JP2016009586A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator which enables reduction of the number of components of an operation display part, improvement of the productivity, cost reduction, and stabilization of the quality even when causing the operation display part to emit light from its surface.SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes an operation display panel. The operation display panel 6 includes: a transparent member 11; a transparent electrode sheet 12 provided at the rear surface side of the transparent member 11; a support component 13 supporting the transparent electrode sheet 12; and an electronic substrate 14 on which multiple light emitting sources 25 and a microcomputer are mounted. The transparent electrode sheet 12 includes: a transparent base material 18; a transparent conductive ink layer 20 provided at the transparent member 11 side of the transparent base material 18; an icon printed layer 22 provided at the electronic substrate 14 side of the transparent base material 18; and a pattern wiring layer 19 which connects the transparent conductive ink layer 20 with the electronic substrate 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to the structure of an operation display unit thereof.

  In recent years, a touch sensor system has become the mainstream for operation display units (operation display panels) of refrigerators. Many products have improved visibility by turning on the light emission source when displaying the touch operation part, icon or character of the operation display unit.

  Furthermore, the touch operation portion of the operation display unit is also provided with a power saving function such that the touch operation portion is turned off when not normally operated and turned on only when operated.

  However, in consideration of elderly users, the touch operation portion, the icon, and the character display portion need a light emitting area of a certain size, and many light guide plates are used for surface light emission in many cases. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Utility Model Registration No. 3172080

  When a large number of light guide plates are used for surface emission, a light guide plate is required for each touch operation portion, icon, and character display portion (for example, if there are 30 lighting elements, 30 light guide plates are required), the number of parts is increased, the productivity is poor, the cost is high, and the quality is unstable.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. Even when the operation display unit emits light, the number of parts of the operation display unit is reduced, thereby improving productivity and reducing costs. And it aims at providing the refrigerator which enabled stabilization of quality.

  The refrigerator according to the present invention is a refrigerator including an operation display unit, wherein the operation display unit is provided on a transparent plate member and a back surface side of the transparent plate member, and at least detects a change in capacitance. A sheet, a plurality of light emitting sources that irradiate the laminated sheet with light, provided on the opposite side of the laminated sheet from the transparent plate member side, and a signal detected by the laminated sheet as an operation signal; An electronic board on which a control device that controls lighting of the plurality of light sources is mounted, and the laminated sheet is provided on the transparent base member side of the transparent base material and the transparent base material, A plurality of transparent conductive members that detect a change in capacitance; and a light shielding layer that is provided on the electronic substrate side of the transparent substrate and has a pattern for displaying at least one shape of characters and designs. , Provided on the electronic substrate side of the serial light-shielding layer, and a light diffusing layer for diffusing light emitted from the light source.

  According to the refrigerator according to the present invention, by adopting the above-described configuration for the operation display unit, it is possible to greatly reduce the number of components of the operation display unit, thereby improving productivity, reducing costs, and improving quality. Stabilization is realized.

It is a front view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the refrigerator of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the operation display panel of FIG. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of components of the operation display panel of FIG. 3. It is an external view of the transparent electrode sheet of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the transparent electrode sheet of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the operation display panel of FIG. It is an external view of the transparent electrode sheet which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is an external view of the transparent electrode sheet which concerns on the modification of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the operation display panel containing the transparent electrode sheet | seat of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the operation display panel which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the operation display panel which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. FIG. 13 is a detailed view of a connector connection portion of the operation display panel of FIG. 12. It is a disassembled perspective view of the operation display panel which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a front view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerating room 100, a switching room 200, an ice making room 300, a freezing room 400, and a vegetable room 500. The refrigerator compartment 100 includes an open / close door and is disposed at the top. The switching chamber 200 includes a drawer door and is disposed below the refrigeration chamber 100. Each of the refrigeration temperature range (-18 ° C) to refrigeration (3 ° C), chilled (0 ° C), soft refrigeration (-7 ° C), and the like. It can be switched to a temperature zone. The ice making chamber 300 includes a drawer door and is disposed in parallel with the switching chamber 200. The freezer compartment 400 includes a drawer door and is disposed below the switching chamber 200 and the ice making chamber 300. The vegetable compartment 500 is provided with a drawer door and is arranged at the bottom.

