阅读说明：本技术 面板组件及制作方法、家用电器 (Panel assembly, manufacturing method and household appliance ) 是由 杨栋 顾超 唐维巍 于 2019-04-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请公开一种面板组件及制作方法、家用电器,其中,一种面板组件包括：基层、导光板、光源；所述导光板和所述光源设置于所述基层一侧；所述基层上设有与所述光源电性连接的印刷电路；所述导光板具有背对所述基层的上表面、面对所述基层的下表面；所述光源所发出的光能在所述上表面和所述下表面之间进入所述导光板内,并从所述上表面或所述下表面出射。本申请所提供的一种面板组件及制作方法、家用电器能够便于减小面板的厚度,提升安装灵活性。(The application discloses panel components and manufacturing method, domestic appliance, wherein, a panel components includes: a base layer, a light guide plate and a light source; the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface. The panel assembly, the manufacturing method and the household appliance provided by the application can facilitate reduction of the thickness of the panel and increase installation flexibility.)

1. A panel assembly, comprising: a base layer, a light guide plate and a light source; the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the base layer has printed circuit terminals thereon; the printed circuit leading-out end is used for electrically connecting the printed circuit and the control part.

3. The panel assembly of claim 1, further comprising: the light-blocking structure is positioned on the same side of the base layer as the light guide plate; the light blocking structure is disposed around a side surface of the light guide plate.

4. The panel assembly according to claim 3, wherein one side of the base layer is provided with a plurality of the light guide plates; each light guide plate is provided with at least one light source; at least two light guide plates are separated by the light-blocking structure.

5. The panel assembly of claim 3, further comprising a touch layer for receiving a user touch signal.

6. The panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the light guide plate, the light source and the light blocking structure are sandwiched between the touch layer and the base layer to form a laminated structure.

7. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel assembly is a unitary structure that can be mounted in a unitary fashion to a target location.

8. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel assembly further has an icon; the light emitted by the light guide plate can light the icon.

9. The faceplate assembly of claim 8, wherein the icons are printed on the outermost layer of the faceplate assembly by a silk-screening process.

10. The panel assembly of claim 5, wherein the substrate is PET; the light guide plate is made of a transparent PCT material; the touch layer includes an ITO film.

11. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the light guide plate has a side surface between the upper and lower surfaces through which light emitted by the light source can enter the light guide plate; or, the light guide plate is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the light source, and the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate through the accommodating space.

12. The panel assembly of claim 5, wherein the light blocking structure comprises a light blocking foam; the light-blocking foam is respectively bonded and fixed with the touch layer and the base layer.

13. The panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source protrudes from the base layer to a height that is flush with a height of the light guide plate.

14. The panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light guide plate is provided with a light-transmitting portion; the light emitted by the light source is emitted from the upper surface or the lower surface through the light transmission part.

15. The panel assembly of claim 14, wherein the light-transmissive portion is a light-transmissive hole or a light-transmissive dot.

16. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein the light guide plate has a lower density of light transmissive dots in an area proximate to the light source than in an area distal from the light source.

17. The panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base layer is provided with a light shielding layer on a side facing the light guide plate.

18. A panel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the thickness of the panel assembly is in the range 1 to 2.5 mm.

19. The panel assembly of claim 1, further comprising an outer panel on a side of the light guide plate opposite the base layer.

20. A control panel, comprising: a panel assembly and a control unit;

the panel assembly includes: a base layer, a light guide plate and a light source; the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and is emitted from the upper surface or the lower surface;

the printed circuit is electrically connected with the control part; the control part is used for controlling the light source to emit light.

21. The control panel of claim 20, wherein the panel assembly and the control portion are separately mountable to a target location.

22. The control panel of claim 20, wherein the panel assembly is further electrically connectable to a control portion; at least a portion of the panel assembly is unsupported by the control portion.

23. The control panel of claim 21 or 22, wherein said base layer has printed circuit terminals thereon; the printed circuit leading-out end is used for being electrically connected with the control part.

24. The control panel of claim 23, further comprising: the touch layer is used for receiving a user touch signal; the touch layer is provided with a touch circuit leading-out end; the touch circuit leading-out end is used for being electrically connected with the control part.

25. The control panel of claim 24, wherein the touch circuit terminals and the printed circuit terminals are provided with a plug structure.

26. A household appliance, characterized in that it comprises: the display device comprises a shell, a panel assembly arranged on the shell and a control part electrically connected with the panel assembly; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the panel assembly includes: a base layer, a light guide plate and a light source; the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

27. The electric home appliance of claim 26, wherein the control portion and the panel assembly are mounted at different positions of the housing, respectively.

