IP Library Granted Patent US 8,807,770
Granted Patent B2
US 8,807,770 · App. 13/360,954 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Appliance user interface having reverse mount LEDs

Inventors: Mark A. Didat (Floyds Knob, IN); Steven Michael Recio (Louisville, KY); Michael Wuttikorn Ekbundit (Mount Washington, KY)
Assignee: General Electric Company
A47L15/4293H05K1/183
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,807,770
App. No.
13/360,954
Granted
Aug 19, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of displaying appliance information to a user is provided. Reverse mount LEDS may be used in a seven segment configuration and correlating to any other icon or indicator. The reverse mount LEDs may be mounted on single sided printed circuit board to form an appliance user display.

Claims (32)

1. A home appliance, comprising:

a cabinet; and

a user interface for the home appliance coupled to the cabinet, wherein said user interface includes:

a single-sided printed circuit board, wherein a plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board;

a plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes mounted onto a first side of the single-sided printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes are positioned so as to respectively shine light through the plurality of holes;

a light guide adjacent to a second side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a diffuser screen adjacent to the light guide; and

a film disposed upon the diffuser screen.

2. The home appliance, as in claim 1 , wherein the first side of the single-sided printed circuit board comprises a component side of the printed circuit board.

3. The home appliance, as in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes serve as a plurality of non-numerical indicators.

4. The home appliance of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a plurality of seven-segment displays.

5. The home appliance of claim 1 , wherein the kitchen appliance comprises a dishwasher.

6. The home appliance of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a numeric display portion and a non-numeric display portion.

7. A user interface of a home appliance comprising:

a single-sided printed circuit board within the home appliance, wherein a plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board;

a plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes mounted onto a first side of the single-sided printed circuit board, wherein the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes are positioned so as to respectively shine light through the plurality of holes;

a light guide adjacent to a second side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a diffuser screen adjacent to the light guide; and

a film disposed upon the diffuser screen.

8. The user interface, as in claim 7 , wherein the first side of the single-sided printed circuit board comprises a component side of the printed circuit board.

9. The user interface of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes serve as a plurality of non-numerical indicators.

10. The user interface of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a plurality of seven-segment displays.

11. The user interface of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes have been bored through the single-sided printed circuit board to form a numeric display portion and a non-numeric display portion.

12. A user interface of a home appliance comprising:

a single-sided printed circuit board within the home appliance, wherein a plurality of holes have been partially bored into a non-component side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes respectively mounted into the plurality of partially bored holes, wherein the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes are positioned so as to respectively shine light out of the plurality of partially bored holes;

a light guide adjacent to the non-component side of the single-sided printed circuit board;

a diffuser screen adjacent to the light guide; and

a film disposed upon the diffuser screen.

13. The user interface of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reverse-mount light emitting diodes serve as a plurality of non-numerical indicators.

14. The user interface of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged to form a plurality of seven-segment displays.

15. The user interface of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged to form a numeric display portion and a non-numeric display portion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038969/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2012
From: DIDAT, MARK A.; RECIO, STEVEN MICHAEL; EKBUNDIT, MICHAEL WUTTIKORN
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027615/0868 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130194780A1 · Aug 1, 2013