Display and / or operating unit semi-finished product, display and / or operating unit, electric device comprising such a display and / or operating unit, and method for producing a display and / or operating unit

Abstract

Semi-finished display and / or operating unit, display and / or operating unit, electrical device and method for producing a display and / or operating unit The invention relates to a semi-finished display and / or operating unit, comprising a device panel (1) with a front side (11) and a rear side (12), an in-mold film (2) which is arranged on the rear side (12) of the device panel (1) and which has a substrate (24) which is provided with a decorative print (25) and a structurable barrier layer (26), wherein the structurable barrier layer (26) is arranged on the side of the substrate (24) facing away from the rear side (12) and forms an outer surface of the semi-finished display and / or operating unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a display and / or operating unit, comprising the display and / or operating unit semi-finished product, wherein the structurable barrier layer (26) is structured, and to an electrical device comprising the display and / or operating unit.The invention further relates to a method for producing a display and / or operating unit, comprising the following steps in the specified order: a) providing an in-mold film (2) which has a substrate (24) which is provided with a decorative print (25) and a structurable barrier layer (26), and b) front-injecting the in-mold film (2) with a molding compound to produce a device panel (1) with a front side (11) and a rear side (12), such that the structurable barrier layer (26) is arranged on the side of the device panel (1) facing away from the rear side (12) and forms an outer surface of the display and / or operating unit.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a display and / or operating unit semi-finished product, a display and / or operating unit, an electrical device having such a display and / or operating unit, and a method for producing a display and / or operating unit. In particular, the invention relates to a display and / or operating unit semi-finished product and a display and / or operating unit having a device panel, as well as to an electrical device having the display and / or operating unit semi-finished product and the display and / or operating unit, and to a method for producing a display and / or operating unit.

[0002] If device panels are produced for different countries due to different configurations of electrical devices and / or different language versions, the multitude of variants significantly increases production effort and thus costs. Separate printing screens must be created and maintained for each variant during production, especially for printing device panels. To reliably distinguish components during production and handling processes, individual material numbers must be created and maintained for all variants.

[0003] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a display and / or operating unit, an electrical device and a method for producing a display and / or operating unit which ensure low manufacturing costs, simplified manufacturing and handling processes and an increase in the flexibility of their display and / or operating unit components.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a display and / or control unit semi-finished product having the features of patent claim 1, a display and / or control unit having the features of patent claim 7, an electrical device having the features of patent claim 8, and a manufacturing method having the features of patent claim 9. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

[0005] The advantages achieved with the invention include a reduction in the number of in-mold film variants to be produced and a reduction in costs, as well as a significant simplification of logistics, manufacturing, and handling processes. Since the number of the few variants still to be produced inevitably increases significantly, larger quantities of these few film variants can be produced and / or procured more cheaply.

[0006] By combining in-mold technology with a decorative layer and a structuring process later in the production process, e.g., using a laser, the device panel can be created very late in the production process in a device manufacturing plant. This allows large quantities of in-mold films printed with neutral language and symbols to be produced or processed into universal panels using the in-mold process. A distinction is only necessary for the basic colors of the device design. Using a subsequent structuring process in the device manufacturing plant, these universal panels can be individually structured depending on the desired features of the respective device or the required language variant.

[0007] To ensure that the films to be processed in the in-mold process are suitable for subsequent structuring, the structurable barrier layer is arranged on the side of the substrate facing away from the back and forms an outer surface of the display and / or control unit semi-finished product. This makes it accessible for the structuring process. For a device panel, in which the in-mold film is front-injected from the molding compound of the device panel, the structurable barrier layer is arranged accordingly on the side facing away from the viewer. Furthermore, the surface of the device panel visible to the viewer can be provided with a decorative layer. Cutouts for indicators, displays, text, symbols, logos, or the like can be left out of this decorative layer if required.This construction concept enables, when the structures exposed in the barrier print are backlit, a sharply contoured image of the areas acting as an optical aperture, such as texts, symbols, etc., on the decorative layer acting as a projection surface.

