KR102637418B1 - Curcuit board and apparatus for treating laundry comprising thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a touch input device. In one embodiment, a touch input device includes a printed circuit board, a touch panel that receives a user's touch input, and a spring member mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board and provided in contact with the touch panel, the spring member , a middle portion made of a spring having a first diameter, a first end extending from one side of the middle portion and having a diameter larger than the first diameter, and a first end extending from the other side of the middle portion and having a diameter greater than the first diameter. and a second end extending in diameter to a large diameter.

Description

Circuit board and clothing processing device including the same {CURCUIT BOARD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING　LAUNDRY COMPRISING THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a circuit board as a touch input device, a clothing treatment device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the circuit board.

In general, a clothing treatment device is a device that performs various tasks related to clothing (washing, drying, deodorizing, removing wrinkles, etc.). It is a washing device that washes clothes, a drying device that dries wet clothes, and a device that removes odors from clothes or removes wrinkles. It is a concept that includes a refresher to remove wrinkles.

The clothing processing device is provided with a circuit board as a touch input device for the user to operate the device.

As a touch input device, a capacitive touch input device that detects changes in capacitance due to contact with the user's body may be used as the circuit board. When there is physical contact with a capacitive touch input device, the frequency becomes lower than usual, and the touch sensor IC detects this and determines whether or not there is a touch.

In general, a capacitive touch input device consists of a touch panel on which the human body touches, a touch rod electrically connected to the touch panel, and a printed circuit board on which the touch rod is installed. In the conventional case, when the human body touches the touch panel, an elastic member made of a material such as urethane foam or silicon is placed between the touch panel and the touch rod to provide a feeling of being pressed, and a conductive coating is installed on this elastic member. It was configured to be electrically connected to the touch panel. However, there are problems such as corrosion of the conductive coating in a high-temperature and high-humidity installation environment.

To improve this, a spring was placed between the touch panel and the touch rod. However, in this case, the distance between the touch panel and the printed circuit board becomes distant, so the touch input device takes up a lot of space.

In addition, in the process of combining the touch rod and spring with the printed circuit board, the existing spring structure has a problem in that suction air escapes through the gap in the spring, which requires manual labor, increasing the cost.

Additionally, in order to couple the touch rod to the printed circuit board, a hole is drilled in the printed circuit board. If a hole is drilled, the bottom of the printed circuit board must be designed to avoid the hole, and design restrictions occur, limiting design freedom in the limited size of the printed circuit board.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a touch input device with a high degree of freedom in circuit design.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a slim touch input device by reducing the gap between the touch panel and the printed circuit board.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a touch input device that can improve tact time and process defect rate.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a touch input device that can prevent the occurrence of touch insensitivity due to corrosion.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited here, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

The present invention provides a touch input device. In one embodiment, a touch input device includes a printed circuit board, a touch panel that receives a user's touch input, and a spring member mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board and provided in contact with the touch panel, the spring member , a middle portion made of a spring having a first diameter, and a first end extending from one side of the middle portion and having a diameter larger than the first diameter.

In one embodiment, the spring extends from the other side of the middle portion and may further include a second end whose diameter is expanded to a larger diameter than the first diameter.

In one embodiment, a cap covering the second end is provided on the side where the second end is provided, and an upper surface of the cap may be in contact with the touch panel.

In one embodiment, the upper surface portion may be provided flat.

In one embodiment, the cap may further include a side portion extending downward from the periphery of the upper surface portion.

In one embodiment, the side portion includes a plurality of bent portions bent in an inward direction, and the cap may be coupled to the second end portion by the bent portions.

In one embodiment, an inner diameter formed by the plurality of bent parts may be smaller than an expanded diameter of the second end.

In one embodiment, the printed circuit board and the first end may be mounted by soldering.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first end and the second end may include a first portion having a small wire diameter.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first end and the second end may further include a second part extending from the first part and having a wire diameter larger than that of the first part.

Additionally, the present invention provides a clothing treatment device. In one embodiment, the clothing treatment device includes a cabinet and a control panel coupled to the cabinet to input operation commands, and the control panel includes the touch input device described above.

Additionally, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a touch input device. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a touch input device includes preparing a printed circuit board, preparing a spring member in which a cap with a flat upper surface is coupled to the upper part of a spring, and suctioning the upper surface of the cap with air suction. It includes picking up the spring member, and mounting the spring member on the surface of the printed circuit board.

In one embodiment, the spring member may be positioned at a set position on the printed circuit board by the air suction.

In one embodiment, the spring includes a middle portion made of a spring having a first diameter, a first end extending from one side of the middle portion and having a diameter larger than the first diameter, and the printing The circuit board and the first end may be mounted by soldering.

