A Novel Innovation for Appliance Control Panel Design

摘要

A technology has recently been developed that takes advantage of all of the positive attributes of traditional appliance industry control panel switches, including both membrane and electro-mechanical types, and allows them to be incorporated into a single economically manufactured assembly. Appliance manufacturers have traditionally had three options in terms of control panel design: high-end full featured controls including rotary, pushbutton and sliding actuators, mid-level push-button only membrane switch panels with electronics, or simple low-end electro-mechanical rotary devices. Each of the traditional options has a number of shortcomings. This new technology provides a novel way to address these shortcomings and enable a new era of appliance control panel design flexibility. Integrated switch panels can be designed with crisp pushbutton tactile switch feedback to rival high-end panels and, more importantly, allow for the integration of rotary and sliding controls into the same panel using advanced membrane switch manufacturing techniques. With this capability, high-end panels can be easily reconfigured as new features or aesthetic designs are envisioned. Membrane panels can incorporate ergonomically sensible rotary and sliding actuators that eliminate multiple push buttons.