  An operation display panel 6 is provided on the door surface of the refrigerator compartment 100. The operation display panel 6 includes an operation switch for adjusting the temperature and setting of each room, a display unit for displaying the temperature of each room, and the like. The operation display panel 6 may be installed in the refrigerator 1, for example, on the side surface of the refrigerator compartment 100. Moreover, the form of the refrigerator 1 is not limited to the example of FIG. 1, for example, the thing which does not have the switching room 200 and the ice making room 300, the thing where the position of the freezer compartment 400 and the vegetable compartment 500 is reverse, especially refrigerator 1 The form of is not limited.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator 1 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 1 includes a compressor 2, a cooler 3, and a blower fan 4. The blower fan 4 blows the cool air cooled by the cooler 3 to each room in the refrigerator 1 through the air path 5. The air path 5 is an air path for introducing the cold air cooled by the cooler 3 into each room. That is, the cold air cooled by the cooler 3 passes through the air passage 5 and is blown to the freezing room 400, the switching room 200, the ice making room 300, and the refrigerating room 100 to cool each room. In the vegetable compartment 500, the return cold air of the refrigerator compartment 100 circulates through a return air passage (not shown) for the refrigerator compartment and is cooled, and then returned to the cooler 3 from the return air passage for the vegetable compartment (not shown). . The temperature of each room is detected by a thermistor (not shown) installed in each room, and the opening degree of a damper (not shown) installed in the air passage 5, the capacity of the compressor 2, and the air blow so that the temperature becomes a preset temperature. It is controlled by adjusting the air flow rate of the fan 4.

  A storage case 401 is installed in the freezer compartment 400 and can store food. A storage case 201 is also installed in the switching chamber 200 and can store food. The vegetable compartment 500 is also provided with a storage case 501 and can store food. The number of cases in each room may be one, but there may be two or more cases when the capacity of the entire refrigerator 1 improves the organization.

Next, the configuration of the operation display panel 6 will be described.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operation display panel 6. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the operation display panel 6 of FIG. 3, (a) shows the transparent electrode sheet 12 and the support component 13, and (b) shows the support component 13 and the electronic substrate 14. The operation display panel 6 is composed of a capacitive touch sensor that operates by detecting the amount of change in capacitance. The transparent electrode sheet 12 is composed of a laminated sheet in which layers having various functions are laminated, and corresponds to the “laminated sheet” of the present invention.

  3 and 4, the operation display panel 6 includes a transparent member 11, a transparent electrode sheet 12, a support component 13 that supports the transparent electrode sheet 12, an electronic board 14 that includes a microcomputer and a light source 25, and holds them. The holding component 15 is divided into five elements. The material of the transparent member 11 is not particularly limited as long as it is transparent and can transmit light, such as glass or resin, and may be decorated by printing or the like as long as the light emitted from the light source 25 is transmitted. . The support component 13 also has a function as a light shielding wall that shields light of adjacent icons. Further, an inexpensive light emitting diode is often used as the light source 25, but another light source may be used. The transparent member 11 constitutes a part of the door of the refrigerator 1 and corresponds to the “transparent plate member” of the present invention. The support component 13 supports the transparent electrode sheet 12 and corresponds to a “support member” of the present invention. The microcomputer (not shown) takes in a signal detected by the transparent electrode sheet 12 as an operation signal and controls lighting of the plurality of light emitting sources 25, and corresponds to a “control device” of the present invention.

Next, the transparent electrode sheet 12 will be described.
FIG. 5 is an external view of the transparent electrode sheet 12, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the transparent electrode sheet 12. FIG. 5 shows a state in which all the display elements of the transparent electrode sheet 12 are displayed, but only the start button 16 is displayed in the initial state. When the start button 16 of the transparent electrode sheet 12 is touched, the operation icon 17 is displayed (lighted). Note that FIG. 5 is shown in a state where black and white are reversed for the sake of drawing. This also applies to FIGS. 8 and 9 described later.

