Pump Control Panel with Capacitive Touch and Splash Protection Film
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps, particularly centrifugal pumps, lack an efficient and user-friendly interface for manual actuation and configuration, often relying on mechanical switches or buttons that require physical movement and lack effective splash protection.
Innovation Solution
Equipping the control panel with a touch-sensitive surface, sealed by a protective film, and incorporating light sources for visual feedback, allowing operation via capacitive touch and simulating mechanical movements like a setting wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical switches or buttons are used for control panel operation, then the interface is simple and reliable, but the ease of operation deteriorates and splash protection becomes difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical switches and buttons with a capacitive touch-sensitive surface that detects touch inputs through electrical capacitance changes. This eliminates mechanical moving parts while maintaining operational reliability and improving ease of use by allowing operation without physical contact force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a protective film over the touch-sensitive surface to provide splash water protection (IP44 rating). The film acts as a barrier against water ingress while remaining transparent to touch signals, thus protecting the underlying electronics without compromising the touch interface functionality.
2Reliability
If a protective film is added to seal the touch-sensitive surface, then splash water protection is improved, but the touch sensitivity may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a specifically designed protective film that is transparent to capacitive touch signals. The film material and thickness are selected to provide adequate water protection while allowing the electric field to penetrate through, thus maintaining touch sensitivity beneath the protective layer.
3Loss of information
If light sources are arranged on the accessible substrate surface, then visual feedback is provided, but the touch surface smoothness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the light sources from the front accessible surface to the rear side of the substrate. The light is then transmitted through transparent areas of the substrate or via dedicated openings, providing visual feedback without compromising the smoothness of the touch surface. This dimensional relocation resolves the conflict between visual indication and tactile smoothness.
4Ease of operation
If mechanical movement kinematics are used for setting wheel operation, then the operation is intuitive, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical setting wheel with capacitive touch sensors arranged in a circular pattern on the touch-sensitive surface. The control unit processes touch inputs at different angular positions to determine rotational position and direction, eliminating mechanical kinematics while maintaining intuitive circular operation gestures and reducing mechanical complexity.
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
Provides a user-friendly, splash-protected, and visually feedback-enabled touch interface for pump operation, enhancing usability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an embodiment based on electrical capacitance is suitable. The touch-sensitive surface can be applied to a substrate as carrier material. In the case of a capacitive touch surface, electrodes are provided for this purpose which construct a defined structure, for example a grid structure, on the accessible substrate surface
Implementation Method 2
the light sources, in particular light-emitting diodes, be arranged on the lower side of the substrate. A sufficient light transmission is to be achieved via transparent partial areas of the substrate and/or dedicated openings in the substrate in the area of the light-emitting diodes
Data Source
AI summary
A pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, includes a control panel for manually operating and/or configuring the pump. The control panel includes at least one touch-sensitive surface for user inputs, and at least one film for sealing the touch-sensitive surface from the environment applied on the touch-sensitive surface. The control panel may include features such as light sources, preferably arranged in a ring simulating a mechanical adjustment wheel.