JP2014050600A - Operating device and electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating device and an electrical equipment which can easily appress a detecting substrate and a cover.SOLUTION: A detecting substrate 72 using a flexible substrate is arranged between an elastic light diffusing member 74 with plate form and a top wall 711 of a cover 71. The light diffusing member 74 is pressed between the top wall 711 and a light reflecting member 751. The detecting substrate 72 is energized against the top wall 711 by the elastic resilience of the pressed light diffusing member 74. Because the detecting substrate 72 is flexible, the shape of the detecting substrate 72 energized against the top wall 711 is easily deformed following the shape of the top wall 711. Accordingly, the detecting substrate 72 and the top wall 711 are contacted each other without any problems.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation device that detects an operation, and an electric device that performs an operation corresponding to the operation detected by the operation device.

The laundry dryer performs any one of a washing operation for washing the laundry, a drying operation for drying the laundry, and a laundry drying operation for washing the laundry and then drying it in accordance with the operation of the user.
For this purpose, on the operation panel of the washing and drying machine, an ON button for turning on the power of the washing and drying machine, and the user selecting any one of the washing operation course, the drying operation course, the washing and drying operation course, etc. The operation selection button and the start button are provided.

The user of the washing and drying machine first operates the ON button to turn on the power of the washing and drying machine, and then operates the operation washing button to select a desired driving course. Finally, the user operates the start button. When the start button is operated, the washing and drying machine starts driving along the driving course selected by the driving selection button.
Such an operation panel includes a touch operation surface on which a user performs a touch operation, and detection electrodes for detecting a touch operation on the touch operation surface (see Patent Document 1).

The detection electrode is mounted on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is electrically connected to the rigid substrate. The touch operation surface is a surface of a cover that covers the flexible substrate.
An operator who assembles the operation panel first arranges a flexible board on the upper side of the rigid board, and electrically connects the rigid board and the flexible board. And an operator arrange | positions a cover above a flexible substrate. The cover covers not only the flexible substrate but also the rigid substrate.

JP 2011-240110 A

In the assembled operation panel, the cover and the flexible substrate need to be in close contact with each other. This is because if there is a useless gap between them, the user's touch operation may not be detected. In addition, if moisture enters the gap between the two, there is a risk of erroneous detection.
However, in particular, when the cover has a curved surface shape, or when the cover is warped, it is difficult to place the cover and the flexible substrate in close contact.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to form an integral cover member in which the cover and the flexible substrate are disposed in close contact with each other. In this case, the worker first electrically connects the rigid board and the flexible board of the cover member. And an operator arrange | positions a cover member on a rigid board | substrate.

  When the cover member is disposed on the rigid substrate, the cover of the cover member covers the flexible substrate and the rigid substrate. Therefore, the connection operation between the rigid substrate and the flexible substrate of the cover member must be performed before the flexible substrate of the cover member is disposed on the rigid substrate. In this case, the length of the wiring for connecting the rigid board and the flexible board of the cover member is the same as that when the rigid board and the flexible board are connected in a state where the flexible board separate from the cover is arranged on the rigid board. It becomes longer than the length of the wiring. And long wiring is easy to be disconnected or damaged compared with short wiring, is expensive, and requires a large accommodation space.

  The above inconvenience may occur not only in the washing / drying machine but also in other general electric devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the main object of the present invention is to facilitate the detection substrate and the cover by biasing the detection substrate on which the detection electrode is mounted to the cover side. An object of the present invention is to provide an operating device and an electric device that can be brought into close contact with each other.

  An operating device according to the present invention is an operating device including a detection board on which a detection electrode for detecting an operation is mounted and a cover that covers the detection board, and biases the detection board toward the cover. An urging unit is provided.

  The operating device according to the present invention further includes a support that supports the detection substrate, the cover is disposed on one surface side of the detection substrate, and a wall portion that closes between the support and the cover is the support. It protrudes from the body or the cover.

  In the operating device according to the present invention, the urging portion has a plate shape, and includes at least a part of each of the detection substrate, the cover, and the urging portion, and further includes a light source, The light emitted from is transmitted in the order of the light transmitting portion of the biasing portion, the light transmitting portion of the detection substrate, and the light transmitting portion of the cover, and is emitted to the outside.

  In the operating device according to the present invention, the urging portion has a plate shape in which a through hole is formed, has a light transmitting portion in at least a part of each of the detection substrate and the cover, and further includes a light source, The light emitted from the light source passes through the through-hole, and then passes through the light-transmitting portion of the detection substrate and the light-transmitting portion of the cover in order, and is emitted to the outside.

