Backlit Appliance Control Panel With Etched Transparent Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-sensitive and approach-sensitive operating devices for domestic appliances lack design flexibility and operability, with complex sensor units that increase production costs and occupy space.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with a panel unit that integrates a lighting unit and a sensor unit, where the sensor unit is arranged between the lighting unit and the panel unit, using a transparent support element with etched sensor elements and conductor tracks, allowing for improved design freedom and reduced costs through known wire technology methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex sensor unit is used in existing operating devices, then detection functionality is achieved, but design freedom is reduced and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor element is extracted from complex sensor unit assemblies and implemented as a simple etched structure directly on a transparent support element. This extraction eliminates the need for complex sensor unit housings, mounting mechanisms, and associated components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection functionality and enhancing design freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses etched conductor patterns on transparent support elements that replicate the functionality of complex sensor electrodes. These etched structures serve as simplified copies that achieve the same capacitive sensing function without requiring complex three-dimensional sensor unit assemblies, reducing both complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If complex sensor units are used in operating devices, then detection functionality is achieved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor element is implemented as a thin, etched conductor pattern on a transparent support element that can be manufactured using cost-effective printing or etching processes. This approach replaces expensive complex sensor units with inexpensive etched structures that achieve reliable detection functionality at lower production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sensor unit assemblies with etched conductor patterns on transparent support elements. This substitution eliminates mechanical complexity and associated manufacturing costs while maintaining detection functionality through capacitive sensing, thereby improving ease of manufacture and reducing production costs.
3Reliability
If complex sensor units are used in operating devices, then detection functionality is achieved, but space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor element is extracted from bulky sensor unit assemblies and implemented as thin etched structures on transparent support elements. This extraction reduces the spatial footprint of the sensing component while maintaining detection functionality, thereby reducing space consumption in the operating device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin transparent support elements with etched conductor patterns that serve as the sensing structure. These thin-film implementations replace bulky three-dimensional sensor units, significantly reducing the space required for the sensing function while maintaining reliable detection capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances design flexibility and operability while reducing production costs and space usage, enabling efficient detection and display of operating states through transillumination and back-lighting.
Implementation Method 1
with a lighting unit which is provided to back-light and/or transilluminate at least one operating region
Implementation Method 2
the sensor element is arranged on the at least one support element as an etched structure
Data Source
AI summary
An operating device includes at least one panel unit which has at least one operating region and a lighting unit configured to back-light and/or to transilluminate the at least one operating region. A sensor unit including at least one at least partly transparent support element and at least one sensor element which is arranged on the at least one support element as an etched structure is arranged at least partly between the lighting unit and the panel unit.