In one embodiment, the spring further includes a second end extending from the other side of the middle portion and having a diameter larger than the first diameter, and the cap has an upper surface portion of the spring. It may be provided to cover the second end.

In one embodiment, the cap further includes a side portion extending downward around the upper surface portion, and a plurality of bent portions bent inward are formed on the side portion so that the second end of the spring and the cap are connected to each other. can be combined

In one embodiment, an inner diameter formed by the plurality of bent parts may be smaller than an expanded diameter of the second end.

In one embodiment, the method may further include positioning a touch panel on the upper surface of the cap.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the degree of freedom in circuit design of a touch input device can be increased.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the gap between the touch panel of the touch input device and the printed circuit board can be reduced.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, tact time and process defect rate can be improved during the manufacturing process of a touch input device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of touch insensitivity due to corrosion.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the attached drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a side view of a spring member according to an embodiment applied to a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a spring member according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a spring member according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the bottom.
Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the coupling portion of the spring and the cap of the spring member according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing a spring member attached to a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a flow chart explaining a manufacturing method of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The configuration or control method of the device described below is only for explaining the embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, and the same reference numbers used throughout the specification indicate the same components. .

Specific terms used in this specification are merely for convenience of explanation and are not used to limit the illustrated embodiments.

For example, expressions such as “same” and “is the same” not only indicate a strictly identical state, but also indicate a state in which there is a difference in tolerance or the degree to which the same function can be obtained.

In this specification, when a component is referred to as being 'connected' or 'connected' to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but there is another component in the middle. It must be understood that it may exist. On the other hand, in this specification, when it is mentioned that a component is 'directly connected' or 'directly connected' to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

In this specification, terms such as 'include' or 'have' are only intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and one or more other It should be understood that this does not exclude in advance the presence or addition of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

For example, expressions that express relative or absolute arrangement such as “in a certain direction,” “along a certain direction,” “side by side,” “perpendicularly,” “at the center,” “concentric,” or “coaxial,” Not only does it strictly represent the arrangement, but it also represents the state of relative displacement with a tolerance, or an angle or distance that achieves the same function.

In order to explain the present disclosure, it will be described below based on a spatial orthogonal coordinate system with X, Y, and Z axes orthogonal to each other. Each axis direction (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, Z-axis direction) refers to both directions in which each axis extends. The '+' sign in front of each axis direction (+X-axis direction, +Y-axis direction, +Z-axis direction) means the positive direction, which is one of the two directions in which each axis extends. The '-' sign in front of each axis direction (-X-axis direction, -Y-axis direction, -Z-axis direction) means the negative direction, which is the other direction among the two directions in which each axis extends.

Expressions referring to directions such as “front (+Y)/back (-Y)/left (+X)/right (-X)/up (+Z)/down (-Z)” mentioned below are It is defined according to the coordinate axis, but this is for explanation so that the present disclosure can be clearly understood, and of course, each direction may be defined differently depending on where the reference is placed.

The use of terms such as 'first, second, and third' in front of the components mentioned below is only to avoid confusion about the components to which they are referred, as well as the order, importance, or master-slave relationship between the components, etc. is irrelevant. For example, an invention that includes only the second component without the first component can also be implemented.

As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Also, in this specification, the term 'and/or' includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality of listed items. In this specification, 'A or B' may include 'A', 'B', or 'both A and B'.

1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view of FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a washing machine according to one embodiment. The description will be made with reference to FIG. 1 .

The laundry treatment device (1) of the present invention includes a cabinet (10) forming the exterior, a control panel (12) coupled to the cabinet (10) to input operating commands or display status, and a front panel (12) of the cabinet (10). It may include a door 18 that is rotatably coupled to the door 18 to open and close the opening through which clothing is input.

The control panel 12 may be coupled to the top of the cabinet 10. The control panel 12 may be equipped with a control unit (not shown) including a microcomputer that controls the clothing treatment device 1. The control panel 12 may include a display unit 16 that displays the status of the clothing treatment device 1 and an input unit that inputs commands to the control unit.

The display unit 16 may be provided as a touch input device 1000 that can receive commands. The touch input device 1000 is composed of a circuit board. As the display unit 16 is provided as the touch input device 1000, the display unit 16 can function as an input unit. The display unit 16 may be provided to externally display the operating state and abnormal state of the clothing processing device 1 to accurately convey information about the clothing processing device 1 to the user. Additionally, the display unit 16 may further include a speaker to emit an alarm sound to the user.

The input unit may be provided as a rotary knob 13 to select any drying course or option of the laundry treatment device. Additionally, the input unit may include a power input unit 14 for inputting power to the laundry treatment device 1 and a command input unit 15 for inputting a separate control command.

The power input unit 14 and the command input unit 15 may be provided as physical buttons so that commands can be transmitted even when power is not supplied to the display unit 16.