  An electrical apparatus according to the present invention includes the operation device according to the present invention, and performs an operation according to an operation detected by the operation device.

In the present invention, the operating device includes a detection substrate, a cover, and an urging unit.
The urging unit urges the detection substrate toward the cover side. Therefore, the detection substrate and the cover are in close contact with each other. The electric device includes an operation device in which the detection substrate and the cover are in close contact with each other.
There is no useless gap between the close detection substrate and the cover. Therefore, the occurrence of inconvenience due to unnecessary voids is suppressed.

In the present invention, the operating device further includes a support.
The detection substrate is disposed between the cover and the support. Between the cover and the support, the wall portion protruding from the cover or the support is closed. Therefore, it is difficult for moisture to enter the space surrounded by the cover and the support.
Therefore, there is no possibility of erroneous detection due to the intruding moisture.

In the present invention, the operating device further includes a light source. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an operation device that includes a light source that illuminates a portion of a cover that should be operated by a user (that is, an operation surface). In this case, at least a part of each of the detection substrate and the cover has translucency. The transparent part of the cover is arranged on the operation surface.
The urging portion has a plate shape. For this reason, if the operating device includes a plate-like member having a light shielding property as the urging portion, there is a possibility that illumination of the operating surface by the light source may be hindered.

  In order to eliminate such inconvenience, at least a part of the urging portion has translucency. In this case, the light emitted from the light source is transmitted in the order of the translucent part of the urging unit, the translucent part of the detection substrate, and the translucent part of the cover, and is emitted to the outside. Therefore, there is no possibility that the urging unit impedes illumination of the operation surface by the light source.

  Alternatively, in order to eliminate such inconvenience, a through hole is formed in the urging portion. In this case, the light emitted from the light source passes through the through-hole of the urging portion, and then passes through the light-transmitting portion of the detection substrate and the light-transmitting portion of the cover in this order and is emitted to the outside. Therefore, there is no possibility that the urging unit impedes illumination of the operation surface by the light source.

In the case of the operation device and the electric device of the present invention, the detection substrate and the cover can be easily brought into close contact with each other. For this reason, there is no possibility that an unnecessary gap is generated between the detection substrate and the cover. Therefore, the detection electrode mounted on the detection board can reliably detect the user's operation.
Moreover, there is no possibility that moisture may enter the useless gap between them. Therefore, there is no possibility of erroneous detection due to the intruding moisture.

  The close contact arrangement between the detection substrate and the cover is due to the urging unit urging the detection substrate toward the cover. Therefore, for example, even if the operation device is assembled by arranging the detection substrate on the rigid substrate, electrically connecting the detection substrate, and then arranging the detection substrate on the detection substrate, no particular problem occurs.

  Therefore, there is no need to form a cover member in which the detection substrate and the cover are in close contact with each other. Further, it is not necessary to cover the rigid substrate with the cover member after electrically connecting the cover member and the rigid substrate. Therefore, the wiring connecting the detection substrate and the rigid substrate can be suppressed to a minimum length. As a result, disconnection or damage of an unnecessarily long wiring can be suppressed. Moreover, short wiring can be accommodated in a small accommodating space. Moreover, it is possible to manufacture the operating device, and in turn, the electric equipment at a low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a perspective view which shows schematically the external appearance structure of the washing-drying machine as an electric equipment which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which briefly shows the internal structure of a washing-drying machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of a washing / drying machine. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the operation panel with which a washing / drying machine is provided. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of an operation panel. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the operation panel with which the washing / drying machine as an electric equipment which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention is provided.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. Here, the washing / drying machine 6 is illustrated as an electrical apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an external configuration of a washing / drying machine 6 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal configuration of the washing / drying machine 6. In the following description, the top, bottom, left, and right in FIG.
The washing / drying machine 6 includes an outer box 1 constituting an exterior. The washing / drying machine 6 includes a washing tub 2 and a rotating drum 3 inside the outer box 1.

The washing tub 2 is a large-diameter bottomed cylindrical body having an opening 20 on one side. The washing tub 2 is elastically supported in an inclined posture in which the opening 20 side is the upper side and the axis is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The washing tub 2 is elastically supported by a plurality of support legs 21 (only one is shown) erected on the bottom surface of the outer box 1.
A motor chamber 41 is continuously provided outside the bottom of the washing tub 2. A drum motor 4 is arranged in the motor chamber 41. The output shaft 40 of the drum motor 4 penetrates the bottom of the washing tub 2 in a liquid-tight manner and protrudes from the center of the bottom of the washing tub 2 to the inside of the washing tub 2.

