JP2004121356A - Display device for washing machine or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for a washing machine or the like, which effects display by display elements corresponding to the operation of an operating button portion, and which has improved visibility by preventing scattering of light from a display case covering the display elements, and improved mold design and processability. <P>SOLUTION: The inside of an operation panel portion 18 having a plurality of display windows 33 is disposed with a control device 30 provided with a plurality of display elements 32 at a position corresponding to the display windows 33. The control device 30 is provided with a display case 34 having light scattering portions 35 covering the display elements 32, respectively, the adjacent light scattering portions 35 have different heights, and stepped parts 18a are provided at the operation panel portion 18 corresponding to the different heights of the light scattering portion 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display device, such as a washing machine, which displays on a display element in response to operation of an operation button unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a display device such as this type of washing machine has been configured as shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel unit 1 has a lid 2 that covers a washing tub (not shown) so as to be openable and closable, and a panel sheet 3 is provided on an upper surface of the operation panel unit 1. The panel sheet 3 is provided with operation units 4 and 5, a course display unit 6, and the like. The operation unit 4 is operated when a washing operation is started, and the operation unit 5 is operated when a predetermined driving course is selected.
[0004]
The course display unit 6 is turned on when a predetermined driving course is selected by the operation unit 5. The power switch 7 is for turning on / off the power of the main body of the washing machine.
[0005]
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a control device 9 is mounted below the operation display unit 8 of the operation panel unit 1, and the control device 9 is provided with a plurality of switches 10. The switch 10 is provided at a position corresponding to the operation button section 11 of the operation display section 8, and is configured to be turned on and off by being pressed by a pressing section 12 provided on the operation button section 11. Here, the operation button section 11 is supported on the operation display section 8 by a button support section 13 so as to be vertically movable.
[0006]
The panel sheet 3 having elasticity is stuck on the upper surface of the operation display section 8, and the switches 10 and 5 provided on the panel sheet 3 can press the switch 10 via the operation button section 11.
[0007]
The course display section 6 is constituted by a display element 15 provided in a display case 14 set in the control device 9, and is set in a display window 16 provided in the operation panel section 1 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed so as to correspond to the display 17 of the course printed on the front surface (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0008]
To explain the operation in the above configuration, the power switch 7 is turned on and the operation unit 5 is turned on. At this time, the switch 10 is pressed and turned on by the pressing portion 12 provided on the operation button portion 11, and a predetermined driving course is selected. At this time, the course contents are sequentially changed to the course display sections 6a, 6b, 6c, and the user selects a planned course.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Microfilm of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 58-74256 (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 59-178994)
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a conventional configuration, since the display case 14 set in the control device 9 is set in the display window 16 provided in the operation panel section 1, the top surface shape of the display case 14 provided in the control device 9 and the operation The top surface shape of the panel portion 1 is difficult to match, a gap is formed between the display case 14 and the panel sheet 3, light from the display case 14 spreads horizontally, and the course display 17 printed on the surface of the panel sheet 3 There was a problem that it was not possible to accurately illuminate the image and the image was blurred, and visibility was poor.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to improve visibility by preventing light from a display case that covers a display element from expanding horizontally, and to improve mold design and workability. .
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention arranges a control device provided with a plurality of display elements at positions corresponding to the display windows inside an operation panel unit having a plurality of display windows, and displays the display on the control device. A display case having a light diffusion portion covering each element is provided, adjacent light diffusion portions have different heights, and steps are provided on the operation panel portion corresponding to different light diffusion portions.
