USER INTERFACE ASSEMBLIES AND ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES THEREFOR

• US 20170031475A1
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Doering, Tyler James
• Granted Patent: US 9,612,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

User interfaces and electrode assemblies are provided. A user interface includes a printed circuit board and an outer touch panel spaced from the printed circuit board. The user interface assembly further includes an electrode assembly disposed between the printed circuit board and outer touch panel. The electrode assembly includes a first conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel. The electrode assembly further includes a second conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel. The first and second electrodes are intertwined and define a gap therebetween. The gap is generally constant along the lengths of the first and second electrodes between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second electrodes.

Claims

1. A user interface assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an outer touch panel spaced from the printed circuit board; and

an electrode assembly disposed between the printed circuit board and the outer touch panel, the electrode assembly comprising;

a first conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel; and

a second conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel,

wherein the first and second electrodes are intertwined and define a gap therebetween, the gap generally constant along the lengths of the first and second electrodes between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second electrodes.

2. The user interface assembly of claim 1, the first electrode further comprising an upper contact portion extending from the second end of the first electrode, the upper portion comprising an arm portion and a plurality of finger portions extending therefrom, the second electrode further comprising an upper contact portion extending from the second end of the second electrode, the upper portion comprising an arm portion and a plurality of finger portions extending therefrom, the arm portions and finger portions of the first and second electrodes further defining the gap therebetween, the gap generally constant between the neighboring arm portions and finger portions.

3. The user interface assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper contact portions of the first and second electrodes contact the outer touch panel.

4. The user interface assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper contact portions of the first and second electrodes are generally planer.

5. The user interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the first electrode extends generally helically along the length between the first end and the second end of the first electrode, and wherein the second electrode extends generally helically along the length between the first end and the second end of the second electrode.

6. The user interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a transmitting electrode and the second electrode is a receiving electrode.

7. The user interface assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode is a transmitting and receiving electrode.

8. The user interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the gap between approximately 0.25 times a thickness of the outer touch panel and approximately 0.5 times the thickness of the outer touch panel.

9. The user interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer touch panel is formed from glass.

10. The user interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are each formed from a metal.

11. An electrode assembly, comprising:

a first conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end; and

a second conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end,

wherein the first and second electrodes are intertwined and define a gap therebetween, the gap generally constant along the lengths of the first and second electrodes between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second electrodes.

12. The electrode assembly of claim 11, the first electrode further comprising an upper contact portion extending from the second end of the first electrode, the upper portion comprising an arm portion and a plurality of finger portions extending therefrom, the second electrode further comprising an upper contact portion extending from the second end of the second electrode, the upper portion comprising an arm portion and a plurality of finger portions extending therefrom, the arm portions and finger portions of the first and second electrodes further defining the gap therebetween, the gap generally constant between the neighboring arm portions and finger portions.

13. The electrode assembly of claim 12, wherein the upper contact portions of the first and second electrodes are generally planer.

14. The electrode assembly of claim 11, wherein the first electrode extends generally helically along the length between the first end and the second end of the first electrode, and wherein the second electrode extends generally helically along the length between the first end and the second end of the second electrode.

15. The electrode assembly of claim 11, wherein the first electrode is a transmitting electrode and the second electrode is a receiving electrode.

16. The electrode assembly of claim 11, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are each formed from a metal.

17. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber;

a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber;

a controller; and

a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface comprising;

a printed circuit board;

an outer touch panel spaced from the printed circuit board; and

an electrode assembly disposed between the printed circuit board and the outer touch panel, the electrode assembly comprising;

a first conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel; and

a second conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel,

wherein the first and second electrodes are intertwined and define a gap therebetween, the gap generally constant along the lengths of the first and second electrodes between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second electrodes.

18. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, the first electrode further comprising an upper contact portion extending from the second end of the first electrode, the upper portion comprising an arm portion and a plurality of finger portions extending therefrom, the second electrode further comprising an upper contact portion extending from the second end of the second electrode, the upper portion comprising an arm portion and a plurality of finger portions extending therefrom, the arm portions and finger portions of the first and second electrodes further defining the gap therebetween, the gap generally constant between the neighboring arm portions and finger portions.

19. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, wherein the first electrode extends generally helically along the length between the first end and the second end of the first electrode, and wherein the second electrode extends generally helically along the length between the first end and the second end of the second electrode.

20. The refrigerator appliance of claim 17, wherein the gap between approximately 0.25 times a thickness of the outer touch panel and approximately 0.5 times the thickness of the outer touch panel.