JP6511643B2 - Operation display device and washing machine equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation display device provided with a touch switch type operation unit that is operated by a user touching the screen with a finger.

  Conventionally, for example, a washing machine can change the control contents of each process such as washing, rinsing and dewatering, and can further execute any one of the processes independently. A control means including a microcomputer and the like is provided to perform these controls, and an input means such as a selection switch for selecting control contents of each process of the washing course and the course is provided to display the control situation and setting situation. The operation display device is provided.

  Although a mechanical switch such as a tact switch has often been used as the selection switch, a plurality of irregularities due to the mechanical switch have been generated on the surface of the operation panel. Therefore, in recent years, in order to realize a flat design, a touch switch for detecting a user's touch operation has come to be used instead of a mechanical switch (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Generally, in the touch switch, an electrode film in which a detection electrode pattern is formed as a touch switch detection unit is disposed on the back side of a panel surface member such as glass or ABS resin. In order to adversely affect the function of the touch switch if the contact between the two is impaired, the adhesion between the panel surface member and the electrode film has been secured by pasting and bonding with a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet or by pressing using a mechanical component. .

JP-A-9-274536

  However, in the case of pressing with a mechanical component, a gap is likely to be generated, and there is a problem that when the adhesive sheet is attached, air bubbles are mixed to impair the contact property.

  In the capacitive touch switch, when the user's hand or finger touches the panel surface, the capacitance between the electrodes changes, and the change in the capacitance is detected to determine whether the switch is on or off. ing.

  The capacitance affects the dielectric constant and thickness of the material present between the operation panel surface and the sensing electrode. The capacitance is proportional to the dielectric constant and inversely proportional to the thickness, so the dielectric constant is small, and when a thick material is present between the panel surface and the sensing electrode, the capacitance decreases. As a result, the amount of change when the user's finger touches is also reduced, and the sensitivity is degraded. Poor sensitivity means that the position touched by the finger can not be accurately recognized, and erroneous detection due to the adhesion of water droplets or erroneous detection due to external or internal noise is likely to occur.

  Here, the dielectric constants of glass, ABS resin and PET resin generally used as panel surface members are about 9 for glass and about 3 for ABS resin and PET resin, respectively. On the other hand, air has a small dielectric constant of 1, and the inclusion of air bubbles when attaching the electrode film to the panel surface member causes the sensitivity to deteriorate and causes a fatal defect in the function of the touch switch.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly sensitive and highly accurate touch switch type operation display device by preventing the mixture of air bubbles between layers.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the operation display device of the present invention is an operation display device provided with a touch switch type operation unit that performs an operation by touching with a finger, and is configured of a plurality of light emitting elements or liquid crystal panels Operation display means for operating and displaying control contents, setting contents and the like include a touch switch detection unit for detecting an operation, a control unit for controlling the display means based on detection values of the touch switch detection unit, and the operation display And a panel surface member constituting a surface portion of the unit, wherein the touch switch detection unit and the panel surface member are partially adhered, and a non-adhesion area between the touch switch detection unit and the panel surface member Is the touch switch
It is provided in the periphery of the switch electrode part of the protrusion .

  Thereby, when bonding the electrode film and the panel surface member, air bubbles are released to the non-bonded area to prevent the air bubbles from being mixed in the switch electrode part requiring the contact property, and the deterioration of the sensitivity of the touch switch can be prevented. .

  The operation display device of the present invention is provided with a touch switch type operation unit of high sensitivity and high accuracy by providing a non-adhesion area at a position corresponding to the switch electrode peripheral portion of the adhesive sheet for bonding the electrode film and the panel surface member. The operation display apparatus can be realized.

Longitudinal section of washing machine in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention The schematic block circuit diagram of the control device of the washing machine Top view of the operation panel of the operation display device of the washing machine Longitudinal side view of the operation panel of the operation display device of the washing machine (A) A plan view of a transparent electrode film of the operation display device of the washing machine (b) An enlarged plan view of a touch detection unit of the transparent electrode film of the operation display device of the washing machine Bonding range diagram of transparent double-sided adhesive sheet of the operation display device of the washing machine A graph showing the relationship between the thickness of the air layer and the touch sensitivity between the transparent electrode film and the transparent resin member of the operation display device of the washing machine