[0013]
Accordingly, the light from the display case that covers the display case does not spread laterally, so that the visibility can be improved, and the mold design and workability can be improved.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control apparatus comprising: an operation panel unit having a plurality of display windows; and a plurality of display elements disposed inside the operation panel unit and provided at positions corresponding to the display windows. Device, and a display case having a light diffusion unit that covers each of the display elements is provided in the control device, the heights of the adjacent light diffusion units are different, and the operation panel unit is provided with the light diffusion unit. Steps are provided corresponding to different heights, and steps are provided in the operation panel corresponding to different heights of the light diffusion part of the display case, so that light diffusion between the display window and the display case is achieved. Each part can be shielded, the light from the display case does not spread laterally, and visibility can be improved. In addition, the display case that requires complicated and high dimensional accuracy is not used. Improve design and workability It can be.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device including an operation panel unit having a plurality of display windows, and a display element provided inside the operation panel unit and provided at a position corresponding to the display window. Providing a display case having a light diffusion portion that covers the display element and is open upward in the control device, and that has an uneven portion at a position corresponding to an upper end portion of the display case on the back side of the operation panel portion; The upper end of the display case is fitted to the concave and convex portion. By fitting the upper end of the display case to the concave and convex portion provided on the back side of the operation panel portion, light between the display window and the display case can be obtained. Since the light from the display case does not spread laterally, visibility can be improved, and the display case, which is complicated and requires high dimensional accuracy, is not used. Improve mold design and workability Door can be.
[0016]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
(Example 1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel unit 18 has a lid 19 that covers a washing tub (not shown) so as to be openable and closable, and a panel sheet 20 is provided on the operation panel unit 18. The panel sheet 20 is provided with operation units 21, 22, 23a to 23d, 24, and 25. The operation unit 21 is operated to start / pause the washing operation, and the operation units 23a to 23d are operated to select individual settings of water amount, washing, rinsing, and dehydration, and display units 24a to 24d. Displays time and the like in conjunction with the operation units 23a to 23d.
[0018]
The operation unit 22 is operated when selecting a predetermined driving course such as “Omakase”, “My home style”, “Roshigoshi”, “Knight” and “Blanket”, and is displayed on the display unit 26 in conjunction with the driving course. The operation unit 24 constitutes a power-on switch and turns on the power of the washing machine main body. The operation unit 25 constitutes a power-off switch and turns off the power of the washing machine main body.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel section 18 is provided with an operation display section 27. The operation display section 27 has positions corresponding to the operation sections 22, 23a to 23e, 24, and 25 of the panel sheet 20. An operation button section 28 is provided to be vertically movable with respect to the operation display section 27. That is, the operation panel section 18 is formed of polypropylene resin, and as shown in FIG. 1, a thin section 29 is provided between the operation display section 27 and the operation button section 28 so that the operation button section 28 can be moved up and down.
[0020]
A control device 30 is mounted below the operation display unit 27 of the operation panel unit 18, and the control device 30 is provided with a plurality of switches 31. The switch 31 is operated via the operation button unit 28. Further, the control device 30 is provided with a display element 32 at a position corresponding to a plurality of display windows 33 provided on the operation panel section 18.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the display case 34 has light diffusion portions 35 that respectively cover the plurality of display elements 32, and is provided in the control device 30 with adjacent light diffusion portions 35 having different heights. . The operation panel section 18 is provided with a light diffusion section 36 having a step 18a corresponding to different heights of the light diffusion section 35. The light diffusion section 35 of the display case 34 and the light diffusion section of the operation panel section 18 are provided. 36. Here, the light diffusing portions 35 and 36 are formed of a non-translucent material and are not exposed to each other.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3, the display window 33 has display windows 33a to 33d corresponding to the display units 24a to 24d and display windows 37a to 37e corresponding to the display unit 26. The display windows 37 a to 37 e transmit the light of the display element 32 illuminated corresponding to the driving course selected by the operation unit 22 to the display unit 26. The panel sheet 20 has elasticity, and is attached to the upper surface of the operation display unit 27.
[0023]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the operation unit 24 constituting the power-on switch is pressed, the operation button unit 28 bends with the thin portion 29 as a fulcrum, the switch 31 can be turned on, and the power can be turned on. . Next, when the operation unit 22 is pressed, a predetermined driving course can be similarly selected via the operation button unit 28. Further, when the operation unit 21 is pressed, the switch 31 can be turned on via the operation button unit 28 in the same manner, and the operation starts.