  The configuration cross section of the transparent electrode sheet 12 has a pattern wiring layer 19, a transparent conductive ink layer 20, and an insulating ink layer 21 formed on the front side (operation side) with a transparent substrate 18 as the center, and an icon on the back side (substrate side). A printing layer (light-shielding layer) 22, a light diffusion printing layer 23, and a paste printing layer 24 are formed. The transparent electrode sheet 12 is supported by sticking the transparent electrode sheet 12 having such a configuration to the support component 13. A transparent conductive ink layer 20 is printed on the start button 16 portion, and a transparent conductive ink layer 20, an icon print layer 22 and a light diffusion print layer 23 are printed on the operation icon portion. The pattern wiring layer 19 is a colored wiring pattern that connects the transparent conductive ink layer 20 and the electronic substrate 14. The pattern wiring layer 19 includes a plurality of conductive wirings arranged in parallel and corresponds to “a plurality of conductive wirings” of the present invention, and the transparent conductive ink layer 20 detects a change in capacitance. Corresponding to “a plurality of transparent conductive members” of the present invention. The icon print layer (light shielding layer) 22 has a pattern for displaying a plurality of shapes such as characters and symbols (see FIG. 5), and corresponds to the “light shielding layer” of the present invention. The light diffusion printing layer 23 diffuses the light irradiated from the light source 25 and corresponds to the “light diffusion layer” of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the operation display panel 6 and shows the entire components of the operation display panel 6.
When the operation icon 17 is displayed (when lit), the light emission source 25 is lit, and this light passes through the transparent conductive ink layer 20, the icon print layer 22, the light diffusion print layer 23, and the transparent member 11. The icon is displayed and visually recognized. When the operation icon 17 is touched, the operation is accepted. The light emission source 25 is arranged for each of the start button 16, the operation icon 17, and the word (character group) formed on the icon print layer 22, and the light diffusion print layer 23 also emits light for each icon or word. It is configured as follows.

  By printing the light diffusion printing layer 23 on the transparent electrode sheet 12, light emitted from the light emission source 25 is diffused and surface emission is possible, and without using a member such as a light guide plate, a large size icon and Characters and the like can be displayed without light unevenness.

  In addition, by making the color of the support component 13 white or a color similar thereto, the reflected light of the light source 25 can be effectively used for the icon part, and the visibility is further enhanced. At that time, when a transparent member such as a white member is used, a part of the light from the light emission source 25 may be transmitted through the support component 13 and the adjacent icon may be mistakenly illuminated. If there is an adjacent icon, a double wall 26 is formed on the support part 13. Thereby, transmission of light can be suppressed. The double wall 26 corresponds to the “light-shielding wall” of the present invention.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in the cross-sectional view of the transparent electrode sheet 12 shown in FIG. 6, the transparent conductive ink layer 20 that senses a change in capacitance is transmitted to the electronic substrate 14. The pattern wiring layer 19, the icon print layer 22 that changes the light emitted from the light emission source 25 into an icon, and the light diffusion print layer 23 that changes the light into a surface emission are integrated into one transparent base material (film base material) 18. By printing in this way, the number of parts can be greatly reduced as compared with the prior art. For this reason, it is possible to improve productivity, reduce costs, and stabilize quality.

  In addition, since the icons and characters (words) are displayed through the transparent member 11 with the light emitting source 25 turned on, the visibility is very excellent, and the operation display panel 6 is easy to use for users of any age. It has become. Furthermore, by devising the shapes of the transparent electrode sheet 12 and the support component 13, it is possible to realize surface emission equal to or higher than that when using the light guide plate, and further increase the visibility without increasing the number of components. It has become. In addition, you may make it the transparent member 11 comprise a part of door of the refrigerator 1 as a decorated design component.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is an external view of the transparent electrode sheet 12 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
For each wiring pattern of the pattern wiring layer 19, there are many ways to route the wiring pattern. For example, how to wire the start button 16 will be described. If the wiring of the start button 16 is drawn like the single wiring 27, when the finger touches the wiring portion, the start button 16 reacts, which may lead to a malfunction. When this is a single wiring, the parasitic capacitance is reduced, and not only the transparent conductive ink layer 20 but also the wiring portion is in a highly sensitive state, and as a result, the start button 16 reacts.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the composite wiring 28 of FIG. 8, the pattern wiring is gathered together on one side together with another pattern wiring group 29 in which a plurality of wirings are gathered in parallel. The parasitic capacitance of the wiring of the button 16 is lower than that of the single wiring as a result. As a result, the sensitivity of the wiring portion becomes dull, and malfunction of the start button 16 can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent malfunction of each button by collecting the wiring group. Such a wiring structure may be applied to operation buttons other than the start button 16.

