Control panel assembly and method for controlling thereof

• US 7,394,033 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jae Mun
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US10/925,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 200310-314, 200293-296
• US Class Current: 200/296
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/05 Key offset in relation to switch site
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/064 Optical isolation of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/004 U-shaped openings surrounding keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/054 connected by flexible webs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/012 Household appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/022 Application wake up; switches or contacts specially provided for the wake up or standby shift of a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

Abstract

A control panel assembly is disclosed for making it easy to manipulate buttons of home appliances, the control panel including at least one LED connected to a circuit board for selectively emitting light, a switch connected to the circuit board and provided adjacent to the LED for controlling a home appliance, a control panel provided in front of the LED and having at least one first hole, and at least one elastic button coupled with an edge of the first hole for selectively coming into contact with the switch in response to a user pressing the button, the elastic button having a pushing member including a first light-transmitting part for transmitting therethrough light emitted from the LED.

Claims

1. A control panel assembly comprising:

at least one LED connected to a circuit board for selectively emitting light;

a switch, connected to the circuit board and provided adjacent to a supporter that protects and surrounds the at least one LED, for controlling a home appliance;

a control panel provided in front of the LED and having at least one first hole; and

at least one elastic button coupled with an edge of the first hole for selectively coming into contact with the switch in response to a user pressing the button, wherein the elastic button comprises a pushing member including a first light-transmitting part for transmitting therethrough light emitted from the LED and wherein the elastic button further comprises an elastic supporting member extended outwardly from the edge of the pushing member and coupled with the edge of the first hole.

2. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporter comprises:

a main frame; and

at least one protecting member provided at the main frame for inserting the LED therein.

3. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protecting member is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a second hole formed toward the control panel.

4. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic supporting member comprises thin holes formed therein in a ‘

U’

shape for increasing elasticity.

5. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a protrusion selectively coming into contact with the switch is provided at a bottom surface of the elastic button.

6. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stopper provided near the switch for maintaining the balance of the elastic button when the elastic button is in contact with the switch.

7. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the height of the stopper is lower than that of the switch.

8. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch is a contact switch being operated by the contact with the elastic button.

9. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an approach detecting sensor; and

a control means for selectively supplying electric power to the LED when the sensor detects an approach of the user.

10. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hook is provided on a inside edge of the first hole and is snap fitted in a fixing groove formed in an edge of the elastic button.

11. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one third hole is formed in the control panel, and a plurality of auxiliary LEDs are provided under each of a plurality of the third holes so as to display an operational condition of the home appliance.

12. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an LED window, wherein the LED window comprises:

a body; and

a plurality of second light-transmitting members provided in a plurality of the third holes, the second light-transmitting members being branched from the body respectively so as to correspond to each of a plurality of the auxiliary LEDs.

13. The control panel assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein a projection rib is provided on an inside surface of the control panel, and the projection rib is coupled to a coupling hole formed at one side of the body.