[0008] Depending on whether the decorative layer has a light or dark base color, the decorative layer itself can serve as a translucent projection surface or an additional printing layer may be required, e.g. with a black base color. The spatial arrangement of the respective layers in the layer structure of the in-mold films can be implemented in very different ways with this structure, which opens up a lot of variety. A combination of printing and / or coatings on a side of a substrate of the in-mold film facing the viewer and on a side of the substrate facing away from the viewer is possible, or printing exclusively on the side of the substrate facing away from the viewer. Position and direction information refer to a viewer looking at the front of the device panel as it is installed on a device intended for this purpose.

[0009] The invention relates to a display and / or control unit semi-finished product, comprising a device panel with a front side and a rear side, an in-mold film which is arranged on the rear side of the device panel and which has a substrate which is provided with an optional decorative print and a structurable barrier layer, wherein the structurable barrier layer is arranged on the side of the substrate facing away from the rear side and forms an outer surface of the display and / or control unit semi-finished product.

[0010] The device panel is preferably made of plastic. The substrate is preferably made of a plastic film.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the in-mold film further comprises a glaze print, a light-scattering element, and / or a functional layer, wherein the functional layer preferably comprises electrically conductive structures. The functional layer can, for example, enable touch operation.

[0012] The in-mold film preferably has a sacrificial layer arranged adjacent to the structurable barrier layer on a side of the structurable barrier layer facing the back. The sacrificial layer is preferably positioned adjacent to the structurable barrier layer. It prevents damage to the layer adjacent to the structurable barrier layer, for example, due to fluctuations in the (laser) structuring process. Properties of printing inks, their layer thicknesses, and tolerances in the structuring process, particularly in the laser structuring process, make targeted and reliable removal of only the structurable barrier layer difficult. The structuring process is preferably adjusted such that any tolerances and fluctuations in the structuring are buffered by the sacrificial layer.

[0013] The decorative print is preferably translucent. The translucent layer acts like a ground glass or projection surface.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the decorative print represents a surface visible to a user when viewing the front. Alternatively or additionally, one or more cutouts are preferably provided. This depends on the requirements of the display and / or control unit to be manufactured.

[0015] Preferably, the display and / or control unit semi-finished product is flat. Alternatively, the display and / or control unit semi-finished product preferably has a curved and / or arched surface.

[0016] Furthermore, the invention relates to a display and / or operating unit comprising a display and / or operating unit semi-finished product according to one or more of the previously described embodiments, wherein the structurable barrier layer is structured. Preferably, the structurable barrier layer is laser-structured.

