Touch screen control panel and kitchen appliance comprising such a control panel

Abstract

Touchscreen control panel (3) configured to be implemented with a kitchen appliance (1), preferably with a home kitchen appliance or a commercial kitchen appliance, and operable from a front or top side of the appliance (1), wherein the touchscreen control panel (3) comprises a cover plate (4) with a transparent section (4a), a transparent touchsensitive layer (5) arranged and attached within the transparent section (4a) to the back side of the cover plate (4), a bracket frame (6) implemented at the back side of the cover plate (4) and surrounding at least partially the transparent section (4a), and a display unit (7) comprising an active display (9). The bracket frame (6) is adapted to retain the display unit (7) at the back side of the cover plate (4) preferably in such a way that the display unit (7) is in alignment, especially in proper alignment with the touchsensitive layer (5).

Claims

1. A touchscreen control panel configured to be implemented with a kitchen appliance, and operable from a front or top side of the kitchen appliance, wherein the touchscreen control panel comprises: a cover plate with a transparent section, a transparent touch-sensitive layer arranged and attached within the transparent section to a back side of the cover plate, a bracket frame implemented at the back side of the cover plate and surrounding at least partially the transparent section, a display unit comprising an active display, and a housing supporting the display unit, said display unit being attached to a back side of the housing such that a display surface of the active display is visible through a cutout window provided in the housing, wherein the housing is removably connected to the bracket frame, at least one electronics board supported by the housing, wherein the bracket frame is adapted to retain the display unit at the back side of the cover plate in such a way that the display unit is in alignment with the touch-sensitive layer, wherein the housing, the electronics board and the touch-sensitive layer are configured such that electronic contacts between the touch-sensitive layer and electronics board are automatically established upon mounting the housing to the bracket frame.

2. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive layer is glued to the back side of the cover plate.

3. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate comprises a frame member surrounding the transparent section.

4. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 3, wherein the transparent section is implemented as or as a part of an inlay.

5. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 4, wherein the inlay covers a cutout provided in the bracket frame or frame member.

6. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 1, wherein the housing and bracket frame comprise corresponding fixing elements configured such that the housing can be removably connected to the bracket frame.

7. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronics board is configured to at least drive the active display of the display unit.

8. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the at least one electronics board is arranged besides or behind the active display.

9. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 7, wherein the housing, the active display and at least one of the at least one electronics board are configured such that electric contacts between the active display and electronics board are automatically connected during assembly of the housing.

10. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 1, wherein the bracket frame and housing are configured such that the display surface is arranged at a predefined distance from the touch-sensitive layer, wherein a circumferential gap between the display surface and touch-sensitive layer is sealed by a sealing element.

11. A kitchen appliance comprising a touchscreen control panel according to claim 1.

12. A cooking hob comprising a cooktop with a glass pane and the touchscreen control panel according to claim 1, wherein the transparent section is integrally formed with the glass pane of the cooktop, or formed as an insert embedded in the glass pane.

13. An oven with the touchscreen control panel according to claim 1.

14. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 3, said frame member holding the transparent section.

15. The touchscreen control panel according to claim 4, said transparent section being attached to or integrally designed with said bracket frame or frame member.

16. The touchscreen control panel of claim 6, said fixing elements being snap elements such that said housing is or can be removably snap connected to the bracket frame.

17. The cooking hob of claim 12, said glass pane being a ceramic glass pane.

18. The touchscreen control panel of claim 1, where the active display comprises an electronic display screen adapted to display information that is relevant for operating the kitchen appliance.

19. The touchscreen control panel of claim 1, wherein the cover plate is a glass plate, glass pane, or a plate made of a plastic material, and the bracket frame is made of a plastic material or a metal material.

20. The touchscreen control panel of claim 19, wherein the cover plate is implemented as an inlay and is received within a cutout provided in the bracket frame.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments will now be described in connection with the annexed figures, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of a baking oven comprising a touchscreen control panel;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the touchscreen control panel;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of selected elements of the touchscreen control panel;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a cooking hob comprising a touchscreen control panel; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the cooking hob.

