Appliance user interface having reverse mount LEDs

• US 8,807,770 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Recio, Steven Michael, Ekbundit, Michael Wuttikorn, Didat, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US13/360,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 362 23- 30, 362/85, 362 971- 973, 362/249.02, 362/458
• US Class Current: 362/85
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/183 Components mounted in and supported by recessed areas of the printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10128 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10583 Cylindrically shaped component; Fixing means therefore
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49139 by inserting component lead or terminal into base aperture

Abstract

A system and method of displaying appliance information to a user is provided. Reverse mount LEDS may be used in a seven segment configuration and correlating to any other icon or indicator. The reverse mount LEDs may be mounted on single sided printed circuit board to form an appliance user display.

Claims

1. A home appliance, comprising:

a cabinet; and

a user interface for the home appliance coupled to the cabinet, wherein said user interface includes;

a single-sided printed circuit board, wherein a plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board;

a plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes mounted onto a first side of the single-sided printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes are positioned so as to respectively shine light through the plurality of holes;

a light guide adjacent to a second side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a diffuser screen adjacent to the light guide; and

a film disposed upon the diffuser screen.

2. The home appliance, as in claim 1, wherein the first side of the single-sided printed circuit board comprises a component side of the printed circuit board.

3. The home appliance, as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes serve as a plurality of non-numerical indicators.

4. The home appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a plurality of seven-segment displays.

5. The home appliance of claim 1, wherein the kitchen appliance comprises a dishwasher.

6. The home appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a numeric display portion and a non-numeric display portion.

7. A user interface of a home appliance comprising:

a single-sided printed circuit board within the home appliance, wherein a plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board;

a plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes mounted onto a first side of the single-sided printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes are positioned so as to respectively shine light through the plurality of holes;

a light guide adjacent to a second side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a diffuser screen adjacent to the light guide; and

a film disposed upon the diffuser screen.

8. The user interface, as in claim 7, wherein the first side of the single-sided printed circuit board comprises a component side of the printed circuit board.

9. The user interface of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes serve as a plurality of non-numerical indicators.

10. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a plurality of seven-segment displays.

11. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a numeric display portion and a non-numeric display portion.

12. A user interface of a home appliance comprising:

a single-sided printed circuit board within the home appliance, wherein a plurality of holes have been partially bored into a non-component side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes respectively mounted into the plurality of partially bored holes, wherein the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes are positioned so as to respectively shine light out of the plurality of partially bored holes;

a light guide adjacent to the non-component side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a diffuser screen adjacent to the light guide; and

a film disposed upon the diffuser screen.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes serve as a plurality of non-numerical indicators.

14. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged to form a plurality of seven-segment displays.

15. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged to form a numeric display portion and a non-numeric display portion.