EP1587118A1

EP1587118A1 - Programme selection knob assembly of an appliance, especially a household appliance

Info

Publication number: EP1587118A1
Application number: EP05468007A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jakob Kozeljnik; Zoran Ursic; Zlatko Novak; Joze Katanec
Original assignee: Gorenje dd
Current assignee: Gorenje dd
Priority date: 2004-04-16
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2005-10-19
Also published as: RU2005111172A; SI21772A

Abstract

A programme selection switch assembly of a machine, especially of a household appliance that switches on one of possible programmes upon manual selection with the knob and simultaneously automatically also turns on an adequate luminous sign denoting the selected programme or the current selection or status of the programme independently of the operator's action, whereby the luminous indication of any selected programme is given by a luminous element, preferably a diode. The knob assembly of the invention is conceived in a way that a rotating knob (2) of the programme selection switch on the rear side of a panel (1) consists of a support (4) of a luminous element (5), preferably a diode, whereby the luminous element (5) is positioned on the support (4) at a distance from the rotating axis of the knob (2) equalling to the radius of the circumference, on which transparent windows (7) are arranged on the panel (1), said windows denoting the selected operation programme or rather the current status of this programme, whereby electric contacts (6) of the luminous element (5) are galvanically linked to two preferably elastic and electrically conductive sliding elements (8) that are in electric contact and slide along two concentric contact circumferences (9) when the knob (2) is rotated, said sliding elements being under voltage when the appliance is electrically switched on and positioned on the basic electronic board (10) positioned behind the control panel (1).

Description

Subject of Invention

The subject of the invention is a programme selection knob assembly, especially of a household appliance, said knob allowing a user to select and switch on one of possible programmes for appliance operation, whereby the symbol of the selected programme is also illuminated.

Technical Problem

The technical problem solved by the invention is how to conceive such structure of a programme selection switch assembly especially in a household appliance that switches on one of possible programmes upon manual selection and simultaneously automatically also turning on an adequate luminous sign denoting the selected programme or the current selection or status of the programme (on knobs that automatically rotate during the operation of the appliance). The structure should be such to meet quality requirements and adequate life span of all the remaining assemblies of a machine or an appliance for which it is intended despite an acceptable price expected in batch production and it should also allow various design variations both in the aesthetic and ergonomic aspects, moreover it should enable the user to intuitively understand the indication of operation of a selected programme.

Prior Art

When designing control systems of appliances, especially of those used in a household, it is very important for a user to simply and quickly understand how to handle it, and the appearance of the appliance should also be attractive enough.
Furthermore a user should understand the appliance, most often subconsciously, as technically perfect and user friendly. This is especially important for household appliances.
Luminous signs for the indication of the selected setting of a programme and/or current operation indication of an appliance have long been in use.
Known solutions have luminous indications for each selected setting of a programme and/or current operation status of the appliance separately, on different places of the control panel a separate luminous element, however, there may also be several positions illuminated at once with a common luminous element.
A disadvantage of these known solutions is in that a large number of component parts extends the assembly time, increases breakdown possibility and the price.
There is a need for a solution of a new structure, where a similar way of indicating with luminous signs will be preserved for a user and that will consist of a smaller number of parts and of simple electronics, thus being simple to manufacture and of acceptable price for batch production.

Solution to the Technical Problem

The described technical problem is solved by a programme selection knob assembly of the invention, the essential characteristic of which lies in that one single luminous element is used for indicating several programme places, said luminous element being preferably a diode, whereby the luminous element is stiffly connected with the selection knob to rotate with it behind a mask with transparent windows at the indication for an individual programme. Two electric contacts of a luminous element simultaneously run along a pair of concentric electrically conductive circumferences, which are energized when the appliance is switched on, causing also the luminous element to glow.
The essence of the invention will now be described in more detail by a description of an embodiment and the enclosed drawing, on which
Fig. 1 shows a front view of the control panel with a knob of the invention; and
Fig. 2 shows a cross-section along the line II-II from Fig. 1.
On the control panel 1 there is a rotating knob 2 of a programme selection switch not shown on figures. When the knob 2 is rotated the axle of the programme selection switch also rotates. At the back side of the panel 1 on the knob 2 there is a support 4 of a luminous element 5, preferably a diode. Within the holder 4 there is the luminous element 5, so that its electric contacts 6 are free. The luminous element 5 is positioned on the support 4 at a distance from the rotating axis of the knob 2 equalling to the radius of the circumference, on which transparent windows 7 are arranged on the panel 1, said windows denoting the selected operation programme or rather the current setting or status of this programme. The electric contacts 6 of the luminous element 5 are rigidly galvanically linked to two elastic and electrically conductive sliding elements 8 that are in contact and slide along two concentric contact circumferences 9 when the knob 2 is rotated, said sliding elements being under voltage when the appliance is electrically switched on and positioned on the basic electronic board 10 positioned behind the control panel 1.
Near the transparent windows 7 on the panel 1 there are indications of 11 programmes. Angular arrangement of indications 11 corresponds to the current selection or status of the programme as a function of rotation of the programme selection switch axle.
Upon switch-on or during operation of the appliance the contact circumferences 9 are under voltage. Due to electric contact via elastic sliding elements 8 also the luminous element 5 is under voltage, said element thus glowing regardless of knob rotation. When a user sets the knob 2 to a certain programme, the luminous element 5 moves behind a transparent window 7 positioned at the indication of a selected programme. The light of the element 5 transfers to the surface of the transparent window 7, which is perceived by the user as a light turned on at a selected programme.
The described embodiment includes one luminous element 5 indicating each individual indication 11 through its belonging transparent window 7.
It is understandable that also several luminous elements 5 and several windows 7 for each indication 11 are possible, whereby each luminous element turns on via additional switches for the switch-on of subprogrammes or other functions of the appliance.
It is understandable that a man skilled in this field can conceive other embodiments based on the above description and the embodiment both as to its internal structure as well as to its external part accessible to a user in sense of industrial design, without circumventing the essence of the invention described in the appended claims.

Claims

A programme selection knob assembly of a machine, especially of a household appliance consisting of a knob (2) for the selection and switch-on of one of possible programmes of operation, said knob being present on a control panel (1), on which there are further indications (11) of individual programmes, whereby near each indication (11) there is a light window (7) through which the light of a luminous element (5) glows when an individual operation programme is selected, characterised in that only one luminous element (5) is present for indicating any programme, currently selected for operation or for the indication of the current setting.
An assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotating knob (2) of the programme selection switch on the rear side of the panel (1) consists of a support (4) of a luminous element (5), preferably a diode, whereby the luminous element (5) is positioned on the support (4) at a distance from the rotating axis of the knob (2) equalling to the radius of the circumference, on which transparent windows (7) are arranged on the panel (1), said windows denoting the selected operation programme or rather the current status of this programme.
An assembly according to claims 1 and 2 characterised in that electric contacts (6) of the luminous element (5) are galvanically linked to two preferably elastic and electrically conductive sliding elements (8) that are in contact and slide along two concentric contact circumferences (9) when the knob (2) is rotated, said sliding elements being under voltage when the appliance is electrically switched on and positioned on the basic electronic board (10) positioned behind the control panel (1).
An assembly according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that near the luminous element (5) there may be an optional number of further luminous elements that are connected to electricity in the same way via sliding elements, yet only when another subprogramme is selected or an additional function of the appliance is selected, whereby the light of additional luminous elements indicates additional indications near indications (11) by glowing through the belonging window.