Touch sensor assembly and door including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances lack a display assembly that uniformly diffuses light emitted from LEDs, maintaining brightness and preventing foreign materials from entering through minute holes, while also maintaining a luxurious exterior appearance.
Innovation Solution
A display assembly is integrated into a household appliance with a front panel featuring a display window of minute through holes filled with a urethane coating liquid containing an anti-foaming agent, which diffuses light uniformly and prevents foreign materials from entering, without the need for an additional diffusive sheet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If minute through holes are formed in the exterior member for displaying light, then display function is enabled, but foreign materials can enter through the holes
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer is applied locally only to the rear surface of the exterior member at the display window region, filling the minute through holes without affecting other areas of the exterior member. This localized treatment prevents foreign material entry while maintaining the luxurious appearance and display function.
Solution Approach 2:
A coating layer is introduced as an intermediary substance between the exterior member and the external environment. This coating layer fills the minute through holes, acting as a barrier that prevents foreign materials from entering while allowing light to pass through for display.
2Illumination intensity
If a diffusive sheet is added to uniformly diffuse light, then light diffusion is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light diffusion function is merged with the exterior member itself by forming a coating layer directly on its rear surface. This eliminates the need for a separate diffusive sheet, reducing device complexity while achieving uniform light diffusion through the minute through holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it fills the minute through holes to prevent foreign material entry, diffuses light uniformly for display, and maintains the luxurious appearance of the exterior member. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional components.
3Shape
If the exterior member is made of metal material for luxurious appearance, then aesthetic quality is improved, but light diffusion uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer is applied locally to the rear surface of the metal exterior member at the display window region. This localized treatment enables light diffusion uniformity without affecting the overall luxurious metal appearance of the exterior member.
Solution Approach 2:
A composite structure is formed by combining the metal exterior member with a coating layer on its rear surface. The coating layer provides light diffusion uniformity while the metal exterior member maintains its luxurious appearance, creating a composite system that achieves both aesthetic quality and functional performance.
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 ensures uniform light diffusion and brightness, enhancing the display clarity and maintaining the luxurious appearance of the appliance's exterior by preventing foreign material entry and eliminating light leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a display window formed with a plurality of through holes having minute size is formed at the front panel, and the plurality of through holes are filled with a coating liquid including an anti-foaming agent
Implementation Method 2
screen printing an urethane coating liquid, which includes an anti-foaming agent, onto a rear surface of the exterior member and forming a hole filling coating layer
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance as described herein includes a front panel forming an exterior, a display window formed with a plurality of through holes having minute or fine sizes formed at the front panel, and the plurality of through holes are filled with a urethane coating liquid including an anti-foaming agent.