9 is a view showing a modification of the transparent electrode sheet 12 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the operation display panel 6 including the transparent electrode sheet 12 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the shape of the transparent electrode sheet 12 (and the transparent substrate 18) is partially extended to the left. Then, the individual wiring 27 of the start button 16 is placed over the extended part. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the extended portion of the transparent electrode sheet 12 is curved along the support component 13 and attached to the support component 13, and the air gap 30 is interposed between the transparent member 11 and the transparent electrode sheet 12. To produce. With this configuration, even when the finger touches the transparent member 11 having the wiring portion (particularly the single wiring 27), it is possible to eliminate any change in the capacitance. By creating the air gap 30 in this manner, malfunction can be prevented.

  In the example of FIG. 10, an inlay structure 31 is formed in the holding component 15, and the transparent electrode sheet 12 in a curved state is accommodated in the inlay structure 31. The transparent electrode sheet 12 is curved and attached to the support component 13, and the adhesive force may weaken and peel off. However, even if the transparent electrode sheet 12 is peeled off, the transparent electrode sheet 12 remains curved with the inlay structure 31. As a result, the state in which the air gap 30 is formed can be maintained.

  The location where the air gap 30 is formed can be arbitrarily set depending on the peripheral structure and the order of icon arrangements since any portion is effective in preventing malfunction as long as it is a wiring portion. For example, the air gap 30 may be formed in the portion of the composite wiring 28.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Next, an example in which the visibility is further improved in surface light emission will be described as a third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the operation display panel 6 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 11, a light shielding wall 13a that shields light from the light source 25 adjacent to the support component 13 is formed, and a tapered surface 32 is provided on the light shielding wall 13a. By providing the light shielding wall 13a in this way, a tapered surface is formed in the light guide portion formed between the adjacent light shielding walls 13a and the light shielding wall 13a, thereby blocking the light emitted from the light emitting source 25. The light can be delivered to the icon print layer 22 of the transparent electrode sheet 12.

  Although it is desirable that the angle of the tapered surface 32 be larger than the irradiation range 33 of the light emitting source 25, there is a restriction on the structure, and thus visibility can be improved without necessarily using such an angle.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, if the color of the support component 13 (the light shielding wall 13a) is set to white or a color similar thereto, the reflected light of the light source 25 can be effectively used for the icon print layer 22 and visually recognized. Sexuality further increases.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the operation display panel according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the connector connecting portion of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a partition plate 34 is formed on the support component 13, and a transparent electrode sheet connection connector 35 and a main body lead wire connection connector 36 are provided on the electronic substrate 14, respectively. The transparent electrode sheet connecting portion 37 is formed as a part of the transparent electrode sheet 12 so as to be continuous with the composite wiring 28 in FIG. The transparent electrode sheet connection part 37 is connected to the transparent electrode sheet connection connector 35 through the opening 13 b formed in the support component 13. Further, the main body lead wire 38 drawn from the door of the refrigerator 1 is connected to the main body lead wire connector 36. At that time, when a current flows through the main body lead wire 38 in a state where the transparent electrode sheet connecting portion 37 and the main body lead wire 38 are in close contact with each other, an induced current flows through the transparent electrode sheet connecting portion 37 and each operation icon 17 is operated. Even if it is not, the operation display panel 6 may operate without permission. In order to prevent this, the partition plate 34 is provided so that the transparent electrode sheet connecting portion 37 and the main body lead wire 38 are not in close contact with the support component 13. That is, the partition plate 34 protects the transparent electrode sheet connection part 37 by partitioning the transparent electrode sheet connection part 37 and the main body lead wire 38 so as not to contact each other. As a result, an unintended operation of the operation display panel 6 can be prevented. The transparent electrode sheet connecting portion 37 corresponds to the “strip-shaped portion where a plurality of conductive wirings are formed” of the present invention formed on the transparent electrode sheet 12.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the operation display panel according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention, showing the entire components of the operation display panel, and FIG. 15 is attached with the operation display panel of FIG. It is a front view of a refrigerator. 14 and 15, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 3 and 1 denote the same or corresponding parts.
The operation display panel 6 includes a transparent member 11, a transparent electrode sheet 12, a light guide component 41, an outer component 42, an electronic substrate 14 and a holding component 15, and is roughly divided into six elements. In the present embodiment, the light guide component 41 and the outer component 42 have the function of the support component 13 in FIG. The light guide component 41 is for guiding light from the light emitting source 25 to the transparent electrode sheet 12, and the outer component 42 is for supporting the light guide component 41.