[0024]
At this time, the display device 32 is provided at a position corresponding to the plurality of display windows 33 provided in the operation panel unit 18 in the control device 30 disposed inside the operation panel unit 18, and the display case provided in the control device 30 is provided. Numeral 34 denotes a light diffusing portion 35 that covers each of the plurality of display elements 32. The heights of the adjacent light diffusing portions 35 are different, and the height of the light diffusing portion 35 is set in the display window 33 of the operation panel portion 18. A light diffusion portion 36 having a step 18a corresponding to the height is provided, and the light diffusion portion 36 and the light diffusion portion 35 of the display case 34 communicate with each other. Each part 35, 36 can be shielded.
[0025]
Accordingly, the light from the display element 32 reaches only the corresponding display unit of the panel sheet 20 via only the corresponding light diffusion unit 35 and the corresponding light diffusion unit 36, so that the light from the display case 34 spreads horizontally. In addition, the visibility can be improved, and it is only necessary to make the heights of the respective light diffusion portions 35 and 36 different. Therefore, the display case 34 that is complicated and requires high dimensional accuracy is not used. Die design and workability can be improved.
[0026]
(Example 2)
As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel unit 38 has a plurality of display windows 39, and a control device 40 disposed inside the operation panel unit 38 has a display element 41 at a position corresponding to the display window 39. Provided. The control device 40 is provided with a display case 43 having a light diffusion portion 42 which covers the display element 41 and is opened upward.
[0027]
In the display window 39 of the operation panel section 38, a light diffusion section 44 is provided at a position corresponding to the light diffusion section 42 of the display case 43, and on the back side of the operation panel section 38, a concave portion 38a is formed at the lower end of the light diffusion section 44. Is provided. The convex portion 42a provided at the upper end of the display case 43 is inserted into the concave portion 38a, so that the light diffusing portion 42 of the display case 43 and the light diffusing portion 44 of the operation panel 38 communicate with each other. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0028]
In the above-described configuration, the projections 42 a provided at the upper end of the display case 43 are inserted into the recesses 38 a provided on the back side of the operation panel section 38, so that light is emitted between the respective display windows 39 and the display case 43. The light can be shielded for each of the diffusion portions 42 and 44, so that the light from the display case 43 does not spread laterally, the visibility can be improved, and the display case 43 can be adjusted according to the surface shape of the operation panel portion 38. Since it is not necessary to process the upper end surface of the dies, the display case 43 which is complicated and requires high dimensional accuracy is not used, so that mold design and workability can be improved.
[0029]
In each of the above embodiments, a washing machine has been described, but a clothes dryer, a dishwasher, and the like can be similarly configured.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, a control device having a plurality of display elements provided at positions corresponding to display windows is provided with a display case having a light diffusing portion covering each of the display elements. The height of adjacent light diffusion units is set to different heights, and steps are provided on the operation panel corresponding to the different heights of light diffusion units. Because it can be shielded, the light from the display case does not spread laterally, visibility can be improved, and since the display case that is complicated and requires high dimensional accuracy is not used, mold design and processing Performance can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a display device such as a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top view of a main part of a washing machine provided with the display device such as the washing machine; FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a display device such as a washing machine. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a display device such as a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a display device of the washing machine and the like. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a display device of the washing machine and the like.
18 Operation panel section 18a Step 30 Control device 32 Display element 33 Display window 34 Display case 35 Light diffusion section

Claims (2)

An operation panel unit having a plurality of display windows, and a control device having a plurality of display elements provided inside the operation panel unit and provided at positions corresponding to the display windows, wherein the control device has the display A washing case in which a display case having a light diffusing portion that covers each element is provided, the height of the adjacent light diffusing portions is different, and a step is provided on the operation panel portion corresponding to the different height of the light diffusing portion. Display devices such as machines. A control device having an operation panel unit having a plurality of display windows, and a display device provided inside the operation panel unit and provided at a position corresponding to the display window, wherein the control device includes the display element A display case having a light diffusing portion that covers the display panel and is open upward, an uneven portion is provided on a rear side of the operation panel portion at a position corresponding to an upper end portion of the display case, and an upper end portion of the display case is fitted to the uneven portion. A display device such as a washing machine adapted to match.

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