28. The home appliance of claim 26, wherein the home appliance comprises a function actuator, and a main controller electrically connected to the function actuator; the control part is integrated in the main controller.

29. A method of making a panel assembly, comprising the steps of:

a light guide plate and a light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and is emitted from the upper surface or the lower surface;

printing the silk-screen layer on the touch layer;

and installing the touch layer on one side of the light guide plate back to the base layer.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of printing the silk-screen layer on the touch layer includes printing the silk-screen layer on the shrunk touch layer.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein a light blocking structure is disposed on the substrate; correspondingly, the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on the vacant areas on the base layer which are not covered by the light isolating structures.

32. The method of manufacturing of claim 29, further comprising the steps of: the base layer is shrunk and then the printed circuit is printed on the shrunk base layer.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of control panels, and particularly to a panel assembly and a method for manufacturing the same.

The application still relates to hot water system field, especially relates to a domestic appliance with above-mentioned panel components.

Background

In order to facilitate control operations, a control panel is generally disposed on an existing household appliance, and a plurality of buttons disposed on the control panel are used for controlling the household appliance, and the power supply, the lamp, and the like of the household appliance are turned on and off by touching the buttons.

However, the control panel on the current household electrical appliance in the market usually sets up the light source in the rear of panel, with the corresponding operation button of light introduction, so make the whole thickness of control panel great, need occupy great installation space, the installation degree of freedom receives the restriction, simultaneously not pleasing to the eye.

If the control panel is large, the number of display patterns is large and the distribution is wide, the number of light sources for displaying images is increased, and the wiring for connecting the light sources is complex, the number of the light sources is large, and the cost is increased.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, an object of the present application is to provide a panel assembly, a manufacturing method thereof and a household appliance, so as to facilitate the reduction of the thickness of the panel and improve the installation flexibility.

Another object of the present application is to provide a panel assembly, a method of manufacturing the same, and a home appliance, which can facilitate reduction in the number of light sources.

A panel assembly, comprising: a base layer, a light guide plate and a light source; the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate has printed circuit terminals; the printed circuit leading-out end is used for electrically connecting the printed circuit and the control part.

As a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly further comprises: the light-blocking structure is positioned on the same side of the base layer as the light guide plate; the light blocking structure is disposed around a side surface of the light guide plate.

As a preferred embodiment, one side of the base layer is provided with a plurality of the light guide plates; each light guide plate is provided with at least one light source; at least two light guide plates are separated by the light-blocking structure.

As a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly further includes a touch layer for receiving a user touch signal.

As a preferred embodiment, the light guide plate, the light source and the light blocking structure are sandwiched between the touch layer and the base layer to form a laminated structure.

In a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly is of unitary construction capable of being mounted in unitary form to a target location.

As a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly further has an icon; the light emitted by the light guide plate can light the icon.

As a preferred embodiment, the icon is printed on the outermost layer of the panel assembly by a silk-screen process.

In a preferred embodiment, the base layer is made of PET; the light guide plate is made of a transparent PCT material; the touch layer includes an ITO film.

As a preferred embodiment, the light guide plate has a side surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, through which the light emitted from the light source can enter the light guide plate; or, the light guide plate is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the light source, and the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate through the accommodating space.

As a preferred embodiment, the light-blocking structure comprises light-blocking foam; the light-blocking foam is respectively bonded and fixed with the touch layer and the base layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the height of the light source protruding from the base layer is equal to the height of the light guide plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the light guide plate is provided with a light-transmitting portion; the light emitted by the light source is emitted from the upper surface or the lower surface through the light transmission part.

In a preferred embodiment, the light-transmitting portion is a light-transmitting hole or a light-transmitting dot.

In a preferred embodiment, the light-transmitting dot density of the light guide plate in the area close to the light source is less than that in the area far from the light source.

In a preferred embodiment, a light shielding layer is disposed on a side of the base layer facing the light guide plate.

As a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the panel assembly is in the range of 1-2.5 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly further includes an outer panel located on a side of the light guide plate opposite to the base layer.

A control panel, comprising: a panel assembly and a control unit;

the panel assembly includes: a base layer, a light guide plate and a light source; the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and is emitted from the upper surface or the lower surface;

the printed circuit is electrically connected with the control part; the control part is used for controlling the light source to emit light.

In a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly and the control unit are independently attachable to a target position.

As a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly can also be electrically connected with the control part; at least a portion of the panel assembly is unsupported by the control portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate has printed circuit terminals; the printed circuit leading-out end is used for being electrically connected with the control part.

