FIELD

The present subject matter relates generally to user interfaces, such as may be used in control panels for appliances.

BACKGROUND

Appliances generally include a control panel having a plurality of buttons, keys, or other input devices. Utilizing the control panel, an appliance user can input control commands to the appliance and operate the appliance. Certain control panels include capacitive touch sensors that utilize a user's body capacitance to operate. In particular, capacitive touch sensors can detect a change in capacitance when the user touches the control panel.

Capacitive touch sensors have various benefits. For example, capacitive touch sensors can assist with providing a clean appearance for an associated appliance. In particular, capacitive touch sensors are frequently positioned behind a dielectric panel. A user touches an outer surface of the dielectric panel opposite the capacitive touch sensors to actuate the capacitive touch sensors. The smooth outer surface can have a pleasant cosmetic appearance, e.g., particularly compared to tactile buttons, knobs, etc.

Capacitive touch sensors also can be more complex than other inputs, such as mechanical knobs. For example, capacitive touch sensors generally include electrodes for sensing or measuring capacitance that are disposed on an inner surface of the dielectric panel opposite the outer surface of the dielectric panel. The electrodes may be attached to or embedded in a film layer, which provides a compact assembly due to the thinness of the film layer. The film layer with the electrodes embedded therein is connected to a circuit board which includes a controller thereon that processes the sensed or measured capacitance.

In some capacitive touch interfaces, the film layer is connected to the circuit board by flexible connectors such as flexible printed circuit connectors or flexible ribbon cables. Such connectors are suitable for transmitting the quantity of capacitance data generated, but are relatively expensive compared to other connectors.

In some capacitive touch interfaces, the film layer may be irreversibly bonded, such as with adhesive, to the circuit board. In such cases, when any one electrode or any other single piece of the film is out of specification, the entire user interface assembly, including the entire circuit board (to which the film layer is bonded) for the whole assembly, must be scrapped.

Accordingly, a user interface assembly including one or more modular user interface units that addresses one or more of the foregoing issues would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Aspects and advantages of the technology will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology.

In an exemplary embodiment, user interface assembly for an appliance is provided. The user interface assembly includes a dielectric panel, a main circuit board, and a plurality of modular user interface units. The plurality of modular user interface units are each coupled to the main circuit board. Each modular user interface unit includes an upper film layer comprising a conductive polymer and a plurality of electrodes. Each modular user interface unit also includes a circuit board with a microcontroller thereon. The circuit board is electrically coupled to the upper film layer by a conductive polymer connector. The microcontroller is configured to receive raw capacitance data from the plurality of electrodes and to detect a touch based on the raw capacitance data.

In another exemplary embodiment, a modular user interface unit for an appliance is provided. The modular user interface unit includes an upper film layer comprising a conductive polymer and a plurality of electrodes. The modular user interface unit also includes a circuit board with a microcontroller thereon. The circuit board is electrically coupled to the upper film layer by a conductive polymer connector. The microcontroller is configured to receive raw capacitance data from the plurality of electrodes and to detect a touch based on the raw capacitance data.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present technology will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology.