The door 18 may be rotatably provided in front of the cabinet 10. The door 18 may be made of a transparent material so that the opening provided in the cabinet 10 can be seen through. The door 18 has a handle on one side and is coupled with a hinge on the other side to open and close the opening of the cabinet 10. Figure 1 discloses a front load type laundry treatment device 1 with a door 18 provided at the front, but does not exclude a top load type laundry treatment device with a door 18 provided at the top.

Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing a touch input device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The touch input device 1000 may be provided as a display unit 16 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This will be explained with reference to Figure 2.

The touch input device 1000 includes a touch panel 100 that receives a user's touch input, a printed circuit board 400, and a spring member 300 mounted on the printed circuit board 400.

The spring member 300 is installed to contact the inside of the touch panel 100, and is elastically deformed when the touch panel 100 is pressed. The spring member 300 is installed on the printed circuit board 400. A capacitance sensor (not shown) is installed on the printed circuit board 400, and when the human body (F) touches the touch panel 100, an electrical signal is transmitted to the capacitance sensor through the spring member 300 to effect switching. .

Figure 3 is a side view of a spring member according to an embodiment applied to a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a spring member according to an embodiment of the present invention. The spring member 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The spring member 300 includes a spring 310 and a cap 320.

Spring 310 includes a middle portion 311, a first end 312, and a second end 315. Spring 310 is provided as an electrical conductor. In an embodiment, the spring 310 may be provided by nickel plating on stainless steel. The spring 310 may be provided by processing stainless steel and nickel-plated steel wire into a spring shape.

The middle portion 311 is formed of a compressed coil spring having a certain length. The middle portion 311 has a first diameter D1. The length of the middle portion 311 may be defined as a length corresponding to the separation distance between the touch panel 100 and the printed circuit board 400.

The first end 312 extends from the lower part of the middle part 311. The first end 312 gradually expands from the first diameter D1 to have a second diameter D2. The second diameter (D2) is larger than the first diameter (D1). The first end 312 may include a first portion 313 and a second portion 314. The first part 313 extends from one end of the middle part 311. The second part 314 extends from the end of the first part 313. The diameter of the wire forming the first part 313 may be smaller than the diameter of the wire forming the middle part 311. The diameter of the wire forming the first part 313 may be smaller than the diameter of the wire forming the second part 314. The first portion 313 may facilitate the expansion of the first end 312 to the second diameter D2.

The first end 312 is bonded to the printed circuit board 400. The first end 312 is mounted on the printed circuit board 400 by soldering. The first end 312 is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board 400.

The second end 315 extends from the upper part of the middle part 311. The second end 315 gradually expands from the first diameter D1 to have a second diameter D2. The second diameter (D2) is larger than the first diameter (D1). The second end 315 may include a first portion 316 and a second portion 317. The first part 316 extends from the other end of the middle part 311. The second part 317 extends from the end of the first part 316. The diameter of the wire forming the first part 316 may be smaller than the diameter of the wire forming the middle part 311. The diameter of the wire forming the first part 316 may be smaller than the diameter of the wire forming the second part 317. The first portion 316 may facilitate the expansion of the second end 315 to the second diameter D2.

The cap 320 is coupled to the top of the spring 310. The cap 320 is coupled to the second end 315 of the spring 310. The cap 320 includes a top portion 351 and a side portion 353. The upper surface portion 351 may be formed in a circular shape. The shape of the upper surface portion 351 is sufficient as long as it can cover the second end portion 315. The side portion 353 extends downward from the periphery of the upper surface portion 351. The side portion 353 surrounds the second end portion 315. Cap 320 is provided as an electrical conductor. In an embodiment, the cap 320 is made of stainless steel.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a spring member according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the bottom. Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the coupling portion of the spring and the cap of the spring member according to an embodiment of the present invention. This will be explained with further reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The side portion 353 includes a bent portion 353a. The bent portion 353a is formed at the lower part of the side portion 353. The bent portion 353a is formed by bending the lower end of the side portion 353 inward. The bent portion 353a gradually moves inward toward the bottom. The bent portion 353a may be formed at a plurality of positions. The bent portions 353a may be formed in four locations at 90 degree (deg) intervals. The inner diameter formed by the plurality of bent portions 353a is smaller than the second diameter D2. As the bent portion 353a is formed, the cap 320 is coupled to the spring 310.

The upper surface 351 of the cap 320 is provided flat. The upper surface 351 of the cap 320 is provided in contact with the touch panel 100. For example, the upper surface 351 of the cap 320 faces the touch panel 100. In the present invention, the expression "touching" is a concept that includes tolerance. In addition, even if the upper surface 351 of the cap 320 is spaced apart from the touch panel 100 by a predetermined distance, the user's body (F) presses the touch panel 100 to touch the upper surface 351 of the cap 320. It is a concept that includes allowing access to the touch panel 100.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing a spring member attached to a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention. This will be explained with reference to FIG. 7 . The spring member 300 is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board 400. The printed circuit board 400 on which the spring member 300 is mounted is sufficient without forming a separate hole or structure for fixing the spring member 300. Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the degree of freedom in circuit design of the printed circuit board 400 is high.

