Refrigerator Door Touch Sensor Assembly for Stable Displacement Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensor assemblies for household appliances, such as refrigerators, face challenges in accurately sensing movement displacement during touch operations due to inadequate support structures, leading to reduced recognition rates and increased sensitivity to static electricity.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor assembly with a sensor housing and elastic member that presses the sensor PCB against the exterior member, supported by a sensor support portion, enhancing sensitivity and preventing inclination, while a separate sensor controller is used to process signals and maintain a distance from potential static electricity sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the touch sensor assembly is mounted without adequate support structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of movement displacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor support portion as an intermediary component between the sensor PCB and the exterior member. This support structure mediates the mechanical connection, providing stable support for the touch sensor assembly while enabling accurate detection of movement displacement without requiring complex mounting structures.
2Measurement precision
If the touch sensor is pressed against the exterior member with concentrated force at the center, then the measurement precision of touch operation is improved, but the reliability of the sensor structure deteriorates due to potential inclination
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor support portion provides localized support at specific regions (edges or corners) of the sensor PCB rather than uniform support across the entire sensor assembly. This local quality approach allows the center of the touch sensor to be freely deformable for accurate touch detection while the supported edges maintain structural stability and prevent inclination.
3Device complexity
If the sensor controller is integrated close to the touch sensor, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to sensitivity to static electricity
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller is extracted from the immediate vicinity of the touch sensor assembly and positioned at a separate location (such as on the main control board). This separation removes the sensitive controller from the environment where static electricity can easily accumulate on the exterior member, thereby improving reliability while maintaining acceptable device complexity through standardized control architecture.
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 improves touch recognition accuracy and reduces sensitivity failures by concentrating force on the center of the touch sensor, preventing static damage, and maintaining a stable structure with improved alignment and recognition of display elements.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member which is disposed at the rear of the sensor PCB and presses the sensor PCB toward a rear surface of the external member
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a sensor housing disposed at a rear surface of an external member on which a touch operation unit on which a user touches is marked, a sensor PCB accommodated in the sensor housing, and an elastic member which is disposed at a rear side of the sensor PCB and presses the sensor PCB toward a rear surface of the external member, wherein the elastic member is mounted in an elastic member accommodation portion formed at a bottom surface of the sensor housing.