Touch sensor assembly for home appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensor assemblies for home appliances, such as refrigerator doors, face challenges in accurately detecting user interactions while maintaining a sleek exterior design, particularly in integrating sensors that can withstand mechanical deformation and maintain operational reliability.
Innovation Solution
The proposed touch sensor assembly incorporates a touch booster with a spirally cut common part that moves along the exterior member's displacement, coupled with a hook and hook groove mechanism, an elastic member for support, and a conductive foil pattern for enhanced signal detection, allowing the sensor to protrude and accurately detect user input while adhering to the exterior member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the sensor is integrated flush with the exterior member, then the aesthetic appearance and slim profile are improved, but the detection accuracy of user interactions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The touch booster is designed as a movable component that dynamically changes position between a retracted state (flush with exterior member for aesthetic appearance) and a protruding state (extending beyond the surface for accurate touch detection). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining a slim profile and achieving detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the touch booster protrudes beyond the exterior member, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and slim profile deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The touch booster transitions from a static protruding structure to a dynamic component that can retract to be substantially flush with the exterior member surface, thereby maintaining aesthetic appearance while still capable of protruding for accurate detection when needed.
3Strength
If the exterior member is made rigid for durability, then the strength is improved, but the ability to transmit touch displacement to the sensor deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: a rigid exterior member for structural integrity and durability, and a separate movable touch booster for displacement transmission. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its properties without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch booster acts as an intermediary component between the rigid exterior member and the sensor. It receives displacement from the rigid exterior member and transmits it to the sensor, thereby enabling displacement transmission while maintaining the durability benefits of the rigid exterior member.
4Measurement precision
If the sensor assembly is made complex to improve detection accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch booster is implemented as a thin, flexible component that can elastically deform to transmit touch displacement. This simple yet effective design achieves accurate detection without requiring complex mechanical structures, thereby improving recognition rate while minimizing assembly 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
This design enhances the detection accuracy of user interactions by ensuring the touch booster effectively transmits displacement to the sensor, maintaining a slim profile and improving recognition rates while ensuring durability and aesthetic integration.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member configured to press the sensor toward the front panel
Implementation Method 2
a touch booster that is disposed on a top surface of the conductive foil to contact the exterior member, the touch booster being configured to elastically deform according to a displacement of the exterior member to press the sensor upon being touched
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a touch sensor assembly that is maintained in a state in which the touch sensor is closely attached to an exterior member to accurately detect displacement when touch manipulation is performed to improve a recognition rate, a refrigerator door including a touch sensor assembly that is capable of preventing a sensor control part from being damaged by static electricity and having an improved front outer appearance, and a method for manufacturing the refrigerator door.