WO2011018353A1 - Electric button, cover for an electric button, household appliance having an electric button, and method for producing a cover of an electric button - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric button (6, 11), to a cover (5, 10, 10a) of an electric button (6, 11), to a household appliance (1) having an electric button (6, 11), and to a method for producing a cover (5, 10, 10a) of an electric button (6, 11). The cover (5, 10, 10a) is implemented as a carrier (12, 12a) made of plastic having an applied foil (13), particularly having metal foil applied thereto. A part of the cover (12, 12a) is provided as a pressure surface (17) for activating the electric button (6, 11). The cover (5, 12, 12a) is produced by cutting out the foil (13) around the pressure surface (17), in order to form an edge of the pressure surface (17).

Description

 Electric button, panel of an electric button, domestic appliance with an electric button and method of making a

 Aperture of an electrical button

The invention relates to an electrical button, an aperture of an electric button, a household appliance with an electric button and a method for producing a diaphragm of an electric button.

DE 20 2007 003 428 U1 discloses a household appliance in the form of a household refrigerating appliance with a body and at least one door, which together enclose a cooled interior. At the door, a user interface is arranged, which comprises a button for setting the target temperature of a compartment of the refrigeration device. The button is realized in the form of a wall piece of the housing with microswitch arranged behind it. The housing is so thin and thus yielding that by means of finger pressure of an operator of the micro-switch can be actuated. The housing is manufactured in in-mold decoration technique. To obtain the housing, a plastic material was injected into a mold in which a film is placed in advance, on the graphic

Design elements of the user interface, e.g. a border of the key, are realized. The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing an improved aperture for an electric key.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved aperture of an electric key.

The object of the invention is achieved by a method for producing a diaphragm of an electric key, wherein the diaphragm is designed as a carrier made of plastic with applied film, such as a foil in metal optics, but preferably as a metal foil and a part of the diaphragm as a pressure surface for activating the electric key is provided, having Ausspar the film around the printing surface around to form an edge of the printing surface. The further object of the invention is achieved by a diaphragm of an electrical button, comprising a carrier made of plastic and a foil applied to the carrier, in particular metal foil, which is provided as a pressure surface for activating the electric key, the foil being cut out around the pressure surface, to form an edge of the printing surface.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an electrical button, comprising a

Sensor electronics and the sensor electronics covering aperture, which is designed according to the invention aperture. Another aspect of the invention relates to a domestic appliance, comprising the

Electric key according to the invention, which is provided for operating and / or controlling functions of the domestic appliance.

The diaphragm according to the invention is a diaphragm of an electrical button. A key in general means a control element that can be pressed by pressing

 Pressure surface is actuated and then returns to their original position. For this purpose, e.g. a mechanical spring can be used. An electrical button can be a

mechanically operating key in which a contact is moved by pressing on the printing surface, e.g. having the sensor electronics.

Electric keys can e.g. be designed as a sensor keys in which when pressing the printing surface, for example, with a finger electrical or

Change non-electrical parameters of the key, which causes the key to be pressed. For example, electrical keys may include a permanent magnet to which a hall effect Hall effect sensor is approximated by pressing the pressure surface. An e.g. integrated in the Hall sensor, in particular hysteresis electronic threshold value can generate a defined switching edge.

Electric keys may also be implemented as capacitive keys, in which, due to the pressing of the printing surface, e.g. at a sensor electrode a

Capacity change or interference coupled causes. Electric keys may also include a piezoelectric element that generates an electrical voltage due to the pressing of the pressure surface. This voltage can be used, for example, to control an electronic switch.

According to the invention, therefore, a shutter is provided for such an electrical button, which comprises a carrier made of plastic, which is provided with a foil. The film is in particular a metal foil, whereby the panel has a cost-effective appearance of value. The film is e.g. applied by hot stamping or by in-mold labeling. According to the invention, the film is recessed around the printing surface, whereby a circumferential gap is formed around the printing surface, which forms an edge of the printing surface. As a result, the pressure surface can be better recognized, which allows easier operation of the electrical keys or the domestic appliance according to the invention.

Preferably, such a formed pushbutton can be freed from a metal foil in order to form a touch key with a capacitive resistance.

The recess may e.g. be realized by the film is applied structured on the support, in particular by means of hot stamping. By means of a suitably structured film, it is also possible to produce a panel with several printing surfaces for a plurality of electrical keys.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention or the

According to the invention, the film is applied to the carrier over a large area and then the film is cut out around the printing surface by means of removal of the film in the relevant region. "Large-area application of the film" means in particular that the film is substantially over the entire visible side of the carrier made of plastic This makes it possible to apply the film initially in a relatively simple and possibly cost-effective manner to the support of the panel.