As a preferred embodiment, the control panel further includes: the touch layer is used for receiving a user touch signal; the touch layer is provided with a touch circuit leading-out end; the touch circuit leading-out end is used for being electrically connected with the control part.

As a preferred embodiment, the touch circuit terminals and the printed circuit terminals are provided with a plug structure.

A household appliance comprising: the display device comprises a shell, a panel assembly arranged on the shell and a control part electrically connected with the panel assembly; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the panel assembly includes: a base layer, a light guide plate and a light source; the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the control portion and the panel assembly are respectively mounted at different positions of the housing.

As a preferred embodiment, the household appliance includes a function executing mechanism, and a main controller electrically connected to the function executing mechanism; the control part is integrated in the main controller.

A method of making a panel assembly comprising the steps of:

a light guide plate and a light source are arranged on one side of the base layer; the base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source; the light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and is emitted from the upper surface or the lower surface;

printing the silk-screen layer on the touch layer;

and installing the touch layer on one side of the light guide plate back to the base layer.

As a preferred embodiment, in the step of printing the silk-screen layer on the touch layer, the silk-screen layer is printed on the shrunk touch layer.

As a preferred embodiment, a light-blocking structure is disposed on the base layer; correspondingly, the light guide plate and the light source are arranged on the vacant areas on the base layer which are not covered by the light isolating structures.

As a preferred embodiment, the manufacturing method further comprises the following steps: the base layer is shrunk and then the printed circuit is printed on the shrunk base layer.

Has the advantages that:

the panel component that this application embodiment provided is equipped with light guide plate and light source, and the light that the light source sent can get into the light guide plate between the upper surface of light guide plate and lower surface, and the light source can set up in the light guide plate or the week side of light guide plate, need not to range upon range of setting with the light guide plate, and the frivolous design of being convenient for reduces panel component's thickness.

In addition, in the panel assembly provided by the embodiment of the application, the light guide plate forms a surface light source, so that the number of the light sources can be reduced, the light guide plate can avoid the light intensity nonuniformity of the point light source of a single light source by forming the surface light source, the uniformity of light outgoing is ensured, and a good display effect is formed.

Specific embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in detail with reference to the following description and drawings, indicating the manner in which the principles of the invention may be employed. It should be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not so limited in scope. The embodiments of the invention include many variations, modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments, in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used herein, is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without inventive exercise.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a control panel provided in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

Description of reference numerals: 1. a base layer; 2. a light guide plate; 3. a light source; 4. a light-blocking structure; 5. a touch layer; 6. an outer panel; 7. and (6) an icon.

Detailed Description

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the technical solution in the embodiment of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiment of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiment is only a part of the embodiment of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without any inventive step based on the embodiments of the present invention, shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "disposed on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and the like as used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only embodiments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Please refer to fig. 1-2. An embodiment of the present application provides a panel assembly, including: base layer 1, light guide plate 2, light source 3. The light guide plate 2 and the light source 3 are disposed on one side of the base layer 1. The base layer 1 is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source 3. The light guide plate 2 has an upper surface facing away from the base layer 1 and a lower surface facing the base layer 1. The light emitted from the light source 3 enters the light guide plate 2 between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

The panel components that this application embodiment provided is equipped with light guide plate 2 and light source 3, and the light that light source 3 sent can get into light guide plate 2 between the upper surface of light guide plate 2 and lower surface, and light source 3 can set up in light guide plate 2 or the week side of light guide plate 2, need not to stack up the setting with light guide plate 2, and the frivolous design of being convenient for reduces panel components's thickness.

In addition, in the panel assembly provided by the embodiment of the present application, the light guide plate 2 forms the surface light source 3, so that the number of the light sources 3 can be reduced, and the light guide plate 2 can avoid the light intensity nonuniformity of the point light source 3 of the single light source 3 by forming the surface light source 3, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the light output, and forming a good display effect.

In this embodiment, the base layer 1 is made of a flexible material, and the base layer 1 can be bent. The light guide plate 2 and the light source 3 are arranged on the soft base layer 1, so that the panel assembly and the PCB can be separated, the installation flexibility of the panel assembly is improved, and the light and thin design and the cost reduction are facilitated. Specifically, the base layer 1 is made of PET, so that the thickness of the base layer 1 can be very thin, and the thickness of the whole panel assembly is reduced. Correspondingly, the base layer 1 is a flexible plastic film layer. The printed circuit is printed on the substrate 1 and is electrically connected to the light source 3 fixed to the substrate 1. The printed circuit is printed on the surface of the substrate 1 on the side where the light source 3 is located, and the flexible substrate 1 provides support for the entire light guide plate 2, the light source 3, and the printed circuit.