On the front surface of the outer box 1, an insertion port 11 is opened at a position facing the opening 20 of the washing tub 2 so as to be opened and closed by a lid 10. A space between the inlet 11 of the outer box 1 and the opening 20 of the washing tub 2 is liquid-tightly sealed by a bellows 12. The laundry A is input to the rotary drum 3 through the input port 11 of the outer box 1 and the opening 20 of the washing tub 2.
A rotating drum 3 is accommodated inside the washing tub 2. The rotating drum 3 is a bottomed cylindrical body having an opening 30 on one side and having a smaller diameter than the washing tub 2. The rotating drum 3 has the opening 30 facing the inside of the opening 20 of the washing tub 2, and the center of the bottom is connected to the tip of the output shaft 40 of the drum motor 4. The rotating drum 3 is rotated inside the washing tub 2 by driving of the drum motor 4.

The rotary drum 3 includes a fluid balancer 31 provided around the opening 30. The fluid balancer 31 absorbs and relaxes vibrations associated with the rotation of the rotary drum 3.
In the peripheral wall of the rotating drum 3, a large number (only a part is shown) of small holes 32 are formed through the entire surface. A plurality of baffles 33 (only one is shown) extending in the axial length direction are provided on the inner surface of the rotating drum 3 so as to be equally spaced in the circumferential direction.

  A door opening button 13 is provided in the vicinity of the lid 10 on the front surface of the outer box 1. The lid 10 is provided with a pressing operation unit 14. The lid 10 is opened when the user operates the door opening button 13. Further, the lid body 10 is closed when the user holds the peripheral edge portion of the lid body 10 to perform a closing operation and further presses the pressing operation portion 14.

On the rear upper surface of the outer box 1, a water supply port 17 serving as a connection end to the water supply is provided. The water supply port 17 is connected to a water supply valve 18 disposed inside the outer box 1. The water supply valve 18 is a multiple solenoid valve having a plurality of water supply outlets.
A first water supply outlet of the water supply valve 18 is connected to an upper peripheral surface near the bottom of the washing tub 2 through a water supply pipe 19. A silver ion generator 22 is arranged in the middle of the water supply pipe 19.

The silver ion generator 22 has a water reservoir (not shown) that retains water flowing through the water supply pipe 19 and a counter electrode (not shown) that elutes silver ions in the water remaining in the water reservoir when a voltage is applied. .
When the water supply valve 18 is switched to the first water supply outlet, the water flowing into the water supply port 17 is supplied to the inside of the washing tub 2 through the water supply valve 18 and the water supply pipe 19 and is used as washing water for washing or rinsing. used. When the silver ion generator 22 generates silver ions, the washing water contains silver ions. The laundry A rinsed with washing water containing silver ions is sterilized and deodorized.

In addition to the silver ion generator 22, a detergent case may be disposed in the middle of the water supply pipe 19 as is well known. In this case, an appropriate amount of detergent is introduced into the washing tub 2 together with the water supply.
A water conduit 23 is connected to the peripheral surface near the bottom, which is the lowest position of the washing tub 2. The water conduit 23 is connected to a cylindrical filter case 24 fixedly supported at the front lower part inside the outer box 1. Inside the filter case 24 is housed a lint filter 25 that captures foreign matter (for example, fiber waste). The lower part of the filter case 24 is connected to a drain pipe 27 laid along the bottom surface of the outer box 1 via a drain valve 26.

When the drain valve 26 is opened, the washing water in the washing tub 2 is discharged to the drain pipe 27 through the water conduit 23 and the filter case 24. Foreign matter contained in the washing water in the washing tub 2 is captured by the lint filter 25 in the filter case 24 and removed from the washing water. Therefore, since there is no possibility that foreign matter is discharged to the sewer pipe through the drain pipe 27, the environmental load can be reduced.
An operation panel (operation device) 15 is installed on the upper front of the outer box 1. An operation control unit 16 is provided at the front lower portion inside the outer box 1. Details of the operation panel 15 and the operation control unit 16 will be described later (see FIGS. 3 to 5).

Next, an operation course of the washing / drying machine 6 will be described.
The washing / drying machine 6 follows any one of the six driving courses of a washing driving course, a drying driving course, a washing / drying driving course, an individual driving course, a care driving course, and a refresh driving course. Carry out driving.
In the washing operation course of the washing / drying machine 6, the washing operation including the washing operation, the rinsing operation, and the dehydration operation of the laundry A is performed.

