Appliance Touch UI Assembly With Radial Icon Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Incorporating capacitive touch sensors and light sources in domestic appliance user interfaces poses challenges due to the need for light sources to be positioned far from the dielectric panel to ensure adequate light dispersion, which can detract from the appearance and complicate assembly.

Innovation Solution

A user interface assembly with a fascia and main control board that aligns capacitive touch sensors and light sources along the axial direction, using side-emitting light sources within apertures to emit light radially into a light-permissive portion of the fascia, facilitated by a single controller on the main control board.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If light sources are positioned far from the dielectric panel, then adequate light dispersion is achieved, but the appearance is compromised and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight dispersionVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces light guides as intermediary components that transmit light from the light sources to the dielectric panel. This allows the light sources to be positioned away from the panel while still achieving proper illumination, resolving the contradiction between light dispersion and assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The user interface assembly is segmented into distinct functional modules: light sources, light guides, dielectric panel, and touch sensors. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining proper light dispersion characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If light sources are positioned far from the dielectric panel, then adequate light dispersion is achieved, but the appearance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight dispersionVSAvoidappearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Light guides serve as intermediaries that carry light from distant sources to the dielectric panel, enabling proper light dispersion while keeping the visible light-emitting elements close to the panel surface, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical positioning of light sources near the panel with an optical transmission system using light guides, achieving light dispersion without the mechanical constraint of placing sources close to the surface, thereby preserving appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple controllers are used for multiple illuminated consumer icons, then functionality is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcontroller quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single controller that can manage multiple illuminated consumer icons through a unified control architecture. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of controllers needed while maintaining full functionality, thereby lowering manufacturing cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple control functions for different consumer icons are merged into a single controller unit, reducing component quantity and simplifying the overall system architecture while preserving adaptability and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 allows for efficient light dispersion without bleeding into surrounding areas, simplifies manufacturing, and reduces unnecessary costs by using a single controller for multiple illuminated consumer icons.

Implementation Method 1

capacitive touch sensors can detect a change in capacitance when the user touches the control panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The light source may be disposed within the aperture... emit light radially into a light-permissive portion of the fascia

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS12554365B1User interface assembly for a domestic appliance

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A user interface assembly for a domestic appliance may include a fascia. The fascia may include a consumer icon. The user interface assembly may include a main control board coupled to the fascia. The main control board may define an aperture therethrough. The aperture may be aligned with the consumer icon along an axial direction of the user interface. The main control board may include a controller mounted thereto. The user interface assembly may include a capacitive touch sensor module coupled to the main control board. The capacitive touch sensor module may include a secondary control board, a capacitive touch sensor, and a light source. The capacitive touch sensor may include an electrical capacitor mounted to the secondary control board. The capacitive touch sensor may be aligned with the consumer icon along the axial direction. The light source may be disposed within the aperture.