In this embodiment, the light source 3 can be fixed on one side of the substrate 1 and electrically connected to the printed circuit on the substrate 1. The printed circuit on the substrate 1 supplies electrical power to the light source 3 to illuminate the light source 3. The base layer 1 may be transparent or opaque, and the application is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, to prevent light leakage to the peripheral side, the panel assembly may further include: and the light-blocking structure 4 is positioned on the same side of the base layer 1 as the light guide plate 2. The light-blocking structure 4 is arranged around a side surface of the light-blocking structure 4. The light blocking structure 4 surrounds the light guide plate 2 to block peripheral light of the light guide plate 2, so that the light exits only through the upper surface or the lower surface of the light guide plate 2.

Further, one side of the base layer 1 is provided with a plurality of light guide plates 2. Each of the light guide plates 2 is provided with at least one of the light sources 3. In order to avoid light channeling between the light guide plates 2, at least two of the light guide plates 2 are separated by the light-blocking structure 4. Specifically, the light-blocking structure 4 comprises light-blocking foam. The light-blocking foam may be bonded to the base layer 1.

Wherein, the light-blocking structure 4 is made of opaque material or light-blocking material. The light-blocking structure 4 may form a light-blocking layer arranged on the base layer 1. On the side of the substrate 1 where the light-blocking structure 4 is located, the substrate 1 further has an empty area where the light-blocking structure 4 is not located, and the light guide plate 2 and the light source 3 are located in the empty area.

In this embodiment, the panel assembly may have a plurality of touch portions corresponding to different touch areas or icons 7, and each light guide plate 2 is disposed corresponding to the touch portion. Lighting the corresponding light guide plate 2 can realize the light emitting display of the aligned touch portion. Through being equipped with light-proof structure 4, avoid single light guide plate 2 to other touch-control positions light leak, guarantee that the touch-control position can only the light-emitting display of the light guide plate 2 that corresponds, guarantee the accuracy of user's touch-control.

In a preferred embodiment, to facilitate the user's control of the household appliance by performing the user's touch operation, the panel assembly may further include a touch layer 5 for receiving a user touch signal. The touch layer 5 may be an ITO film. The touch layer 5 may be located on the panel assembly at an intermediate layer, an uppermost layer, or a lowermost layer (top, bottom, and middle may refer to the orientation of the reader facing fig. 1). In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the touch layer 5 is located at the uppermost layer (also referred to as the outermost layer) of the panel assembly.

In this embodiment, the touch layer 5 is preferably an ITO thin film. An icon 7 may be printed on the side of the ITO film facing away from the light guide plate 2. The panel assembly with the laminated structure provided by the embodiment can reduce the assembly difficulty and cost of the touch panel with the ITO film.

The light guide plate 2, the light source 3 and the light blocking structure 4 are sandwiched between the touch layer 5 and the base layer 1 to form a laminated structure. The light-blocking structure 4, the light guide plate 2 and the light source 3 form an intermediate layer, which is sandwiched between the touch layer 5 and the base layer 1. The light-blocking structure 4 can be respectively bonded and fixed with the touch layer 5 and the base layer 1 to form an integral structure. The panel assembly of the laminated structure has low assembly difficulty and can effectively reduce the panel cost. Specifically, the light-blocking foam is respectively bonded and fixed with the touch layer 5 and the base layer 1.

As a preferred embodiment, the panel assembly in the embodiment of the present application is a unitary structure that can be mounted in a unitary form at a target location. The panel assembly is an integral structure, and the light guide plate 2, the light-blocking structure 4, the touch layer 5 and the base layer 1 are not separated from each other when being mounted, so that the panel assembly can be integrally mounted at a target position. The panel assembly is of a laminated sheet structure as a whole.

In one embodiment of the present application, the faceplate assembly also has an icon 7. The light emitted from the light guide plate 2 can turn on the icon 7. The light guide plate 2 and the icon 7 may be arranged in alignment. In order to facilitate touch control of a user, the icons 7 are printed on the outermost layer of the panel assembly through a silk-screen printing process.

Specifically, the panel assembly further has a silk-screen layer (not shown in fig. 1 and 2 due to the thin thickness of the silk-screen layer) located at the outermost layer, and the icon 7 is located on the silk-screen layer. Wherein the silk screen layer is located at the outermost layer to provide the user with the touch pattern forming the icon 7. And the user acquires the operation information of the corresponding part of the corresponding panel component by observing the icon 7 on the silk-screen layer, so that the expected operation is executed. The panel assembly has an abutment surface for abutment with the outer panel 6, on which an icon 7 is printed.