[0017] The invention further relates to an electrical device having the display and / or control unit described above. The electrical device is preferably an electrical household appliance. The electrical household appliance is designed, in particular, as a washing machine, washer-dryer, dryer, dishwasher, oven, coffee machine, pizza oven, warming drawer, vacuum drawer, dialogue oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, wine cabinet, steamer, and / or extractor hood. The term "household appliance" refers to an appliance that can be used in a household, but can also be used commercially.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a display and / or operating unit, comprising the following steps in the specified order a) Providing an in-mould film having a substrate provided with a decorative print and a structurable barrier layer, and b) front-injecting the in-mould film with a moulding compound to produce a device panel having a front side and a rear side, such that the structurable barrier layer is arranged on the side of the device panel facing away from the rear side and forms an outer surface of the display and / or operating unit.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, step c) of structuring the structurable barrier layer is performed after step b). Preferably, step c) is performed using a laser. Lasers offer geometry and material flexibility even at small feature sizes and enable rapid design changes, which has a positive impact on production flexibility.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the drawings and are described in more detail below. Only areas necessary for understanding the principle of the invention are shown. In principle, the illustrated embodiments can be supplemented by further layers, such as printed layers, such as electrically conductive structures and / or printed layers on the film side shown as unprinted. It shows schematically and not to scale. Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit according to the prior art; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another display and / or operating unit according to the prior art; Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another display and / or operating unit according to the prior art; Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit according to a first embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit according to a second embodiment; Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit according to a third embodiment; Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit according to a fourth embodiment; Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit according to a fifth embodiment; Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of a method according to the invention; and Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit semi-finished product according to the invention.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or control unit according to the prior art. The display and / or control unit has a device panel 1 with a front side 11 and a back side 12. It also comprises an in-mold film 2 arranged on the back side 12. The in-mold film 2 has a substrate 24, a decorative print and a barrier print 21, for example in black, an optional glaze print 22 and an optional light-diffusing element 23 such as a scattering print, for example in white. The decorative print and the barrier print 21 are arranged adjacent to the back side 12, and the glaze print 22 is arranged adjacent to it. The light-diffusing element 23 is positioned adjacent to this, and the substrate 24 is formed adjacent to this and forms an outer surface of the in-mold film. Furthermore, the display and / or control unit has a backlight 3, which backlights the device panel 1 and the in-mould film 2 during operation.Any texts and symbols are part of the foil printing.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another display and / or control unit according to the state of the art. Fig. 2 The display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the one in Fig. 1 shown display and / or control unit with the difference that between the back 12 and the substrate 24 a decorative print 25, e.g. in white color, is applied adjacent to the back 12 and a barrier print 26 is applied between the decorative print 25 and the substrate 24.

[0023] Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another display and / or control unit according to the state of the art. Fig. 3 The display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the one in Fig. 2 shown display and / or control unit with the difference that the in-mold film 2 has the following layer structure. The substrate 24 is arranged adjacent to the rear side 12. The substrate 24 is followed by a decorative print and a barrier print 21, e.g., in black. Adjacent to the decorative and barrier print 21, a glaze print 22 is optionally applied; adjacent to the glaze print 22 or the decorative and barrier print 21, a light-scattering element 23 such as a scattering layer in white is arranged, which forms an outer surface of the in-mold film 2.

[0024] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or operating unit according to a first embodiment. Fig. 4 The display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the one in Fig. 3 shown display and / or control unit, with the difference that the in-mold film 2 has the following layer structure: A substrate 24 is arranged adjacent to the rear side 12. This is followed by a translucent decorative print 25, e.g., in white. Adjacent to the decorative print 25 is a structured barrier print 26, which represents an outer surface of the in-mold film 2 and has laser-structured regions 5.

[0025] Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or control unit according to a second embodiment. Fig. 5 The display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the one in Fig. 4 shown display and / or control unit with the difference that the in-mold film 2 has the following layer structure: Adjacent to the rear side 12 is the substrate 24. Adjacent to the substrate 24 is a glaze print 22, e.g. black translucent or transparent, followed by a scattered print 23, e.g. in white (translucent) color. Adjacent to this is optionally arranged a functional layer 27, e.g. in the form of electrically conductive structures. This is followed by a sacrificial layer 28, adjacent to which is arranged a structured barrier print 26, which represents an outer surface of the in-mold film 2, wherein the structured barrier print has an area 4 structured by means of a printing process and laser-structured areas 5.

[0026] Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or control unit according to a third embodiment. Fig. 6 The display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the one in Fig. 5 shown display and / or control unit with the difference that the in-mold film 2 has the following layer structure: Adjacent to the rear side 12 is a glaze print 22, e.g., black, translucent or transparent. Adjacent to this is a scatter print 23, e.g., in white (translucent) color, followed by a substrate 24, adjacent to which is optionally provided a functional layer 27, e.g., in the form of electrically conductive structures, adjacent to this is a sacrificial layer 28, and adjacent to this is the structured or structurable barrier print 26.

