multiple sets of limiting structures 500 are arranged in a dispersed manner.

[0043] By setting multiple sets of dispersed limiting structures 500, the number of connection points between the floating seat 100 and the base 200 can be increased, ensuring the reliability of the connection between the floating seat 100 and the base 200.

[0044] Please continue to refer to Figure 2In this embodiment, the touch button device may further include an elastic element 600. Specifically, the elastic element 600 is disposed between the floating seat 100 and the base 200. The elastic element 600 is used to make the floating seat 100 always have a tendency to move away from the base 200.

[0045] The aforementioned elastic element 600 allows the floating seat 100 to be elastically supported on the base 200, thereby enabling the floating seat 100 to float elastically relative to the base 200. Furthermore, by providing a tendency for the floating seat 100 to move away from the base 200 through the elastic element 600, the touch sensing part 410 provided on the floating seat 100 can always be tightly attached to the front panel in the non-touch state, thus ensuring touch sensitivity.

[0046] In this embodiment, the elastic element 600 may include a helical spring. This configuration of the elastic element 600 is not only simple in structure and low in cost, but also provides a relatively reliable elastic force.

[0047] Please continue to refer to Figure 2 In this embodiment, there are multiple elastic elements 600, which are arranged in a dispersed manner.

[0048] By setting multiple dispersed elastic elements 600, the force on the floating seat 100 can be more even, and the movement of the floating seat 100 can be prevented from getting stuck during the touch and pressing process.

[0049] Please continue to refer to Figure 2 In this embodiment, the touch control panel 300 is snapped and fixed to the base 200.

[0050] This connection method between the touch control panel 300 and the base 200 allows for detachable assembly and disassembly, making it easy to remove the touch control panel 300 for maintenance.

[0051] Specifically, a second latch 210 can be provided on the base 200, and a corresponding latching hole can be provided on the touch control panel 300. The second latch 210 and the latching hole are engaged to fix the touch control panel 300 to the base 200. Alternatively, the second latch 210 can be directly latched onto the edge of the touch control panel 300 to fix the touch control panel 300 to the base 200.

[0052] In other embodiments, the touch control panel 300 may also be riveted to the base 200.

[0053] In this embodiment, the touch sensing part 410 is attached and fixed to the floating base 100.

[0054] This method of fixing the touch sensor 410 to the floating base 100 not only eliminates the need for complex connection structures, thus reducing the overall size of the touch button device, but also ensures a reliable connection.

[0055] Specifically, the touch sensing unit 410 can be fixed to the floating base 100 by double-sided adhesive.

[0056] Figure 3 This is a front view showing the connection between the touch signal collection component and the connection terminal 700 of the touch button device provided in this embodiment. Figure 4 This is a side view showing the connection between the touch signal collection component and the connection terminal 700 of the touch button device provided in this embodiment, with foam 800 covering both the front and back of the flexible connection portion 420. Please continue to refer to... Figure 2 and combined Figure 3 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the touch signal collection component 400 can be a printed circuit capacitive switch, and the touch button device also includes a connection terminal 700, wherein the flexible connection part 420 is electrically connected to the touch control board 300 through the connection terminal 700.

[0057] This method, which uses a printed circuit capacitive switch as a touch signal collection component 400, eliminates the need for physical pressing, provides high touch sensitivity, and results in a better user experience.

[0058] Specifically, in this embodiment, the substrate for the printed circuit capacitor switch is PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate).

[0059] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the connection terminal 700 of the touch button device provided in this embodiment. Please continue to refer to... Figure 3 and Figure 4 and combined Figure 5 In this embodiment, the connection terminal 700 can be an 8P connector.

[0060] It should be noted that in this embodiment, how to use the touch signal collection component 400 to collect touch signals and transmit them to the touch control panel 300 is something that those skilled in the art can obtain based on existing technology. This embodiment does not improve on this, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0061] Please continue to refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment, both the front and back sides of the flexible connection part 420 are covered with foam 800.

[0062] By covering both the front and back of the flexible connection part 420 with foam 800, the flexible connection part 420 can be protected, preventing the touch button device from being damaged by external forces during production, transportation and use.

[0063] Specifically, foam 800 can be fixed to flexible connector 420 by adhesive.

[0064] It should be noted that in this embodiment, in Figure 2 From the perspective shown, the side of the flexible connector 420 facing downwards is its front side, and the side of the flexible connector 420 facing upwards is its back side.

[0065] In other embodiments, the touch signal collection component 400 may also be configured as an FPC.

[0066] By using FPC as the touch signal collection component 400, it is not only beneficial to achieve high-density circuit wiring, but also to improve the adaptability of the touch signal collection component 400 in high temperature and vibration environments, so as to ensure its performance stability in harsh environments.

[0067] In addition, this embodiment also provides an air conditioner cabinet unit, including a housing and the aforementioned touch button device, wherein the housing includes a front panel; the touch button device is located inside the housing, and the touch sensing part 410 of the touch button device is in close contact with the inner surface of the front panel.

[0068] By incorporating the aforementioned touch button device into the air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit gains all the advantages of the aforementioned touch button device, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0069] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

[0070] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the term "comprising" or any other variations thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0071] In the above embodiments, descriptions of directions such as "up", "down", and "side" are based on the accompanying drawings.

[0072] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A touch key device, characterized by, The device includes a floating seat (100), a base (200), a touch control panel (300), and a touch signal collection component (400). The floating seat (100) is elastically floating relative to the base (200), and a limiting structure (500) is provided between the floating seat (100) and the base (200) to limit their maximum travel. The touch control panel (300) is fixedly disposed on the side of the base (200) away from the floating seat (100). The touch signal collection component (400) includes a touch sensing part (410) and a flexible connection part (420). The touch sensing part (410) is fixedly disposed on the side of the floating seat (100) away from the base (200), and the flexible connection part (420) is electrically connected to the touch control panel (300).

2. The touch key device of claim 1, wherein The limiting structure (500) includes a travel limiting hole (510) and a travel limiting part (520) slidably disposed in the travel limiting hole (510). One of the travel limiting hole (510) and the travel limiting part (520) is disposed in the floating seat (100), and the other of the travel limiting hole (510) and the travel limiting part (520) is disposed in the base (200). The relative sliding direction of the travel limiting part (520) and the travel limiting hole (510) is the elastic floating direction of the floating seat (100).

3. The touch key device of claim 2, wherein The touch button device also includes an elastic element (600) disposed between the floating seat (100) and the base (200), and the elastic element (600) is used to make the floating seat (100) always have a tendency to move away from the base (200).

4. The touch key device of claim 3, wherein The limiting structure (500) is provided in multiple sets, and the multiple sets of the limiting structure (500) are arranged in a dispersed manner; and / or, the number of the elastic element (600) is multiple, and the multiple elastic elements (600) are arranged in a dispersed manner.

5. The touch key device of claim 1, wherein The touch control panel (300) is snapped and fixed to the base (200).

6. The touch key device of claim 1, wherein The touch sensing part (410) is attached and fixed to the floating base (100).

7. The touch key device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The touch signal collection component (400) is a printed circuit capacitive switch, and the touch button device also includes a connection terminal (700). The flexible connection part (420) is electrically connected to the touch control board (300) through the connection terminal (700).

8. The touch key device of claim 7, wherein The flexible connector (420) is covered with foam (800) on both the front and back sides.

9. The touch key device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The touch signal collection component (400) is an FPC.

10. An air conditioner cabinet machine, characterized in that, The device includes a housing and a touch button device according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the housing includes a front panel; the touch button device is located inside the housing, and the touch sensing part (410) of the touch button device is in close contact with the inner surface of the front panel.

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