(7) In the figures, like elements will be designated with like reference signs, as far as not otherwise stated.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a baking oven 1 comprising an oven muffle 2 for baking and/or steaming food items. The baking oven 1 further comprises a touchscreen control panel 3. The touchscreen control panel 3 is provided in an upper section of the baking oven 1 in connection with a cover plate providing a user interface in particular allowing a user to control operation of the baking oven 1. In this respect, the touchscreen control panel 3 can be regarded as a user control unit for the baking oven 1.

(9) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the touchscreen control panel 3. The touchscreen control panel 3 comprises, essentially in sequence from front to back, which is indicated by an arrow, the component parts as listed below.

(10) The touchscreen control panel 3 comprises a cover plate 4, which in the present case is implemented as a glass panel or glass plate. The cover plate 4 comprises a transparent section 4a, indicated by a dotted rectangle. The touchscreen control panel 3 further comprises a touch sensitive panel 5 laminated to a back side of the cover plate 4, and a bracket frame 6 to which the cover plate 4 in the present case is attached by gluing, i.e. adhesive bonding.

(11) The touchscreen control panel 3 further comprises a display unit 7 which in turn comprises a housing 8, and a TFT display screen 9 and further a main electrics board 10 and a bridging board 11. The housing may optionally comprise a back cover 12.

(12) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the display unit 7 of the touchscreen control panel 3. As can be seen, the display unit 7 comprises a restricted number of components, in particular components for providing a display function to the touchscreen control panel 3. Advantageously, the construction of the display unit 7 is comparatively compact, so that the display unit 7 can easily be handled as a separate component part of the touchscreen control panel 3. Advantages will become apparent in connection with the following description and also from the description further above, to which explicit reference is made. In particular it will become apparent, that mounting and assembly of the touchscreen control panel 3 as proposed herein can be greatly enhanced and simplified.

(13) The touchscreen control panel 3 can be assembled essentially in two mounting phases, wherein in a fist mounting phase the display unit 7 is assembled and in a second mounting phase, the display unit 7 is assembled to and with the other elements and component parts of the touchscreen control panel 3.

(14) In the first mounting phase, the display unit 7 is assembled by mounting the display screen 9 to the housing 8. Snap-fit connections or similar may be provided for fixing the display screen 9 to the housing 8. It is however also possible, that the display screen is fixed by further components to be attached to the housing 8.

(15) After or simultaneously with assembling the display screen 9 to the housing 8, the core electrical board 10 can be attached to the housing 8 or to the bridging board 11. For establishing a respective connection, in particular mechanical and electrical connections, counterpart and complementary electrical connectors 13 may be used. The electrical connectors 13 in the present case are provided in order to interconnect electrical and/or data lines of the core electrical board 10 with corresponding electrical and/or data lines on or at the bridging board 11 in the course of assembling the display unit 7.

(16) The main electronics board 10 and bridging board 11 may be connected to the housing 8 via snap-fit connections, for example. The bridging board 11 and core electronics board 10 may be separately attached to the housing 8. As already indicated the electronics board 10 and bridging board 11 may first be attached to each other and then mounted to the housing 8. As can in particular be seen from FIG. 3, the display screen 9 in the present embodiment is sandwiched and fixed between the bridging board 11 and housing 8.

(17) The display screen 9 can be connected to respective display electronics, in particular the main electronics board 10, via a cable connection, in particular a flat cable connection. The display electronics preferably are positioned on the main electrical board 10. However, it also possible that electrical contacts between the display screen 9 and the main electronics board 10 is automatically established during mounting respective components to the housing 8.

(18) In a second mounting phase, which in the present case is carried out as a whole subsequent to the first mounting phase, the touchscreen control panel 3 is finally assembled.

(19) In a first step in particular belonging to the second mounting phase, the touch sensitive panel 5 is laminated to the rear side of the cover plate 4 in proper alignment and overlap with the transparent section 4a.

(20) Subsequently, the cover plate 4 together with the touch sensitive panel 5 is attached to the bracket frame 6. Preferably, a bonding connection, in particular an adhesive bond, is used for connecting the cover plate 4 to the bracket frame 6.

(21) In a next step, the housing 8, i.e. the display unit 7 is snap-connected to the bracket frame 6. It shall be noted that the bracket frame 6 and housing 8 respectively comprise corresponding snap elements adapted to snap-lock the housing to the bracket frame 6. The snap elements are provided in such a way that the display screen 9 is properly aligned with the touch sensitive panel 5 and transparent section 4a.