The operation display device according to the first aspect of the present invention is an operation display device including a touch switch type operation unit that performs an operation by touching with a finger, and includes a plurality of light emitting elements or liquid crystal panels to operate control contents and setting contents. The operation display means for displaying the image includes a touch switch detection unit for detecting an operation, a control unit for controlling the display means based on the detection value of the touch switch detection unit, and a panel forming a surface portion of the operation display means The touch switch detection unit and the panel surface member are partially adhered, and the non-adhesion area between the touch switch detection unit and the panel surface member is the touch switch detection unit. It is characterized in that it is provided around the switch electrode portion . As a result, even when air bubbles enter the adhered portion during bonding, the air bubbles in the adhered portion can be eliminated by letting the air bubbles escape to the unadhered portion, and the touch by the air bubbles entering can be avoided. The sensitivity deterioration can be prevented, and a highly sensitive touch switch function can be obtained. Further, by providing the non-adhesion region around the switch electrode portion of the touch switch detection portion, it is possible to more effectively prevent the air bubbles from being mixed into the switch electrode portion which is particularly affected by the air bubble mixing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in particular, by forming an operation display device in which a through hole is provided in the touch switch detection portion in the non-adhesion region of the first aspect, a touch switch detection portion Since the through holes are provided in the non-bonded area, when air bubbles are released to the non-bonded area, air bubbles can be prevented from being released by releasing the air bubbles from the through holes.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in particular, the operation display device according to the first or second aspect of the invention is configured to detect a change in capacitance when the user's finger is touched. When detecting a change in capacitance, the influence of the dielectric constant of the member is large, and if an air layer with a small dielectric constant is mixed between the panel surface member and the touch detection unit, the touch sensitivity is significantly degraded. It is possible to maintain the high sensitivity touch switch function.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a washing machine having a touch switch function with high sensitivity can be realized, in particular, by using the operation display device according to any one of the first to third aspects.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

Embodiment 1
In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the operation display device will be described using an operation display device used for a washing machine.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block circuit diagram of a control device for the washing machine.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the operation display panel 2 is disposed at the front of the top cover 1 provided at the top of the washing machine, and the control device 3 is accommodated inside the operation display panel 2. In the approximate center of the top cover 1, an inlet 10 for inserting the laundry is provided, and a lid 11 which covers the inlet so as to open and close freely is provided.

  The control device 3 includes a motor 6 for rotationally driving the washing and dewatering tank 4 and the pulsator 5, a water supply valve 8 for supplying washing water to the washing and dewatering tank 4 and the water tank 7, and washing in the washing and dewatering tank 4 and water tank 7. The operation of the drainage valve 9 and the like for draining water is controlled to sequentially control a series of washing, rinsing and dewatering steps.

  The control device 3 is configured as shown in FIG. 2 and includes a control circuit 12 comprising a microcomputer, and a load drive circuit 13 for controlling the motor 6, the water supply valve 8 and the drainage valve 9 according to signals from the control circuit 12. And a display drive circuit 14 for controlling light emitting diodes 21b to 35b and a digital display 46 described later.

  Then, the control circuit 12 controls a touch switch input signal from the switch input unit 15 having various switches of the operation display panel 2, a switch signal from the lid switch 16 for detecting opening and closing of the lid 11, It is configured to receive a water level detection signal from a water level sensor 17 that detects the water level of the washing water.

  The switch input unit 15 includes a transparent electrode film 18 on which a detection electrode pattern, which is a touch detection unit, is formed, and an electrostatic touch detection circuit 20 on which an IC 19 dedicated to a touch panel is mounted. The circuit 20 is electrically connected by a connection connector 47 (see FIG. 5) described later.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the operation display device for the washing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the operation display panel 2 is provided with various switches as input means and various displays as display means. Specifically, a power switch 49 for turning on and off the power is provided at the right end of the operation display panel 2, and a start switch 50 for start and pause is provided at the center. Above the start switch 50, a digital display 46 is provided which digitally displays time, guess, and the like.

  In the left half of the operation display panel 2, a water level switch 21 for setting the water level in order from the top, a wash switch 22 for setting the washing operation time, a rinse switch 23 for setting the number of rinses, and a dewatering switch for setting dewatering operation time In the lower left part, there are a reservation switch 25 for setting a reserved operation and a water saving switch 26 for setting a water saving mode. Course switches 27 to 34 for setting the washing operation courses and a water temperature switch 35 for setting the used water temperature are provided on the right side.

  Among various switches, the water level switch 21, the wash switch 22, the rinse switch 23, the dewatering switch 24, the reservation switch 25, the water saving switch 26, the course switches 27 to 34, and the water temperature switch 35 are electrostatics when the user's finger touches It is a capacitive touch switch that detects a touch operation of the user by detecting a change in capacitance.