Subsequently, the film can be removed around the printing surface, for example by means of laser processing, in order to make the printing surface visually recognizable. This variant of the method according to the invention or the diaphragm according to the invention is also relative cost, if the panel has a plurality of printing surfaces for a plurality of electrical keys and the individual printing surface are visually highlighted on the panel by the film are recessed around the individual pressure surfaces around to form the edges of the individual pressure surfaces. According to a preferred variant of the method according to the invention or the electrical key according to the invention, a gap surrounding the printing area is produced in the carrier and then the film is applied over a large area to the carrier. Due to the gap in the carrier, the film breaks off in the region of the gap, whereby the recess is formed around the printing surface. The gaps can be realized relatively inexpensively in the carrier, whereby it is possible, particularly cost-effective

produce panel according to the invention. This variant of the method according to the invention or the diaphragm according to the invention is also relatively favorable if the diaphragm has a plurality of pressure surfaces for a plurality of electrical keys and the individual pressure surface on the diaphragm is visually highlighted by the foil being recessed around the individual pressure surfaces around the diaphragm Form edges of the individual printing surfaces, since the edges or the recesses are formed automatically by the tearing of the film.

Depending on the embodiment, therefore, the invention provides a hot embossed

Metalltouchelektronik or a metal touch electronics based on in-mold labeling available. If the metal foil is used as the foil, then the method according to the invention offers a cost-effective possibility of producing a high quality

Operating unit, in particular for a domestic appliance with a metallic surface with touch metal keys.

Optionally, by means of hot stamping or inmould decoration, a metallic surface is applied to the control panel e.g. applied to a household appliance. Via a relieved pressure or subsequent lasing, the keys, i. their

Pressure surfaces, functionally separated from each other to maintain their function. It is also possible to define this hot stamping with a sprayed aperture

Deploy gap joints. These can then tear off the film and the functionality of the touch electronics is preserved. An advantage of the invention may be, for example, a high quality metallized

Cost-effective use of surface on a control surface with touch electronics. It may possibly result in a significant surface benefit in a control panel in the domestic appliance area. The invention may e.g. on panels in the interior as well as on control units in the outdoor area, such as an icemaker or water dispenser, are used. An advantage may e.g. be that metalized plastic panels fit relatively well to stainless steel appliances.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a household dishwasher with a control panel, the

 includes several buttons,

Figures 2-5 several manufacturing steps during the production of a

 Control panel,

Fig. 6 shows an alternative control panel and

Figures 7 and 8 a manufacturing step during the manufacture of the control panel of

 Fig. 6.

Fig. 1 shows a detail of a household dishwasher 1 as an example of a household appliance. The domestic dishwasher 1 has a washing container 2 for receiving items to be washed, for example, in a non-illustrated

Geschirroberkorb and a Geschirrunterkorb can be arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of plates 3 are shown, for example, in the

Geschirroberkorb are stored.

In the washing container 2, for example, two spraying devices not shown for applying the items to be washed with a liquid arranged, which is commonly referred to as washing liquor. The spraying devices are designed, for example, as upper and lower spray arms. The liquid can be from a non-illustrated, however generally known circulating pump to be conveyed via liquid feed lines to the spray arms.

The rinsing container 2 can be opened and closed by means of a door 4 which is attached to the rinsing container 2. On the door 4, a control panel 5 with a plurality of electrical keys 6 and a display 7 is arranged in the case of the present embodiment. By means of the keys 6, the domestic dishwasher 1 can be operated, i. it can e.g. a washing program are set, due to which the

Control device of the domestic dishwasher 1 controls this in a generally known manner.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show several steps in the production of a control panel 10 of a plurality of electrical keys 11. The control panel 5 of the domestic dishwasher 1 may have been produced similar to the control panel 10. In the case of the present embodiment, the control panel 10 comprises a plastic, e.g. Injection-molded carrier 12, which is provided with a film 13. The film 13 is in particular a metal foil. The film 13 was applied in the present embodiment over a large area on the support 12, i. it covers in a manufacturing step shown in Figures 2 and 3, the entire visible area of the control panel 10. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view and the FIG. 3 is a plan view of the control panel 10th

The film 13 has been e.g. applied to the carrier 12 by means of hot stamping or in-mold labeling. In-mold labeling, also referred to as an in-mold process, is understood to mean an injection molding process in which e.g. an inserted into an injection mold substrate, here the carrier 12, is back-injected with the film 13.

