User interface assembly with light guides for a domestic appliance

1 . A user interface assembly for a domestic appliance, the user interface assembly defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the user interface assembly comprising:

a fascia comprising a consumer icon;

a main control board coupled to the fascia, the main control board defining an aperture therethrough, the aperture aligned with the consumer icon along the axial direction;

a light guide disposed within the aperture, the main control board and the light guide defining a perimeter gap therebetween; and

a capacitive touch sensor module (CTSM) electrically coupled to the main control board, the CTSM comprising a capacitive touch sensor and a light source, the capacitive touch sensor aligned with the consumer icon along the axial direction,

wherein the light source is positioned within the perimeter gap and surrounded by the aperture.

2 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fascia comprises a first panel face and a second panel face spaced apart along the axial direction,

wherein the main control board comprises a first board face and a second board face,

wherein the CTSM comprises a secondary control board,

wherein the secondary control board comprises a first module face and a second module face,

wherein the second panel face is interfaced with the first board face, and

wherein the second board face is interfaced with the first module face.

3 . The user interface assembly of claim 2 , wherein the capacitive touch sensor is disposed at the first module face,

wherein the light guide comprises a first guide face and a second guide face spaced apart along the axial direction,

wherein the first guide face is interfaced with the second panel face, and

wherein the light guide is adhered to the first module face over the capacitive touch sensor.

4 . The user interface assembly of claim 2 , wherein the light source comprises a proximal end at the first module face and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end along the axial direction, and

wherein the distal end is positioned between the second panel face and the first module face along the axial direction.

5 . The user interface assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main control board comprises a controller mounted thereto,

wherein the CTSM comprises one or more connection pads mounted to the first module face, and

wherein the controller is operably coupled to the capacitive touch sensor and the light guide via the connection pads.

6 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises a first portion and a second portion,

wherein the first portion is positioned around the second portion along the radial direction,

wherein the first portion comprises a transparent material, and

wherein the second portion comprises a diffusive material.

7 . The user interface assembly of claim 6 , wherein the light source is interfaced with the first portion of the light guide.

8 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the consumer icon comprises a dielectric material.

9 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a side-emitting light emitting diode.

10 . A domestic appliance comprising:

a cabinet forming a receiving space; and

a user interface assembly provided on the cabinet, the user interface assembly defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the user interface assembly comprising:

a fascia comprising a consumer icon,

a main control board coupled to the fascia, the main control board defining an aperture therethrough, the aperture aligned with the consumer icon along the axial direction,

a light guide disposed within the aperture, the main control board and the light guide defining a perimeter gap therebetween, and

a capacitive touch sensor module (CTSM) electrically coupled to the main control board, the CTSM comprising a capacitive touch sensor and a light source, the capacitive touch sensor aligned with the consumer icon along the axial direction,

wherein the light source is positioned within the perimeter gap and surrounded by the aperture.

11 . The domestic appliance of claim 10 , wherein the fascia comprises a first panel face and a second panel face spaced apart along the axial direction,

wherein the main control board comprises a first board face and a second board face,

wherein the CTSM comprises a secondary control board,

wherein the secondary control board comprises a first module face and a second module face,

wherein the second panel face is interfaced with the first board face, and

wherein the second board face is interfaced with the first module face.

12 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the capacitive touch sensor is disposed at the first module face,

wherein the light guide comprises a first guide face and a second guide face spaced apart along the axial direction,

wherein the first guide face is interfaced with the second panel face, and

wherein the light guide is adhered to the first module face over the capacitive touch sensor.

13 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the light source comprises a proximal end at the first module face and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end along the axial direction, and

wherein the distal end is positioned between the second panel face and the first module face along the axial direction.

14 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the main control board comprises a controller mounted thereto,

wherein the CTSM comprises one or more connection pads mounted to the first module face, and

wherein the controller is operably coupled to the capacitive touch sensor and the light guide via the connection pads.

15 . The domestic appliance of claim 10 , wherein the light guide comprises a first portion and a second portion,

wherein the first portion is positioned around the second portion along the radial direction,

wherein the first portion comprises a transparent material, and

wherein the second portion comprises a diffusive material.

16 . The domestic appliance of claim 15 , wherein the light source is interfaced with the first portion of the light guide.

17 . The domestic appliance of claim 10 , wherein the consumer icon comprises a dielectric material.

18 . The domestic appliance of claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises a side-emitting light emitting diode.

19 . A user interface assembly for a domestic appliance, the user interface assembly defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the user interface assembly comprising:

a fascia comprising a first panel face and a second panel face spaced apart along the axial direction, the fascia further comprising a plurality of consumer icons extending between the first panel face and the second panel face;

a main control board comprising a first board face and a second board face spaced apart along the axial direction, the first board face coupled to the second panel face, the main control board defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, each aperture of the plurality of apertures being separated from an adjacent aperture of the plurality of apertures via a septum of the main control board, each aperture of the plurality of apertures aligned with a corresponding consumer icon of the plurality of consumer icons along the axial direction;

a plurality of light guides, each light guide of the plurality of light guides positioned within a discrete aperture of the plurality of apertures, each light guide of plurality of light guides and the discrete aperture of the plurality of apertures defining a radial gap therebetween, each light guide of the plurality of light guides comprising a diffusive portion and a translucent portion positioned around the diffusive portion; and

a capacitive touch sensor module (CTSM) electrically coupled to the main control board, the CTSM comprising a secondary control board, the secondary control board comprising a first module face and a second module face spaced apart along the axial direction, the CTSM comprising a plurality of capacitive touch sensors disposed at the first module face, the CTSM comprising a plurality of light sources disposed at the first module face, the plurality of light sources positioned within the a radial gap around the plurality of capacitive touch sensors,

wherein the plurality of light guides are each adhered to the first module face over a corresponding capacitive touch sensor.

20 . The user interface assembly of claim 19 , wherein the main control board comprises a controller mounted thereto,

wherein the CTSM comprises one or more connection pads mounted to the first module face, and

wherein the controller is operably coupled to the plurality of capacitive touch sensors and the plurality of light guides via the connection pads.