User interface assembly including individually illuminated icons for an appliance

Inventors: Richard Gary Woodham, Jr. (Taylorsville, KY); Donald James Leisl, III (Louisville, KY)

Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

H05K1/181 H05K5/0018 H05K2201/10106

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12666535
App. No.: 18/733,433
Granted: Jun 23, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

A user interface assembly for a domestic appliance includes a circuit board including at least one touch sensor and at least one light source; a control panel spaced apart from the circuit board along a longitudinal direction; at least one conductive foam filler provided between the circuit board and the control panel, the at least one conductive foam filler including an aperture defined therethrough along the longitudinal direction; and a light guide plate provided between the conductive foam filler and the control panel, the light guide plate including a stem portion extending along the longitudinal direction and a diffusion portion positioned at a first end of the stem portion.

Claims (34)

1 . A user interface assembly for a domestic appliance, the user interface assembly comprising:

a circuit board comprising a top board face and a bottom board face, the circuit board comprising at least one touch sensor and at least one light source;

a control panel spaced apart from the circuit board along a longitudinal direction, the control panel comprising a top panel face and a bottom panel face, wherein the bottom panel face faces the top board face;

at least one conductive foam filler provided between the circuit board and the control panel, the at least one conductive foam filler comprising an aperture defined therethrough along the longitudinal direction; and

a light guide plate provided between the conductive foam filler and the control panel, the light guide plate comprising a stem portion extending along the longitudinal direction and a diffusion portion positioned at a first end of the stem portion.

2 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem portion of the light guide plate is accommodated within the aperture of the conductive foam filler.

3 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the stem portion is positioned adjacent to the at least one light source.

4 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffusion portion of the light guide plate extends along a latitudinal plane, the latitudinal plane being perpendicular with the longitudinal direction.

5 . The user interface assembly of claim 4 , wherein the control panel further comprises:

at least one translucent portion defining an indicator, the at least one translucent portion having a unique shape.

6 . The user interface assembly of claim 5 , wherein a surface area of the light guide plate along the latitudinal plane corresponds to the at least one translucent portion of the control panel.

7 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

8 . The user interface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive foam filler comprises a plurality of conductive foam fillers spaced apart along the top board face.

9 . The user interface assembly of claim 8 , wherein the light guide plate is a first light guide plate, the stem portion is a first stem portion, and the diffusion portion is a first diffusion portion and wherein the user interface assembly further comprises:

a second light guide plate comprising a second stem portion and a second diffusion portion, the second diffusion portion being spaced apart from the first diffusion portion within a latitudinal plane, the latitudinal plane being perpendicular with the longitudinal direction.

10 . The user interface assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first light guide plate is attached to a first conductive foam filler of the plurality of conductive foam fillers and the second light guide plate is attached to a second conductive foam filler of the plurality of conductive foam fillers.

11 . A domestic appliance comprising:

a cabinet forming a receiving space; and

a user interface assembly provided on the cabinet, the user interface assembly comprising:

a circuit board comprising a top board face and a bottom board face, the circuit board comprising at least one touch sensor and at least one light source;

12 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the stem portion of the light guide plate is accommodated within the aperture of the conductive foam filler.

13 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein a second end of the stem portion is positioned adjacent to the at least one light source.

14 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the diffusion portion of the light guide plate extends along a latitudinal plane, the latitudinal plane being perpendicular with the longitudinal direction.

15 . The domestic appliance of claim 14 , wherein the control panel further comprises:

at least one translucent portion defining an indicator, the at least one translucent portion having a unique shape.

16 . The domestic appliance of claim 15 , wherein a surface area of the light guide plate along the latitudinal plane corresponds to the at least one translucent portion of the control panel.

17 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

18 . The domestic appliance of claim 11 , wherein the at least one conductive foam filler comprises a plurality of conductive foam fillers spaced apart along the top board face.

19 . The domestic appliance of claim 18 , wherein the light guide plate is a first light guide plate, the stem portion is a first stem portion, and the diffusion portion is a first diffusion portion and wherein the user interface assembly further comprises:

20 . The domestic appliance of claim 19 , wherein the first light guide plate is attached to a first conductive foam filler of the plurality of conductive foam fillers and the second light guide plate is attached to a second conductive foam filler of the plurality of conductive foam fillers.