  Thus, the operation display panel 2 realizes a flat design by forming the majority of the switches as touch switches. Further, by disposing a display such as a light emitting diode immediately below each touch switch, it is possible to design the switch itself to be displayed as if it is lit, and the design is improved.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view of an operation panel of the operation display device for the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the switch input unit 15 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the outer shell of the operation display panel 2, a display sheet 37 made of PET film is insert-molded on the surface of the transparent resin member 36, and the display sheet 37 is colored and printed, and has a light shielding property as a whole. In the corresponding portions of the various switches, display portions 21a to 35a having transparency are partially formed. The transparent electrode film 18 is adhered to the back side of the transparent resin member 36 by a transparent double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 38 called OCA.

  Light emitting diodes 21 b to 35 b, which are light emitting elements that are displays, are provided on the control substrate 54 so as to correspond to the display portions 21 a to 35 a. A light emitting diode holder 51 is provided on the control substrate 54 to protect each of the light emitting diodes 21 b to 35 b. In the light emitting diode holder 51, light emitting diode through holes 52 through which the respective light emitting diodes 21b to 35b pass are formed corresponding to the respective light emitting diodes 21b to 35b, and upward from the light emitting diode through holes 52 A substantially conical inclined wall 53 is extended to the vicinity of the transparent electrode film 18 so as to spread according to the above.

  In this manner, the display sheet 37, the transparent resin member 36, the transparent double-sided adhesive sheet 38, the transparent electrode film 18, the light emitting diodes 21b to 35b, and the control substrate 54 are stacked in this order. The light emission of the light emitting diode can be visually recognized through the sheet 37, the transparent resin member 36, the transparent double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 38, and the transparent electrode film 18.

  Moreover, between the transparent resin member 36 and the transparent electrode film 18, the non-adhesion area | region 39 which does not provide the transparent double-sided adhesive sheet 38 is provided. That is, in the non-bonding area 39, the transparent resin member 36 and the transparent electrode film 18 are not bonded. The transparent electrode film 18 in the non-bonded area 39 is provided with a through hole 40.

  Fig.5 (a) is a top view of the transparent electrode film of the operation display apparatus of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention, FIG.5 (b) is a touch detection of the transparent electrode film of the operation display apparatus of the washing machine. It is an enlarged plan view of a part. The structure of a transparent electrode film is demonstrated using this FIG. 5 (a), (b).

  As shown to Fig.5 (a), on the transparent electrode film 18, the switch electrode pattern 41 and the wiring pattern 42 are formed by double-sided printing.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the switch electrode pattern 41 is printed with a semitransparent organic conductive polymer called PEDOT so that the X electrode 43 as a transmitting electrode and the Y electrode 44 as a receiving electrode are comb-shaped. They are formed and arranged according to the positions of the switches printed on the display sheet 37.

  The wiring pattern 42 is formed by silver printing on each of the X electrode 43 and the Y electrode 44, and is electrically connected to the electrostatic touch detection circuit 20 from the end of the transparent electrode film 18 through the connection connector 47.

  In this embodiment, a PET substrate is used as the substrate, PEDOT is used as the switch electrode, and silver is used as the wiring, but highly conductive indium oxide called a glass substrate and ITO as the switch electrode is used. The same performance can be obtained by using a conductive material other than tin and wiring for silver.

  FIG. 6 is an adhesion range diagram of the transparent double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet of the operation display device of the washing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, the hatched portion 48 indicates the bonding range of the transparent double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 38. That is, the transparent double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 38 is cut out and formed in the range of the hatched portion 48 shown. As shown in FIG. 6, by providing the non-adhesive region 39 around the switch electrode pattern 41, when the transparent electrode film 18 is bonded to the back side of the transparent resin member 36, air bubbles are prevented from being mixed in between the layers, temporarily Even if air bubbles are mixed in at the time of adhesion, the air bubbles can be easily pushed out to the non-adhesion area 39 and eliminated.

  In addition, through holes 40 are respectively provided in the transparent electrode film 18 in the non-bonding area 39, and when air bubbles escape to the non-bonding area 39, air is produced from the through holes 40 to the outside. , You can not let the air pool.

  The detection mechanism at the time of touch operation will be described using the schematic block circuit diagram of the control device of FIG. 2 and the vertical cross-sectional side view of the operation panel of FIG. 4. There is a very small capacitance component between the X electrode 43 and the Y electrode 44 of the switch electrode pattern 41 formed on the transparent electrode film 18, and a cycle which is always with respect to the X electrode 43 from the touch panel IC 19 Voltage pulses are applied repeatedly.

  The voltage passing through the capacitance component of the switch electrode pattern 41 is always output to the Y electrode 44 after being applied from the X electrode 43, and the voltage signal is always returned to the touch panel IC 19 so that the switch electrode pattern 41 is always static. Changes in capacitance component are monitored as changes in voltage.