When the washing operation of the laundry A is performed, the laundry A is first put into the rotary drum 3 and then the lid 10 is closed. Next, the water supply valve 18 is switched to the first water supply port and opened. As a result, washing water (usually a washing water containing a detergent) is supplied into the washing tub 2. Then, the drum motor 4 is driven. At this time, the rotating drum 3 rotates.
The laundry A inside the rotary drum 3 is immersed in the wash water that has flowed into the rotary drum 3 through the small holes 32 and is stirred and washed together with the wash water including lifting and dropping due to the action of the baffle 33. After the washing of the laundry A is completed, the drain valve 26 is opened, and the washing water in the washing tub 2 is discharged to the drain pipe 27.

The rinsing operation of the laundry A is normally performed continuously after the washing operation of the laundry A.
When the rinsing operation of the laundry A is performed, first, the water supply valve 18 is switched to the first water supply port and opened with the drain valve 26 closed. As a result, the washing water not containing the detergent is supplied into the washing tub 2. The rotating drum 3 is rotated by driving the drum motor 4.
The laundry A is immersed in the washing water flowing into the rotating drum 3 and is rinsed by repeatedly lifting and dropping in the rotating drum 3 as in the case of washing the laundry A. After rinsing of the laundry A is completed, the drain valve 26 is opened, and the washing water in the washing tub 2 is discharged to the drain pipe 27.

The dehydration operation of the laundry A is normally performed continuously after the laundry A is rinsed. In addition, the rinsing operation and the dehydrating operation of the laundry A are normally performed a plurality of times alternately.
The dehydration operation of the laundry A is performed by rotating the rotary drum 3 in a state where the drain valve 26 is opened.
The laundry A in the rotating drum 3 rotates while sticking to the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum 3. The water contained in the laundry is separated from the laundry A by the action of centrifugal force, and is discharged from the small hole 32 of the rotating drum 3 to the drain pipe 27 through the water conduit 23 and the filter case 24.

In the drying operation course of the washing / drying machine 6, while the rotating drum 3 rotates, a drying operation in which drying air circulates is performed as described below.
Here, the circulation air path 5 of the dry air will be described.
The circulation air passage 5 includes an outlet 50 opened at the lower bottom of the washing tub 2 and an inlet 51 opened at the upper part of the peripheral edge of the opening 20 of the washing tub 2. It is comprised by contacting using.

  The ascending duct 52 (and the preceding duct 53) is arranged on the rear side (and the upper side) inside the outer box 1. The lower end (and upper end) of the ascending duct 52 is connected to the outlet 50 (and the rear end of the preceding duct 53). A front end portion of the front duct 53 is connected to the introduction port 51.

In the middle of the upstream duct 53, a lint filter 54 for capturing dust, a blower 55 for raising dry air, and a heater 56 for heating dry air are interposed in this order from the rear side to the front side. is there. A PCI generator 57 for generating plasma cluster ions (PCI) is provided on the side wall of the upstream duct 53 connected between the blower 55 and the heater 56.
The PCI generator 57 has a discharge electrode and a dielectric electrode (not shown). When a high voltage is applied between the discharge electrode and the dielectric electrode, corona discharge occurs and PCI is generated. The PCI generated by the PCI generator 57 is added to the drying air flowing through the upstream duct 53.

The second water supply outlet of the water supply valve 18 is connected to the lower part of the rear wall of the ascending duct 52 via a cooling water pipe 58 that is arranged vertically along the ascending duct 52.
The dry air generated by the blower 55 circulates in the circulation air passage 5 configured as described above. The dry air is heated by the heater 56, reaches the inlet 51 through the upstream duct 53, and is blown into the rotary drum 3 from the inlet 51. At this time, the laundry A inside the rotary drum 3 spreads and drops after being lifted by the action of the baffle 33. The laundry A is dried by repeating contact with the drying air, particularly during the fall.

  The drying air introduced into the rotating drum 3 takes the moisture from the laundry A and is then led out from the outlet 50 to the ascending duct 52. The derived dry air rises in the ascending duct 52, moves into the preceding duct 53, and passes through the lint filter 54. At this time, dust contained in the dry air is captured by the lint filter 54. The dry air from which the dust is removed by the lint filter 54 is reheated by the heater 56 and then introduced into the rotary drum 3.

  During the drying operation, the water supply valve 18 is switched to the second water supply port, and the drain valve 26 is opened. The water supplied to the water supply port 17 flows out into the ascending duct 52 through the cooling water pipe 58 and reaches the outlet 50. The water that has reached the outlet 50 flows into the washing tub 2 and is then discharged to the drain pipe 27 through the water conduit 23 and the filter case 24.

The dry air derived from the outlet 50 comes into contact with the water flowing inside the ascending duct 52. At this time, the drying air is cooled by heat exchange with water. For this reason, the moisture contained in the drying air is condensed and removed. That is, the drying air introduced into the rotating drum 3 is high-temperature and low-humidity drying air dehumidified by the ascending duct 52 and heated by the heater 56.
In the washing / drying operation course of the washing / drying machine 6, the washing operation and the drying operation are successively performed in this order.

