Dishwashing appliance with moisture-resistant capacitive touch sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch sensors in dishwashing appliances are prone to false activations due to moisture and wash liquids, making it challenging to integrate them effectively in these environments.
Innovation Solution
A dishwashing appliance design featuring a control console with a console cover, a console bracket, and a circuit board attached with a double-sided adhesive film, which creates seals to prevent moisture ingress and reduce false touch registrations, allowing for reliable operation of capacitive touch sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If capacitive touch sensors are used in a dishwashing appliance control panel, then the cosmetic appearance is improved with a smooth clean surface, but the sensors become susceptible to false activation by water and wash liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is segmented into a front panel portion and a rear panel portion, with the capacitive touch sensors positioned behind the front panel. This segmentation allows the front panel to provide a smooth cosmetic surface while the rear panel houses the electronic components, isolating the sensors from direct water exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric panel is introduced as an intermediary between the user's finger and the capacitive touch sensors. This dielectric panel allows the sensors to detect touch through the panel while providing protection against water and liquids that might cause false activation.
2Shape
If capacitive touch sensors are positioned behind a dielectric panel for aesthetic purposes, then the smooth surface appearance is improved, but moisture can still cause false touches through the panel
Solution Approach 1:
A moisture barrier layer is introduced as an intermediary between the dielectric panel and the capacitive touch sensors. This moisture barrier allows the dielectric panel to maintain its smooth cosmetic appearance while preventing moisture from reaching the sensors and causing false activation.
Solution Approach 2:
A thin flexible moisture barrier film is applied over the capacitive touch sensors behind the dielectric panel. This film provides moisture protection while being thin enough to allow capacitive coupling for touch detection to function properly.
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
The solution enhances the resistance of capacitive touch sensors to moisture, reducing false activations and maintaining a clean, aesthetically pleasing interface while ensuring reliable operation during wash cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a circuit board attached to an interior surface of the console cover with a double-sided adhesive film. The double-sided adhesive film sealingly engages the console cover and the console bracket.
Implementation Method 2
capacitive touch sensors that utilize a user's body capacitance to operate. In particular, capacitive touch sensors can detect a change in capacitance when the user touches the control panel.
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwashing appliance includes a cabinet and a tub in the cabinet. The tub defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. A door is rotatably mounted to the cabinet for movement between a closed position wherein the wash chamber is sealingly enclosed and an open position permitting access to the wash chamber for loading and unloading of articles from the dishwashing appliance. The dishwashing appliance also includes a control console positioned on the door. The control console includes a console cover on an exterior surface of the door, a console bracket mounted within an interior of the door and proximate the console cover, and a circuit board attached to an interior surface of the console cover with a double-sided adhesive film. The double-sided adhesive film sealingly engages the console cover and the console bracket.