Figure 8 is a flow chart explaining a method of manufacturing a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 .

Prepare the printed circuit board 400 (S1). The printed circuit board 400 is provided with a designed circuit printed on it. The location where the spring member 300 is installed is defined on the printed circuit board 400.

Prepare the spring member 300 (S2). The spring member 300 is prepared with the spring 310 and the cap 320 combined.

The prepared spring member 300 is picked up by the suction of an automatic mounting machine (S3). The spring member 300 is picked up by an automatic mounting machine. Since the automatic mounting machine uses a known one, its description is omitted. Suction picks up an object by sucking air, and can pick up the flat upper surface of the cap 320. The spring member 300 can be picked up by suction sucking the cap 320.

The automatic mounting machine mounts the spring member 300 on the surface of the printed circuit board 400 (S4). Since the spring member 300 is surface mounted on the printed circuit board 400 using an automatic mounting machine, tact time and process defect rate can be improved compared to the conventional method.

According to the touch input device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the gap between the touch panel 100 and the printed circuit board 400 can be reduced. Therefore, the touch input device 1000 can be slimmer compared to the prior art. When the touch input device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the clothing processing device 1, space equivalent to the slimming of the touch input device 1000 can be secured, so that the clothing processing device 1 This has the effect of expanding the design space. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a numb touch phenomenon due to corrosion can be prevented by the spring member 300.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in relation to specific embodiments, it is known in the art that the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as provided by the following claims. This will be self-evident to those with ordinary knowledge.

Claims (18)

printed circuit board;
A touch panel that receives the user's touch input;
It includes a spring member mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board and provided in contact with the touch panel,
The spring member is,
a middle portion made of a spring having a first diameter; and
A touch input device comprising a first end extending from one side of the middle portion and having a diameter larger than the first diameter. According to paragraph 1,
The spring member is,
The touch input device further includes a second end extending from the other side of the middle portion and having a diameter larger than the first diameter. According to paragraph 2,
A cap covering the second end is provided on the side where the second end is provided,
A touch input device where the upper surface of the cap is in contact with the touch panel. According to paragraph 3,
A touch input device where the upper surface is provided flat. According to paragraph 3,
The cap further includes a side portion extending downward from the periphery of the upper surface portion. According to clause 5,
The side portion includes a plurality of bent portions bent in an inward direction,
A touch input device in which the cap is coupled to the second end by the bent portion. According to clause 6,
A touch input device in which an inner diameter formed by the plurality of bent portions is smaller than an expanded diameter of the second end. According to paragraph 1,
A touch input device in which the printed circuit board and the first end are mounted by soldering. According to paragraph 2,
At least one of the first end and the second end,
A touch input device including a first portion where the wire diameter is smaller than the wire diameter of the middle portion. According to clause 9,
At least one of the first end and the second end,
A touch input device further comprising a second part extending from the first part and having a wire diameter larger than that of the first part. cabinet;
Includes a control panel coupled to the cabinet to input operating commands,
The control panel is a clothing processing device including the touch input device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. In the manufacturing method of a touch input device,
Preparing a printed circuit board;
Preparing a spring member in which a cap with a flat upper surface is coupled to the upper part of the spring;
Picking up the spring member by suctioning the upper surface of the cap with air suction;
Mounting the spring member on the surface of the printed circuit board; and
A method of manufacturing a touch input device including the step of positioning a touch panel on the upper surface of the cap. According to clause 12,
A method of manufacturing a touch input device in which the spring member is positioned at a set position on the printed circuit board by the air suction. According to clause 12,
The spring is,
a middle portion made of a spring having a first diameter;
It extends from one side of the middle portion and includes a first end whose diameter is expanded to a diameter larger than the first diameter,
A method of manufacturing a touch input device in which the printed circuit board and the first end are mounted by soldering. According to clause 14,
The spring is,
It extends from the other side of the middle portion and further includes a second end whose diameter is expanded to a diameter larger than the first diameter,
The cap is,
A method of manufacturing a touch input device, wherein an upper surface portion is provided to cover the second end of the spring. According to clause 15,
The cap is,
Further comprising a side portion extending downward from the circumference of the upper surface portion,
A method of manufacturing a touch input device in which a plurality of bent portions bent inward are formed on the side portion and the second end of the spring is coupled to the cap. According to clause 16,
A method of manufacturing a touch input device in which the inner diameter formed by the plurality of bent parts is smaller than the diameter in which the second end is expanded.

delete