In the individual operation course, for example, one type desired by the user among washing, rinsing, and dehydration in the washing operation is performed, or a plurality of combinations are continuously performed.
In the maintenance operation course, washing of the washing tub 2 and the rotating drum 3 is performed.
In the refresh operation course, sterilization and deodorization of stuffed animals, scarves, boots, and the like that cannot be washed with water are performed. In the refresh operation, dry air including PCI is supplied to the inside of the rotating drum 3 in which non-washable products are accommodated.

Next, the control system of the washing / drying machine 6 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the washing / drying machine 6.
The operation control unit 16 shares a central processing unit (CPU) 60, a read only memory (ROM) 61, a random access memory (RAM) 62, a nonvolatile memory 63, and an I / O 65 that is an input / output interface. It is electrically connected by bus.

The nonvolatile memory 63 uses, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).
The I / O 65 is electrically connected to the drum motor 4, the operation panel 15, the water supply valve 18, the silver ion generator 22, the drain valve 26, the blower 55, the heater 56, and the PCI generator 57.

The CPU 60 uses the RAM 62 as a work area, controls the operation of each part of the apparatus according to a computer program stored in the ROM 61, and executes various processes. For example, the CPU 60 reads, writes, rewrites, or erases various information regarding the nonvolatile memory 63.
The CPU 60 controls the operations of the drum motor 4, the operation panel 15, the water supply valve 18, the silver ion generator 22, the drain valve 26, the blower 55, the heater 56, and the PCI generator 57. , Washing operation and / or drying operation.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the operation panel 15.
FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the operation panel 15.
Here, each part of the operation panel 15 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation panel 15 includes a cover 71, a detection substrate 72, a light diffusion member (biasing portion) 74, light reflection members 751 and 752, a circuit substrate 76, and a support body 78.
The support 78 has a tray shape integrally including a rectangular bottom wall 780 and four side walls (wall portions) 781 to 784.
A circuit board 76 is disposed on the bottom wall 780 of the support 78.

The circuit board 76 is a rigid board. On one surface of the circuit board 76, an operation detection circuit 760, a light source group L, and a connector 763 described later are mounted.
The light source group L includes LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 761, 761,... That are a plurality of light sources, and a 4-digit 7-segment LED display 762. The CPU 60 of the operation control unit 16 controls the turning on / off of each LED 761 and the 7-segment LED display 762 of the light source group L.

  The light reflecting members 751 and 752 have a block shape. A plurality of reflection holes 750, 750,... Are formed in each of the light reflecting members 751, 752. The inner surface of each reflection hole 750 has light reflectivity. The depth of the reflection hole 750 is longer than the protrusion height of the LED 761 from one surface of the circuit board 76. A through hole 754 corresponding to the 7 segment LED display 762 is formed in the light reflecting member 751.

The light diffusing member 74 has a plate shape. The light diffusing member 74 has translucency, light diffusibility, and elasticity.
The detection substrate 72 is made of a transparent flexible substrate. A plurality of detection electrodes 721, 721,... Are mounted on one surface of the detection substrate 72. The arrangement positions of the detection electrodes 721, 721,... Correspond one-to-one to the arrangement positions of the reflection holes 750, 750,. The detection electrode 721 is made of a transparent conductive film. From the detection substrate 72, wirings 722, 722,... Electrically connected to the detection electrodes 721 are extended.

The cover 71 has a plate-shaped top wall 711 and a side wall (wall portion) 712 integrally. At least the top wall 711 has translucency.
A display sheet (not shown) is attached to the upper surface of the top wall 711 of the cover 71. This display sheet is partially light-shielding and the other part is translucent. The display sheet is for displaying a range where the user should perform a touch operation, that is, an operation button. The translucent part of the display sheet functions as a frame line of operation buttons, for example.
Instead of covering the cover 71 with a display sheet, a configuration in which a range to be touched by the user is printed in advance on the top surface of the top wall 711 may be employed.

Next, the procedure for assembling the operation panel 15 will be described.
The operator first places the circuit board 76 on the bottom wall 780 of the support 78. At this time, the upper surface of the circuit board 76 is a surface on which the light source group L and the connector 763 of the circuit board 76 are mounted.

  Next, the operator places the light reflecting members 751 and 752 side by side on the circuit board 76. At this time, one or a plurality of LEDs 761, 761,... Are inserted into the reflection holes 750, 750,. Further, the 7-segment LED display 762 is inserted into the through hole 754 of the light reflecting member 751 from the lower side or the upper side. Each LED 761 and 7-segment LED display 762 does not protrude from the upper side of the reflection hole 750 and the through hole 754.