  Since the operation display panel 6 is configured as described above, after the transparent electrode sheet 12 is attached to the outer part 42, the transparent electrode sheet 12 and the electronic substrate 14 are connected by a connector, and then the light guide part 41 Can be incorporated. For this reason, since the transparent electrode sheet 12 is attached to the outer shell part 42 and is connected to the electronic substrate 14 by the connector, workability is improved and productivity is improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator, 2 Compressor, 3 Cooler, 4 Fan, 5 Air path, 6 Operation display panel, 11 Transparent member, 12 Transparent electrode sheet, 13 Support component, 13a Light-shielding wall, 13b Opening part, 14 Electronic substrate, 15 Holding parts, 16 start button, 17 operation icons, 18 transparent substrate, 19 pattern wiring layer, 20 transparent conductive ink layer, 21 insulating ink layer, 22 icon printing layer (light-shielding layer), 23 light diffusion printing layer, 24 glue Print layer, 25 Light source, 26 Double wall, 27 Single wiring, 28 Composite wiring, 29 Other pattern wiring group, 30 Air gap, 31 Inlay structure, 32 Tapered surface, 33 Irradiation range, 34 Partition plate, 35 Transparent electrode Sheet connector, 36 Main body lead wire connector, 37 Transparent electrode sheet connector, 38 Main body lead wire, 41 conductor Parts, 42 outer parts, 100 refrigerating room, 200 switching compartment, 300 Freezer, 400 freezing compartment, 500 vegetable compartment, 201 switching compartment storage case 301 Freezer storage case 401 freezing compartment storage case 501 crisper storage case.

Claims (11)

In a refrigerator equipped with an operation display unit,
The operation display unit
A transparent plate member;
A laminated sheet that is provided on the back side of the transparent plate member and detects at least a change in capacitance;
Provided on the opposite side of the laminated sheet from the transparent plate member side, a plurality of light emitting sources for irradiating the laminated sheet with light, and a signal detected by the laminated sheet as an operation signal, An electronic board on which a control device for controlling lighting of the light emitting source is mounted;
With
The laminated sheet is
A transparent substrate,
A plurality of transparent conductive members that are provided on the transparent plate member side of the transparent substrate and detect a change in capacitance;
A light-shielding layer provided on the electronic substrate side of the transparent base material and having a pattern for displaying at least one shape of characters and designs;
A refrigerator comprising: a light diffusing layer that is provided on the electronic substrate side of the light shielding layer and diffuses light emitted from the light emitting source. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a shielding wall provided between the plurality of light emitting sources. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductive member and the light shielding layer are each printed on the transparent substrate. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the light diffusion layer is printed on the light shielding layer. The laminated sheet further includes a plurality of conductive wirings for transmitting signals detected by the plurality of conductive members to the electronic substrate, and the plurality of conductive wirings are arranged in parallel. The refrigerator as described in any one of Claims 1-4. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein a gap is provided between a portion of the laminated sheet where the conductive wiring is disposed and the transparent plate member. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the shielding wall has a white wall surface, or claim 3 dependent on claim 2. The said shielding wall is formed in an angle so that a frontage may spread toward the said transparent board | plate member from the said light emission source, The subordinate to Claim 2 or Claim 3 dependent on Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. The refrigerator as described in any one of -7. Provided so as to be interposed between the laminated sheet and the electronic substrate, comprising a support member for supporting the laminated sheet;
The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the shielding wall is formed on the support member. The laminated sheet includes a strip-shaped portion in which the plurality of conductive wirings are formed in order to connect to the electronic substrate,
The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the support member includes a partition plate provided at a joint portion between the band-shaped portion and the electronic substrate so as to protect the band-shaped portion.   The refrigerator according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the support member includes a light guide component that guides light from the light emitting source to the laminated sheet, and an outer component that supports the light guide component.

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