(22) Note that the steps of the second mounting phase described so far can also be carried out prior to and/or parallel to the first mounting phase.

(23) In particular from FIG. 2 it can be seen, that the cover plate 4 together with the touch sensitive panel 5 are mounted from a front side of the bracket frame 6, whereas the display unit 7 is mounted from a rear side of the bracket frame 6.

(24) It shall be noted, that the snap-fit connections may be replaced or supplemented by other means of fixation. However, snap-fit connections are advantageous with respect to reducing assembly time and effort.

(25) The housing 8 and bracket frame 6 of the touchscreen control panel 3 may be made at least one of a plastic material and metal material. Preferably, the bracket frame 6 is made from a metal material, in particular stainless steel. The cover plate 4 may be made from glass. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the cover plate 4 is clearly larger than the transparent section 4a. In the regions outside of the transparent section 4a, a non-transparent masking or imprint may be applied to the cover plate 4.

(26) It shall be noted, that the proposed structure of the touchscreen control panel can be applied also to other appliances, in particular such as washing machines, dishwashers, cooking hobs.

(27) In particular with cooking hobs having glass ceramic hobs, i.e. glass ceramic panes, the cover plate may be implemented with, i.e. constitutes a section of the glass pane. The transparent section in this case may be a transparent section of the glass ceramic pane. Such a transparent section in particular may be obtained in providing a transparent insert or inlay to a colored glass ceramic pane. In the alternative, the glass ceramic pane may be made from transparent material and regions outside the transparent section, intended to be non-transparent may be obtained by adequately masking the transparent glass material. For masking, foils, imprints or printings can be used.

(28) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a cooking hob 14 comprising a touchscreen panel 3 as proposed herein. The cooking hob comprises a ceramic glass pane 15 and four cooking zones 16. The glass pane 15 comprises a transparent section 4a underneath of which a transparent touch sensitive panel (not explicitly shown) and a display unit 7 are provided.

(29) The transparent section 4a may be obtained by providing a transparent inlay, if necessary in connection with a suitable frame member, to the glass pane 15, or by using a transparent glass material for the glass pane 15. In case of using a transparent glass material non-transparent regions may be obtained by a masking provided at the lower side of the glass pane 15, for example.

(30) Reference is now made to FIG. 5 showing a cross sectional view of the cooking hob 14. As can be seen, the transparent section 4a and the display screen 9 of the display unit 7 are mutually aligned such that the display screen 9 is visible through the transparent section 4a, and through the transparent touchsensitive panel (not explicitly shown). The transparent touchsensitive panel is glued to the lower side of the glass pane 15.

(31) The display unit 7, in particular the housing 8 of the display unit 7 is snap connected to a bracket frame 6 itself glued to the lower side of the glass pane 15. The bracket frame 6 and the housing 8 comprise corresponding snap elements 17 adapted and configured to snap-lock the display unit 7 to the lower side of the glass pane 15 in proper alignment with the transparent section 4a and the touchsensitive panel.

(32) The display screen 9, main electronics board 10 and bridging board 11 are mounted to the housing 8 via further snap elements 18 and/or electrical connectors 13. Electric contact between the electrical connectors 13 of the display screen 9, main electronics board 10 and bridging board are automatically established in the course of assembling the housing 8 and display unit 7, respectively. Electronic contacts between the touchsensitive panel (not shown) and the electronics, i.e. the main electronics board 10 and/or the bridging board 11, are configured to be automatically connected to corresponding contact elements in the course of snapping the housing 8, i.e. display unit 7 to the bracket frame 6.

(33) As can be seen from FIG. 5, the display screen 9 is arranged at a predefined distance from the lower side of the glass pane 15. In order to avoid the display screen 9 from getting dusty, a circumferential sealing element 19 is provided to seal the gap between the display screen 9 and the lower side of the glass pane 15, in particular touchsensitive pane.

(34) As will readily be recognized, from the above description, the proposed touchscreen control panels, are well suitable for solving the underlying problems.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(35) 1 baking oven 2 oven muffle 3 touchscreen control panel 4 cover plate 4a transparent section 5 touch sensitive panel 6 bracket frame 7 display unit 8 housing 9 display screen 10 main electronics board 11 bridging board 12 back cover 13 electrical connector 14 cooking hob 15 ceramic glass pane 16 cooking zone 17 snap elements 18 further snap elements 19 sealing element