Next, the operator arranges the light diffusing member 74 on the light reflecting members 751 and 752. The light diffusing member 74 closes the upper openings of the reflecting holes 750 and the through holes 754 of the light reflecting members 751 and 752.
Next, the operator arranges the detection substrate 72 on the light diffusion member 74. At this time, the upper surface of the detection substrate 72 is a surface on which the detection electrodes 721, 721,. Further, the detection electrodes 721, 721,... Are arranged directly above the reflection holes 750, 750,.

Further, the operator electrically connects the wirings 722, 722,... Extending from the detection board 72 to the connector 763 of the circuit board 76. Are electrically connected to the connector 763, the detection electrodes 721, 721, ... are electrically connected to the operation detection circuit 760.
Thereafter, the operator may perform a continuity test on the detection board 72.

  The wirings 722, 722,... Are electrically connected to the connector 763 in a state where the detection substrate 72 is placed on the light diffusion member 74. Therefore, the length of each of the wirings 722, 722,... Is shorter than the case where the wirings 722, 722... Are electrically connected to the connector 763 in a state where the detection substrate 72 is separated from the light diffusion member 74. In other words, the wirings 722, 722,... Have a minimum necessary length.

  Next, the worker arranges the cover 71. At this time, the top wall 711 of the cover 71 covers the detection substrate 72, the light diffusing member 74, the light reflecting members 751 and 752, and the circuit substrate 76 from above, and closes the upper opening of the support 78. The side wall 712 of the cover 71 covers the side wall 782 of the support 78 from the outside.

As described above, the operation panel 15 is assembled.
The assembled operation panel 15 is attached to the outer box 1 such that the top wall 711 of the cover 71 is arranged on the upper front portion of the outer box 1. The support 78 supports the cover 71, the detection substrate 72, the light diffusion member 74, the light reflection members 751 and 752, and the circuit board 76 directly or indirectly.

Next, adhesion between the cover 71 and the detection substrate 72 will be described.
In the assembled operation panel 15, the distance between the upper surfaces of the light reflecting members 751 and 752 and the lower surface of the top wall 711 of the cover 71 is determined by the sum of the thickness of the detection substrate 72 and the thickness of the light diffusion member 74. Also short. Therefore, the light diffusion member 74 is compressed between the light reflecting members 751 and 752 and the top wall 711 of the cover 71.
The compressed light diffusion member 74 urges the detection substrate 72 toward the top wall 711 of the cover 71 by an elastic restoring force. As a result, the detection substrate 72 is pressed against the top wall 711.

  The detection substrate 72 is flexible. Therefore, the detection substrate 72 pressed against the top wall 711 of the cover 71 easily deforms following the shape of the top wall 711. Therefore, even if the top wall 711 has a curved shape or the top wall 711 is warped, the upper surface of the detection substrate 72 and the lower surface of the top wall 711 are in close contact with each other without any problem.

Next, display / non-display of the operation buttons on the operation panel 15 will be described.
The CPU 60 lights the LED 761 corresponding to the operation button to be displayed. At this time, the light emitted from the LED 761 passes through the reflection hole 750 as it is, or is reflected by the inner surface of the reflection hole 750 and then passes through the reflection hole 750. The light that has passed through the reflection hole 750 passes through the light diffusion member 74. The light transmitted through the light diffusing member 74 is diffused and made uniform. The homogenized light passes through the detection substrate 72 and the top wall 711 of the cover 71 in this order, and further passes through the light-transmitting portion of the display sheet before being emitted to the outside.

The operation button on the display sheet is illuminated by the light emitted from the LED 761. As a result, the user can visually recognize the operation button. That is, an operation button is displayed.
When the LED 761 is not lit, it is difficult for the user to visually recognize the operation button. That is, the operation button is not displayed.

Next, operation of the operation buttons on the operation panel 15 will be described.
The user touches the displayed operation button. Specifically, when the user's finger touches the operation button on the display sheet, the capacitance change is applied to the detection electrode 721 corresponding to the touch-operated operation button via the top wall 711 of the cover 71. Will occur.

  The operation detection circuit 760 detects that the detection electrode 721 is touched by detecting a change in capacitance of each detection electrode 721. When it is detected that the detection electrode 721 has been touched, the operation detection circuit 760 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the touched detection electrode 721 to the CPU 60.