When the user touches the display sheet 37, the display sheet 37, the transparent resin member 36, the transparent double-sided adhesive sheet 38, and the transparent electrode film 18 are electrically connected from the user's finger, and the capacitance component of the user is possessed. Electricity flows to (generally, about 100 to 150 pF), the voltage detected by the touch panel IC 19 changes through the Y electrode 44, and the touch signal level in the touch panel IC 19 changes according to the change. A threshold S for determining a touch operation is set in the touch panel IC 19, and the presence or absence of the touch operation is determined depending on whether the touch signal level exceeds the threshold S, and a determination signal is communicated to the control circuit 12.

  When air bubbles are mixed between the transparent double-sided adhesive sheet 38 and the transparent resin member 36, the capacitance between the X electrode 43 and the Y electrode 44 of the switch electrode pattern 41 formed on the transparent electrode film 18 is reduced. . As a result, the amount of voltage change detected by the touch panel IC when the user touches the display sheet 37 becomes smaller, the touch signal level does not exceed the threshold S, and the user is touching the touch switch. Regardless, a malfunction occurs in which the desired operation is not performed because no definite signal is sent.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the thickness of the air layer and the touch sensitivity between the transparent electrode film 18 and the transparent resin member 36 of the operation display device for the washing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents the thickness of the air layer between the transparent electrode film 18 and the transparent resin member 36, the vertical axis represents the touch signal level, and the dotted line in the drawing represents the threshold value S.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the touch signal level decreases as the thickness of the air layer between the transparent electrode film 18 and the transparent resin member 36 increases, and the responsiveness and detection accuracy at the time of touch operation deteriorate. When the thickness exceeds 0.4 mm, it is confirmed that the touch signal level becomes lower than the threshold S, and the switch is not effective at all.

  The above phenomenon is improved by lowering the threshold value S. However, when the threshold value S is lowered, for example, when a drop of water or detergent water adheres, it may be erroneously detected as a finger touching condition, noise inside or outside the machine There is a high possibility that a malfunction due to the influence will occur.

  As described above, it is not preferable that an air layer with a low dielectric constant is introduced between the electrode film and the panel surface member in order to realize a touch switch type operation display device with high sensitivity and high accuracy. However, according to the present embodiment, by providing the non-adhesion region 39 around the switch electrode portion of the transparent double-sided adhesive sheet 38 as described above, the mixing of air bubbles is prevented, and even if air bubbles are mixed when bonding, easily. Air bubbles can be pushed out of the non-adhesion area 39 and eliminated, and a touch switch type operation display device with high sensitivity and high precision can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, a light emitting diode is used for the display, but the same effect can be obtained by using a liquid crystal panel instead of the light emitting diode.

  As described above, the operation display apparatus according to the present invention can realize a touch switch type operation unit with high sensitivity and high accuracy, and is useful as an operation display apparatus including a touch switch type operation unit. It is applicable to household electric appliances such as a washing machine.

1 top cover 2 operation display panel 3 control device 4 washing and dewatering tank 5 pulsator 6 motor 7 water tank 8 water supply valve 9 drain valve 10 inlet 11 lid 12 control circuit 13 load drive circuit 14 display drive circuit (control section)
15 switch input section 16 lid switch 17 water level sensor 18 transparent electrode film (touch switch detection section)
19 Touch panel IC
20 electrostatic touch detection circuit 21a to 35a display unit 21b to 35b light emitting diode 36 transparent resin member (panel surface member)
37 display sheet 38 transparent double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 39 non-adhesive area 40 through hole 41 switch electrode pattern 42 wiring pattern 43 X electrode (for transmission)
44 Y electrode (for reception)
46 digital indicator 47 connector for connection 48 hatching section 49 power switch 50 start switch 51 light emitting diode holder 52 light emitting diode through hole 53 inclined wall 54 control board

Claims (4)

In an operation display device provided with a touch switch type operation unit that performs an operation by touching with a finger, an operation display unit configured of a plurality of light emitting elements or liquid crystal panels to operate and display control contents, setting contents, etc. The touch switch includes a touch switch detection unit to be detected, a control unit that controls the display unit based on a detection value of the touch switch detection unit, and a panel surface member that forms a surface unit of the operation display unit. The detection unit and the panel surface member are partially adhered, and the non-adhesion area between the touch switch detection unit and the panel surface member is provided around the switch electrode portion of the touch switch detection unit. Operation display device characterized by Wherein the non-adhesive areas, the operation display device according to claim 1, characterized in that a through-hole in the touch switch detecting unit. The operation display device, the operation display device according to claim 1 or 2 a change in capacitance and configured to detect when a finger of the user touches. A washing machine equipped with the operation display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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