In the context of the in-mold process, the film 13 can not be inserted into the tool, but roll as a foil strip, for example by means of a motor vertically through the mold. This process is also referred to as in-mold decoration process. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the electrical keys 11 comprise a sensor electronics 14 known in principle to the person skilled in the art, for example comprising a circuit board and sensor elements assigned to the individual keys 11 1, depending on the technology used, for example capacitive elements or piezoelements. Between the carrier 13 and the sensor electronics 14, a further carrier 15, for example made of plastic, which in the case of the present embodiment comprises a plurality of metal springs 16, of which in FIGS. 2 and 4 only one is shown. Each of the metal springs 16 is assigned to one of the keys 1 1.

In the operation of the keys 1 1, it is provided that the film 13 are provided as pressure surfaces for the individual keys 1 1, i. an operator, not shown, can operate the corresponding key 1 1 and thus activate a function assigned to this key 1 1, e.g. with one finger on the panel 10 presses. As a result, the relevant sensor element of the sensor electronics 14 is activated. Press the

Operator no longer against the control panel 10, the biased spring 16 presses the carrier 12 with applied film 13 back to the starting position.

In order to better recognize the individual keys 1 1, i. to be able to better recognize the individual buttons 1 1 associated pressure surfaces 17, in a manufacturing step shown in Figures 4 and 5, the film 13 to the individual

Compressed surfaces 17 around recessed to form edges of the individual pressure surfaces 17. 4 shows a sectional view and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the control panel 10 after this manufacturing step.

In the case of the present embodiment, the edges of the individual pressure surfaces 17 were produced by cutting the film 13 around the pressure surfaces 17 by means of removal of the film 13 in the relevant areas. In particular, this has been achieved by means of laser processing.

In the case of the present embodiment, the sensor electronics 14 also comprises an LED 18, the light of which can shine through a shaft 19 through the support 15 between the support 12 of the diaphragm 10 and the springs 16. Instead of the unstructured film 13, the carrier 12 can also be provided with a structured film, which is structured such that it already generates the edges of the individual pressure surfaces 17 when the film is applied to the carrier 12.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative control panel 10 a, which can be used instead of the control panel 10 for the electrical keys 1 1. The control panel 5 of

Domestic dishwasher 1 may also have been made similar to the control panel 10a.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a manufacturing step in the production of the alternative control panel 10a for the electrical keys 11.

The control panel 10a differs essentially from the control panel 10 in that the carrier 12a of the control panel 10a has the pressure surfaces 17 bordering column 20. The support 12a with column 20 is shown in a sectional view in FIG. 7 and in a plan view in FIG.

Due to the column 20 breaks in the large-scale application of the film 13, these in the areas of the column 20, so that the pressure surfaces 17 bounding edges arise, i. the film 13 is replaced by the column 20 automatically the

Pressure surfaces 17 limiting recesses.

Claims

1. A method for producing an aperture of an electric key, wherein the aperture (5, 10, 10a) as a carrier (12, 12a) made of plastic with applied film (13), in particular metal foil, is formed and a part of the diaphragm (5, 12, 12a) as Printing surface (17) for activating the electrical button (6, 11) is provided, characterized by cutting out the film (13) around the pressure surface (17) around to form an edge of the pressure surface (17). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized by applying the film (13) by means of hot stamping or by in-mold labeling. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by large-area application of the film (13) on the carrier (12) and then cutting out the film (13) to the pressure surface (17) by means of Abtrages the film (13) in the relevant area. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized by removing the film (13) in  relevant area by means of laser processing. 5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the film (13) structured on the support (12) is applied in particular by means of hot stamping to realize the Aussparen to the pressure surface (17). 6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by producing a the  Pressure surface (17) bordering gap (20) in the carrier (12 a) and then large-scale application of the film (13) on the support (12 a), wherein due to the gap (20) in the carrier (12 a), the film (13) in the region Cracks (20) breaks off and thus the recess around the pressure surface (17) is formed. 7. panel of an electrical button, comprising a support (12, 12a) made of plastic and a on the support (12, 12a) applied film (13), in particular metal foil, as a pressure surface (17) for activating the electrical button (6, 11) is provided, characterized in that around the pressure surface (17) the film (13) is recessed to form an edge of the pressure surface (17). 8. Aperture according to claim 7, characterized in that the film (13) by means of  Hot stamping or by means of in-mold labeling on the carrier (12, 12 a) is applied. 9. Aperture according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the film (13) around the printing surface (17) has been removed to form the edge of the pressure surface (17). 10. Aperture according to claim 9, characterized in that the film (13) has been removed in the relevant area by means of laser processing. 11. Aperture according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the carrier (12a) has a the edge of the pressure surface (17) bordering gap (20). 12. Electric button, comprising a sensor electronics (14) and a  Sensor electronics (14) covering aperture (12, 12a) according to one of claims 7 to 1 1. 13. Household appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising an electrical button (6, 11) according to claim 12, which is provided for operating and / or controlling functions of the household appliance (1).