The CPU 60 controls the operation of each unit of the washing / drying machine 6 according to the detection signal input from the operation detection circuit 760. As a result, the washing / drying machine 6 performs an operation corresponding to the touch operation detected by the operation panel 15.
For example, the currently selected driving course is stored in the nonvolatile memory 63. The CPU 60 updates the driving course stored in the nonvolatile memory 63 to another driving course every time one detection signal is input. That is, the operation button using the detection electrode 721 corresponding to this detection signal functions as a driving operation button.

  Further, for example, when another detection signal is input, the CPU 60 starts driving along the currently selected driving course. That is, the operation button using the detection electrode 721 corresponding to this detection signal functions as a start button.

In the operation panel 15 as described above, since the top wall 711 of the cover 71 and the detection substrate 72 are in close contact with each other, there is no possibility that a gap is generated between them.
If there is a gap between the top wall 711 and the detection substrate 72, even if the user touches the operation button, a sufficient capacitance change does not occur in the detection electrode 721. For this reason, a user's touch operation cannot be detected.

  Also, if moisture enters the gap between the top wall 711 and the detection substrate 72, a larger capacitance change occurs in the detection electrode 721 than when the user touches the operation button. Therefore, even if the operation button is not touch-operated, the operation detection circuit 760 outputs a detection signal to the CPU 60 as in the case where the operation button is touch-operated, and the CPU 60 responds to the input detection signal. Thus, the operation of each part of the washing / drying machine 6 is controlled. That is, the washing / drying machine 6 malfunctions due to erroneous detection.

By the way, the detection substrate 72, the light diffusion member 74, the light reflection members 751 and 752, and the circuit board 76 are surrounded by the top wall 711 and the side wall 712 of the cover 71 and the bottom wall 780 and the side walls 781 to 784 of the support body 78. It is housed inside the enclosed Go space. The side walls 712, 781 to 784 suppress moisture from entering the inside of the surrounding space. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the malfunction caused by the intruding moisture in the detection board 72 and the circuit board 76.
In addition, since the wirings 722, 722,... Are short, they are less likely to be disconnected or damaged than an unnecessarily long wiring, and the cost is low. Moreover, the space for accommodating the wirings 722, 722,.

  The light diffusing member 74 replaces the light diffusing sheet constituting the conventional operation panel. That is, the number of parts of the operation panel 15 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equal to the number of parts of the conventional operation panel.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the operation panel 15 provided in the washing / drying machine 6 as the electric apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
The washing / drying machine 6 of the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the washing / drying machine 6 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be described, and other parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

First, each part of the operation panel 15 will be described.
The operation panel 15 includes a cover 71, a detection board 72, a light diffusion sheet 73, an elastic member (biasing part) 79, light reflection members 751 and 752, a circuit board 76, and a support body 78.
The light diffusion sheet 73 is the same as the light diffusion sheet constituting the conventional operation panel. The light diffusion sheet 73 has translucency and light diffusibility.

  The elastic member 79 has a flat plate shape having elasticity. The elastic member 79 is formed with a plurality of through holes 791, 791,. .. Of the through holes 791, 791,... Correspond one-to-one with the positions of the reflection holes 750, 750,. The elastic member 79 is a cushion material using, for example, a synthetic resin sponge or a synthetic rubber plate.

Next, the procedure for assembling the operation panel 15 will be described.
As in the first embodiment, the operator arranges the circuit board 76 on the bottom wall 780 of the support 78 and places the light reflecting members 751 and 752 side by side on the circuit board 76.
Next, the worker arranges the elastic member 79 on the light reflecting members 751 and 752. The through holes 791, 791,... Are disposed directly above the reflection holes 750, 750,. As a result, the through holes 791, 791,... Communicate with the reflection holes 750, 750,.

Next, the worker arranges the light diffusion sheet 73 on the elastic member 79. The light diffusion sheet 73 closes the upper openings of the through holes 791 of the elastic member 79.
Next, the operator arranges the detection substrate 72 on the light diffusion sheet 73. At this time, the upper surface of the detection substrate 72 is a surface on which the detection electrodes 721, 721,. Further, the detection electrodes 721, 721,... Are arranged directly above the through holes 791, 791,.

Further, the operator electrically connects the wirings 722, 722,... Extending from the detection board 72 to the connector 763 of the circuit board 76.
The wirings 722, 722,... Are electrically connected to the connector 763 with the detection substrate 72 placed on the light diffusion sheet 73. Therefore, the length of each of the wirings 722, 722,... Is shorter than the case where the wirings 722, 722,... Are electrically connected to the connector 763 in a state where the detection substrate 72 is separated from the light diffusion sheet 73. In other words, the wirings 722, 722,... Have a minimum necessary length.

