Backlighting appliance deadfronted user interfaces

• US 10,581,430 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Wilford, Gregory Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Calvin C
• Application Number:
  US15/871,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 345158, 345173, 715701, 715702
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

A capacitive touch switch is disclosed which includes a transparent insulating panel, a filtering layer having an opaque color, a transparent icon being defined in the filtering layer, a transparent substrate including a capacitive electrode, the transparent substrate being tinted to substantially match the opaque color of the filtering layer, and a light source configured to transmit light through the transparent substrate, the transparent icon, and the transparent insulating panel when energized. A user interface and a method of manufacturing a capacitive touch switch are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A user interface, comprising:

a filtering layer positioned proximate an insulating panel and having an opaque color and a transparent icon;

a printed circuit board positioned behind the filtering layer and including a void and a circuit board terminal block that extends partially into the void;

an at least partially transparent substrate being formed of a tinted material, the transparent substrate being aligned with the void and including an electrode terminal block configured to interface with the circuit board terminal block; and

a light source configured to transmit light through a portion of the transparent substrate, the transparent icon, and the insulating panel.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the opaque color of the filtering layer is a color other than black or white.

3. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a light guide positioned to transmit light from the light source to a side of the transparent substrate opposite the filtering layer and the insulating panel.

4. The user interface of claim 3, further comprising:

an opaque cover positioned adjacent to the light guide, the opaque cover having a color that substantially matches the opaque color of the filtering layer.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate comprises a tinted, non-frosted glass sheet.

6. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller secured to the printed circuit board, the controller electrically coupled to a plurality of capacitive electrodes and to the light source.

7. A capacitive touch switch comprising:

a transparent panel;

a filtering layer positioned behind the transparent panel, wherein the filtering layer includes a transparent icon;

a tinted polymeric material positioned behind the filtering layer that substantially matches an opaque color of the filtering layer, wherein the tinted polymeric material includes an electrode terminal block;

an opaque printed circuit board positioned adjacent to the tinted polymeric material and including a circuit board terminal block configured to interface with the electrode terminal block; and

a light source configured to transmit light through the tinted polymeric material, the transparent icon, and the transparent panel.

8. The capacitive touch switch of claim 7, wherein the transparent panel is formed from a glass material.

9. The capacitive touch switch of claim 7, wherein the filtering layer includes an opaque color other than black or white.

10. The capacitive touch switch of claim 7, wherein the filtering layer contacts both the transparent panel and the tinted polymeric material.

11. The capacitive touch switch of claim 7, wherein the tinted polymeric material is a tinted plastic.

12. The capacitive touch switch of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of capacitive electrodes disposed on a surface of the tinted plastic of the tinted polymeric material.

13. The capacitive touch switch of claim 12, wherein the plurality of capacitive electrodes are disposed within the tinted polymeric material.

14. The capacitive touch switch of claim 13, further comprising:

a controller secured to the circuit board, the controller electrically coupled to the plurality of capacitive electrodes and to the light source.

15. The capacitive touch switch of claim 7, further comprising:

a light guide positioned to transmit light from the light source to a side of the tinted polymeric material opposite the filtering layer.

16. The capacitive touch switch of claim 15, further comprising:

an opaque cover positioned on a side of the light guide opposite the tinted polymeric material, the opaque cover having a color that substantially matches the opaque color of the filtering layer.

17. A method of manufacturing a capacitive touch switch, the method comprising:

defining a transparent icon in a filtering layer;

aligning the filtering layer with a transparent substrate that includes a capacitive electrode;

positioning a printed circuit board between the filtering layer and the transparent substrate, the transparent substrate including a void;

positioning the transparent substrate within the void adjacent to the filtering layer such that the filtering layer is positioned behind an insulating panel and the transparent substrate is positioned behind the filtering layer;

providing a light source in optical communication with the transparent icon; and

securing an opaque cover over the light source that is colored to substantially match an opaque color of the filtering layer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein aligning the insulating panel and the transparent substrate comprises bringing the transparent icon defined by the filtering layer into alignment with the capacitive electrode of the transparent substrate.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

securing the transparent substrate to the printed circuit board; and

securing the printed circuit board to the insulating panel.