Touch sensor assembly and refrigerator door with touch sensor assembly and method for manufacturing the same

• US 10,345,981 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Hyunki, Park, Seungje, Park, Jinseung, Park, Kihyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bibbee, Chayce R
• Application Number:
  US15/969,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20180246602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/02 Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/086 touch control
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9643 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96015 Constructional details for touch switches for capacitive touch switches see H03K2217/9607

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A refrigerator door comprising:

a front panel defining an outer appearance of a front surface of the refrigerator door and in which a display window is disposed;

a deco member coupled to the front panel, the deco member defining an insertion hole on one side of the deco member;

a door liner coupled to the deco member to define a rear surface of the refrigerator door;

an insulation material filled into a space defined by the front panel, the deco member, and the door liner;

a frame defining a rear space of the front panel;

a display assembly inserted through the insertion hole after the insulation material is filled and disposed in the space defined by the frame, the display assembly being configured to irradiate light passing through the display window into the rear space of the front panel to display an operation state of a refrigerator; and

a touch sensor assembly comprising;

a sensor PCB,

a sensor that is mounted on a front surface of the sensor PCB, that contacts a rear surface of the front panel, and that is configured to detect deformation of the front panel due to a pushing manipulation by a user, and

a touch booster disposed between the sensor and the front panel and configured to transmit displacement of the front panel, which occurs when the front panel is pushed, into the sensor,

wherein the display assembly comprises a display PCB on which an LED for irradiating the light is mounted, and

wherein a sensor control part configured to process a signal generated by the touch sensor assembly is mounted on the display PCB.

2. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor assembly comprises an elastic member configured to press the sensor toward the front panel.

3. The refrigerator door according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is disposed on a rear surface of the sensor PCB and configured to support the sensor PCB.

4. The refrigerator door according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is provided in plurality, and

wherein the elastic member is disposed between the plurality of sensors.

5. The refrigerator door according to claim 3, wherein a mounting display part on which a mounted position of the elastic member is displayed is disposed on the rear surface of the sensor PCB.

6. The refrigerator door according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is disposed on each of both sides of the sensor outside an outer end of the sensor.

7. The refrigerator door according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member comprises:

a plurality of supports each of which extends from the sensor PCB that is disposed outside the sensor; and

a connection part connects corresponding ends of the supports to each other.

8. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor assembly comprises the sensor PCB on which the sensor is mounted, and

wherein a sensor support that is recessed to support a circumference of the sensor is further disposed on the sensor PCB.

9. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch booster comprises:

a first extension part extending from one side;

a second extension part extends in a direction that is opposite to that of the first extension part; and

a common part contacting the first and second extension parts, the common part contacting the sensor at a position corresponding to the sensor.

10. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch booster comprises:

a common part contacting the sensor; and

a cut part that is spirally cut toward a center of the common part.

11. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch booster comprises a common part that moves along the displacement of the front panel, and

wherein a protrusion contacting the sensor is further disposed on the common part.

12. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor assembly comprises:

a sensor housing defining a space in which the sensor PCB, on which the sensor is mounted, is seated, and

wherein the touch booster covers an opening of the sensor housing, and is mounted movable in a front/rear direction on the sensor housing and closely attached to the front panel.

13. The refrigerator door according to claim 12, wherein a hook and hook groove which are coupled to each other are disposed on/in the sensor housing and the touch booster, respectively, and

wherein the hook groove has a size that is large enough to allow the touch booster to move in the front/rear direction.

14. The refrigerator door according to claim 13, wherein the hook and hook groove are coupled to each other so that a front surface of the touch booster further protrudes from that of the sensor housing.

15. The refrigerator door according to claim 12, wherein an adhesion member for allowing the sensor housing to adhere to the front panel is disposed on a circumference of the opening.

16. The refrigerator door according to claim 12, wherein a booster support protruding along the opening to restrict backward movement of the touch booster is further disposed on the sensor housing.

17. The refrigerator door according to claim 12, wherein a wire hole through which a wire connected to the sensor PCB is accessible is defined in a side surface of the sensor housing.

18. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor assembly comprises:

a housing cover closely attached to the front panel;

a housing body coupled to the housing cover to define a space in which the sensor PCB, on which the sensor is mounted, is accommodated; and

a plurality of elastic members disposed between the sensor PCB and the housing body to press the sensor PCB toward the front panel,

wherein a plurality of cover coupling parts and body coupling parts that match each other are disposed at the same distance on the housing cover and the housing body, respectively, and

wherein, based on the housing cover and the housing body being coupled to each other, the elastic member is configured to be pressed by the housing body.

19. The refrigerator door according to claim 18, wherein the cover coupling parts and the body coupling parts are disposed on both sides of the sensor, respectively, and

wherein the cover coupling parts, the body coupling parts, and the sensor are disposed along a common extension line.