Next, the worker arranges the cover 71. At this time, the top wall 711 of the cover 71 covers the detection substrate 72, the light diffusion sheet 73, the light reflecting members 751 and 752, and the circuit substrate 76 from above, and closes the upper opening of the support 78. The side wall 712 of the cover 71 covers the side wall 782 of the support 78 from the outside.
As described above, the operation panel 15 is assembled.

Next, adhesion between the cover 71 and the detection substrate 72 will be described.
In the assembled operation panel 15, the distances between the upper surfaces of the light reflecting members 751 and 752 and the lower surface of the top wall 711 of the cover 71 are the thickness of the detection substrate 72, the thickness of the light diffusion sheet 73, and the elastic member 79. Shorter than the sum of the thickness. Therefore, the elastic member 79 is compressed between the light reflecting members 751 and 752 and the top wall 711 of the cover 71.
The compressed elastic member 79 urges the detection substrate 72 and the light diffusion sheet 73 toward the top wall 711 of the cover 71 by an elastic restoring force. As a result, the detection substrate 72 is pressed against the top wall 711.

  The detection substrate 72 is flexible. Therefore, the detection substrate 72 pressed against the top wall 711 of the cover 71 easily deforms following the shape of the top wall 711. Therefore, the upper surface of the detection substrate 72 and the lower surface of the top wall 711 are in close contact with each other.

Next, display of operation buttons on the operation panel 15 will be described.
The CPU 60 lights the LED 761 corresponding to the operation button to be displayed. At this time, the light emitted from the LED 761 passes through the reflection hole 750 as it is, or is reflected by the inner surface of the reflection hole 750 and then passes through the reflection hole 750. The light that has passed through the reflective hole 750 passes through the light diffusing sheet 73 after passing through the through hole 791. The light transmitted through the light diffusion sheet 73 is diffused and made uniform. The homogenized light passes through the detection substrate 72 and the top wall 711 of the cover 71 in this order, and further passes through the light-transmitting portion of the display sheet before being emitted to the outside.

  The operation button on the display sheet is illuminated by the light emitted from the LED 761. As a result, the user can visually recognize the operation button. That is, an operation button is displayed.

  In the operation panel 15 as described above, since the top wall 711 of the cover 71 and the detection substrate 72 are in close contact with each other as in the first embodiment, there is no possibility that a gap is generated between them. Further, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the enclosed space surrounded by the top wall 711 and the side wall 712 of the cover 71 and the bottom wall 780 and the side walls 781 to 784 of the support 78. Further, the lengths of the wirings 722, 722,.

  The operation panel 15 of the present embodiment has a larger number of parts than the conventional operation panel because the elastic member 79 is provided. However, compared with the case where a member having translucency, light diffusibility, and elasticity, such as the light diffusing member 74 of the first embodiment, is prepared, a general light diffusing sheet 73 and through holes 791, 791 are provided. It is easier and less expensive to prepare the elastic member 79 formed with.

The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not intended to include the above-described meanings, but is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims.
For example, the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a washing / drying machine, and may be a washing machine, a drying machine, a dishwasher, a humidifier, or the like.
In addition, as long as the effects of the present invention are obtained, the washing / drying machine 6 or the operation panel 15 may include components that are not disclosed in the first and second embodiments.

6 Washing dryer (electric equipment)
15 Operation panel (operation device)
71 Cover 711 Top wall (Translucent part)
712 Side wall (wall)
72 Detection board (translucent part)
721 Detection electrode 74 Light diffusing member (biasing part, translucent part)
761 LED (light source)
78 Support body 781-784 Side wall (wall part)
79 Elastic member (biasing part)
791 Through hole

Claims (5)

A detection board on which detection electrodes for detecting operation are mounted;
An operating device comprising a cover that covers the detection substrate,
An operating device comprising an urging unit that urges the detection substrate toward the cover. A support for supporting the detection substrate;
The cover is disposed on one side of the detection substrate,
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein a wall portion that closes between the support and the cover protrudes from the support or the cover. The urging portion has a plate shape,
At least a part of each of the detection substrate, the cover, and the urging portion has a light transmitting portion,
A light source,
The light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light transmitting part of the urging unit, the light transmitting part of the detection substrate, and the light transmitting part of the cover in this order, and is emitted to the outside. The operating device according to claim 1 or 2. The urging portion has a plate shape in which a through hole is formed,
A light-transmitting portion on at least a part of each of the detection substrate and the cover;
A light source,
The light emitted from the light source passes through the through-hole, and then passes through the light-transmitting portion of the detection substrate and the light-transmitting portion of the cover in this order, and is emitted to the outside. Item 3. The operating device according to Item 1 or 2. An operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:
An electric device that performs an operation according to an operation detected by the operating device.

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