Touch sensor assembly and refrigerator door including same

1. A touch sensor assembly comprising:

a sensor housing positioned at a rear surface of an exterior member in which a touch input region is marked on a front surface;

a sensor printed circuit board (PCB) provided in the sensor housing, the sensor PCB including a first surface facing the rear surface of the exterior member and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a touch sensor mounted on the first surface and configured to sense a touch input at the touch input region;

an elastic member pressed against the second surface of the sensor PCB and pushing the touch sensor toward the rear surface of the exterior member; and

an accommodation recess formed in an inner surface of the sensor housing and providing an installation position of the elastic member,

wherein the sensor housing includes:

a housing body on which the sensor PCB is mounted, and

a housing cover coupled the housing body and pressed against the rear surface of the exterior member,

wherein the touch sensor assembly further includes:

a pair of installation guides configured to protrude from the inner surface of the housing body and extending in a first direction, and

a plurality of fixing ribs configured to protrude from the inner surface of the housing body and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the accommodation recess is defined by a pair of fixing ribs intersecting the pair of installation guides,

wherein the elastic member includes:

an extension pressed against a bottom of the accommodation recess, and

a pair of support legs extending from both ends of the extension, and

wherein ends of the pair of support legs are pressed against a rear surface of the sensor PCB.

2. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein length of each of the pair of support legs is greater than a protrusive length of the installation guide and the fixing rib.

3. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein installation markings mark installation positions of the pair of support legs are formed on the second surface of the sensor PCB.

4. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor includes:

a circular metal plate; and

a ceramic disc provided at a top surface of the circular metal plate and having a diameter less than a diameter of the circular metal plate.

5. The touch sensor assembly of claim 4 , wherein side surfaces of the pair of support legs are provided at positions facing each other based on the touch sensor,

and wherein a distance between the side surfaces of the pair of support legs is greater than the diameter of the circular metal plate.

6. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the pair of fixing ribs is less than a length of the extension in the first direction such that the elastic member is press-fitted into the accommodation recess.

7. The touch sensor assembly of claim 6 , wherein a width of the elastic member is defined as a distance between two surfaces of the elastic member in contact with the pair of installation guides,

and a distance between the pair of installation guides is less than the width of the elastic member in the second direction such that the elastic member is press-fitted into the accommodation recess.

8. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a silicone material having a hardness of 15 to 25 (shore A).

9. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a silicone material having a hardness of 20 (shore A).

10. A refrigerator door comprising:

a front panel having a touch input area;

a door liner coupled to a rear of the front panel;

door trims connecting the front panel and upper and lower ends of the door liner;

an insulation member provided in a space defined by the front panel, the door liner, and the door trims; and

a touch sensor assembly of claim 1 mounted on a rear surface of the front panel corresponding to a position of the touch input area.

11. A touch sensor assembly comprising:

a sensor housing positioned at a rear surface of an exterior member in which a touch input region is marked on a front surface;

a sensor printed circuit board (PCB) provided in the sensor housing, the sensor PCB including a first surface facing the rear surface of the exterior member and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a sensor terminal mounted on the second surface of the sensor PCB;

a touch sensor mounted on the first surface and configured to sense a touch input at the touch input region;

an elastic member pressed against the second surface of the sensor PCB and pushing the touch sensor toward the rear surface of the exterior member; and

an accommodation recess formed in an inner surface of the sensor housing and providing an installation position of the elastic member,

wherein the sensor housing includes:

a housing body on which the sensor PCB is mounted and having a terminal hole to allow the sensor terminal to pass therethrough, and

a housing cover coupled the housing body and pressed against the rear surface of the exterior member.

12. A refrigerator door comprising:

a front panel having a touch input area;

a door liner coupled to a rear of the front panel;

door trims connecting the front panel and upper and lower ends of the door liner;

an insulation member provided in a space defined by the front panel, the door liner, and the door trims; and

a touch sensor assembly of claim 11 mounted on a rear surface of the front panel corresponding to a position of the touch input area.

13. A touch sensor assembly comprising:

a sensor housing positioned at a rear surface of an exterior member in which a touch input region is marked on a front surface;

a sensor printed circuit board (PCB) provided in the sensor housing, the sensor PCB including a first surface facing the rear surface of the exterior member and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a touch sensor mounted on the first surface and configured to sense a touch input at the touch input region;

an elastic member pressed against the second surface of the sensor PCB and pushing the touch sensor toward the rear surface of the exterior member; and

an accommodation recess formed in an inner surface of the sensor housing and providing an installation position of the elastic member,

wherein the sensor housing includes:

a housing body on which the sensor PCB is mounted,

a housing cover coupled the housing body and pressed against the rear surface of the exterior member, and

a touch transfer plate movably in a direction of touch pressure and coupled to the housing cover and provided in an opening formed in the housing cover,

wherein a first surface of the touch transfer plate is in directly contact with the rear surface of the exterior member,

wherein the touch transfer plate includes:

a protrusion which protrudes from a rear surface thereof corresponding to a center of the touch sensor and is in contact with the touch sensor,

a plurality of extension portions formed in peripheral portion of the protrusion, the plurality of extension portions configured to be elastically deformed to be movable in a direction where the protrusion presses the touch sensor, and

a common portion to which ends of the plurality of extension portions are connected,

wherein the protrusion protrudes from a rear surface the common portion, and

wherein the plurality of extension portions have ribs bent in a shape which surrounds peripheral portion of the common portion.

14. The touch sensor assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:

hooks which extend from both side edges of the touch transfer plate in a thicknesswise direction of the touch transfer plate;

a support which protrudes from an inner circumferential surface of an opening of the housing cover, extends along the inner circumferential surface of the opening to support the touch transfer plate; and

hook grooves configured to engage with the hooks,

wherein the hook moves along the hook groove and is hooked at a rear edge of the opening.

15. A refrigerator door comprising:

a front panel having a touch input area;

a door liner coupled to a rear of the front panel;

door trims connecting the front panel and upper and lower ends of the door liner;

an insulation member provided in a space defined by the front panel, the door liner, and the door trims; and

a touch sensor assembly of claim 13 mounted on a rear surface of the front panel corresponding to a position of the touch input area.