Single-layer appliance indicator light with side-fire LED
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Compact appliance control panels face challenges in accommodating both capacitive touch sensors and corresponding indicator lights, as minimizing the size of the capacitive touch sensor complicates the placement and illumination of the indicator light.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a light guide on a circuit board within the control console, which provides optical communication from an LED mounted on the back surface to the face surface, allowing for efficient illumination of capacitive touch sensors without obstructing their operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size of the capacitive touch sensor is minimized, then the compactness of the control panel is improved, but the placement and illumination of the corresponding indicator light becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The LED is mounted on the back surface of the circuit board rather than the front surface, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to resolve the spatial conflict between the minimized touch sensor and the indicator light. The light guide then transports the light from this alternate dimension to the required location on the face surface.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component to transfer optical energy from the LED (mounted on the back surface) to the face surface where the indicator light needs to be displayed. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the LED placement from the light output location.
2Device complexity
If the capacitive touch sensor and indicator light are integrated in the same assembly, then the device complexity is reduced, but the illumination of the indicator light may obstruct the operation of the capacitive touch sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The LED is positioned on the back surface of the circuit board, using the depth dimension to separate the light source from the capacitive touch sensor plane. This spatial separation in the third dimension allows both components to coexist in the same assembly without the LED obstructing the touch sensor's capacitive field detection.
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 solution enables the effective placement and illumination of indicator lights in compact control panels, enhancing user interface functionality while maintaining the compactness of capacitive touch sensors.
Implementation Method 1
A light guide is mounted on the circuit board. The light guide provides optical communication from the LED to the face surface of the console cover.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance includes a control console. The control console includes a console cover with a circuit board. A front surface of the circuit board is attached to an interior surface of the console cover. A capacitive touch sensor is in operative communication with a face surface of the console cover and an LED is on a back surface of the circuit board. A light guide is mounted on the circuit board and provides optical communication from the LED to the face surface of the console cover.