CYCLE SELECTOR KNOB TO ROTARY ENCODER USER INTERFACE

• US 20140262701A1
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: HEATER, TIMOTHY L., SUBRAMANIYAM, SITHAARTH T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,589,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/4
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/005 Electromechanical pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/326 using bearings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/18 Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks

Abstract

A cycle selector knob to rotary encoder user interface for the operation of an appliance has a knob for rotating a shaft of a rotary encoder wherein the shaft is received by a control panel barrel to provide radial and thrust bearing surfaces. The knob has an axial boss dimensioned to affix to the shaft and bear against the radial bearing surface of the barrel and a shoulder to bear against the thrust bearing surface of the barrel. The control panel is secured to a console so that radial and thrust forces of the knob are directed via the radial and thrust bearing surfaces only to the console through the control panel.

Claims

1. A user interface for an appliance having a console and an electrical circuit inside the console to operate at least one function of the appliance, the user interface comprising:

a rotary encoder assembly having a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the electrical circuit and a rotating encoder shaft extending from the PCB;

a control panel having a barrel extending from a panel surface wherein the barrel has a central bore that coaxially receives the rotating encoder shaft and provides a radial bearing surface, and a terminal end that provides a thrust bearing surface; and

a knob having an axial boss dimensioned to affix to the rotating encoder shaft, and a shoulder positioned to bear against the thrust bearing surface of the barrel;

wherein the control panel is secured to the console so that radial and thrust forces of the knob are directed via the radial and thrust bearing surfaces to the console through the control panel.

2. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the console panel comprises an in-mold-label (IML).

3. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the barrel and the control panel are a single piece.

4. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the control panel is plastic.

5. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the axial boss has a recess dimensioned to receive the rotary encoder shaft.

6. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the axial boss is affixed to the rotating encoder shaft by friction fit.

7. The user interface of claim 1 wherein the axial boss is affixed to the rotating encoder shaft by a key.

8. The user interface of claim 1 wherein at least one of the radial bearing surface or the thrust bearing surface has means to reduce friction.