[0027] Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or control unit according to a fourth embodiment. Fig. 7 The display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the one in Fig. 5 shown display and / or control unit with the difference that the decorative printing 25, due to its nature / properties, is also suitable for assuming the function of scatter printing 23 and glaze printing 22. The decorative printing 25 is arranged here on the side of the substrate 24 facing away from the user.

[0028] Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or control unit according to a fifth embodiment. Fig. 8 The display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the one in Fig. 6 shown display and / or control unit with the difference that the decorative printing 25, due to its nature / properties, is also suitable for assuming the function of scatter printing 23 and glaze printing 22. The decorative printing 25 is arranged here on the side of the substrate 24 facing the user.

[0029] Fig. 9 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method according to the invention. The method according to the invention has the following steps: First, in step a, an in-mold film is provided which has a substrate provided with a decorative print and a structurable barrier layer. Following step a, a step b, front-injection molding of the in-mold film with a molding compound is carried out to produce a device panel with a front side and a rear side, so that the structurable barrier layer is arranged on the side of the device panel facing away from the rear side and thus forms an outer surface of the display and / or control unit. This gives a display and / or control unit semi-finished product that can be used for a variety of electrical devices.After step b, the display and / or control unit semi-finished product is used to produce a display and / or control unit by means of a step c) structuring the structurable barrier layer, preferably using a laser.

[0030] Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a display and / or control unit semi-finished product according to the invention. Fig. 10 The semi-finished display and / or control unit shown corresponds to the Fig. 5 shown display and / or control unit with the difference that the barrier layer does not have any of the Figur 5 visible laser-structured areas 5. List of reference symbols

[0031] 1Device panel 11Front 12Rear 2In-mold film 21Decorative print and barrier print 22Glazed print 23Light-diffusing element 24Substrate 25Decorative print 26Barrier print 27Functional layer 28Sacrificial layer 3Backlighting 4Areas structured by printing process 5Laser-structured areas

Claims

1. A display and / or control unit semi-finished product, comprising a device panel (1) with a front side (11) and a rear side (12), an in-mold film (2) which is arranged on the rear side (12) of the device panel (1) and which has a substrate (24) which is provided with a decorative print (25) and a structurable barrier layer (26), wherein the structurable barrier layer (26) is arranged on the side of the substrate (24) facing away from the rear side (12) and forms an outer surface of the display and / or control unit semi-finished product.

2. Display and / or control unit semi-finished product according to claim 1, characterized in that the in-mould film (2) further comprises a glaze print (22), a light-scattering element (23) and / or a functional layer (27), wherein the functional layer (27) preferably comprises electrically conductive structures.

3. Display and / or control unit semi-finished product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe in-mould film (2) has a sacrificial layer (28) which is arranged adjacent to the structurable barrier layer (26) on a side of the structurable barrier layer (26) facing the rear side (12).

4. Display and / or control unit semi-finished product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decorative print (25) is translucent 5. Display and / or control unit semi-finished product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decorative print (25) represents an area visible to a user when viewing the front side (11) and / or one or more cutouts are left out.

6. Display and / or control unit semi-finished product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is flat or has a curved and / or arched surface.

7. Display and / or operating unit, comprising a display and / or operating unit semi-finished product according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the structurable barrier layer (26) is structured, preferably laser-structured.

8. Electrical device comprising the display and / or control unit according to claim 7.

9. A method for producing a display and / or operating unit, comprising the following steps in the specified order: a) providing an in-mold film (2) which has a substrate (24) which is provided with a decorative print (25) and a structurable barrier layer (26), and b) front-injection molding of the in-mold film (2) with a molding compound to produce a device panel (1) with a front side (11) and a rear side (12), such that the structurable barrier layer (26) is arranged on the side of the device panel (1) facing away from the rear side (12) and forms an outer surface of the display and / or operating unit.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that after step b), a step c) structuring the structurable barrier layer (26), preferably using a laser, is carried out.

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