Specifically, a plurality of touch portions located in different areas are arranged on the touch layer 5, the touch portions are arranged corresponding to the light guide plates 2, and light channeling between the light guide plates 2 is avoided by arranging the light isolating structure 4. And the touch parts are arranged corresponding to the icons 7 on the silk-screen layer. That is, the icons 7 are disposed corresponding to the touch portions and the light guide plates 2, so as to ensure the accuracy of user touch.

The silk-screen layer where the icon 7 is located and the touch layer 5 may be closely attached, or the silk-screen layer and the touch layer may be separated by other layers (for example, the light guide plate 2 and/or the base layer 1). In this embodiment, the silk-screen layer may be printed on the touch layer 5. In order to avoid the problem that the patterns on the silk screen layer and the touch part of the touch layer 5 are dislocated, the touch layer 5 can be shrunk, and the silk screen layer is printed on the shrunk touch layer 5. Thus, the base layer 1 does not need to be arranged into a light-transmitting structure, and the requirement on the base layer 1 is low. Of course, in order to prevent light leakage to the inner side of the panel assembly, the base layer 1 may be coated with a light shielding layer. The light shielding layer can be coated only on the vacant area, and the area covered with the light shielding structure 4 is not required to be coated with the light shielding layer, so that the cost is reduced.

In other embodiments, the icon 7 may also be printed on the light guide plate 2. Alternatively, the icon 7 may be printed on a side of the base layer 1 opposite to the printed circuit, and in this embodiment, the base layer 1 may be a light-transmitting structure to transmit light emitted from the light guide plate 2, so as to light up the icon 7.

In the embodiment of the present application, the light guide plate 2 may guide light to form a surface light source, and the material of the light guide plate 2 may be a transparent PC material. The light guide plate 2 allows a certain degree of bending deformation, thereby ensuring that the panel assembly can be normally used in different shapes, thereby adapting to more installation scenes. The light guide plate 2 may be sandwiched between the touch layer 5 and the base layer 1, forming an intermediate layer with the light blocking structure 4. The thickness of the light guide plate 2 and the thickness of the light-blocking structure 4 may be equal, and of course, the thickness of the light guide plate 2 may also be smaller than the thickness of the light-blocking structure 4, which is not limited in this application.

Further, the light guide plate 2 has a side surface between the upper surface and the lower surface. The light emitted from the light source 3 can enter the light guide plate 2 through the side surface. In this embodiment, the light source 3 is located on the peripheral side of the light guide plate 2, and is opposed to the side surface. In order to reduce the thickness of the panel assembly and achieve uniform light emission, the light source 3 protrudes out of the base layer 1 and is flush with the light guide plate 2 in height. To facilitate the entry of light emitted by the light source 3 into the light guide plate 2, the light source 3 may be disposed closely to the side surface of the guide plate.

In other embodiments, the light guide plate 2 is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the light source 3. The light emitted from the light source 3 can enter the light guide plate 2 through the accommodating space. The receiving space may be a groove on the light guide plate 2 or may be located in a cavity in the light guide plate 2. The light sources 3 are located between the upper and lower surfaces when in the recess or cavity, and light emitted by the light sources 3 enters the light guide plate 2 directly between the upper and lower surfaces.

In order to facilitate the light in the light guide plate 2 to exit at the upper surface or the lower surface to form the surface light source 3, the light guide plate 2 is provided with a light-transmitting portion. The light emitted from the light source 3 is emitted through the light-transmitting portion to the upper surface or the lower surface. The light-transmitting portion may be a hole or a reflection dot. Specifically, the light transmission portions may be a plurality of light transmission holes that vertically penetrate the light guide plate 2. Alternatively, the light-transmitting portion includes a plurality of reflection points provided on the upper surface or the lower surface.

The light guide plate 2 is covered with a release film on the upper surface or the lower surface, and a plurality of reflection points are distributed on the release film. In order to make the light emitted from the light guide plate 2 uniform, the density of the light transmission part of the light guide plate 2 in the area close to the light source 3 is less than that of the light transmission part of the area far away from the light source 3.

In order to avoid light leakage at one side of the base layer 1 back to the light guide plate 2, the base layer 1 faces to one side of the light guide plate 2 and is provided with a light shielding layer. The light-shielding layer may be coated on the base layer 1 in the form of a coating layer. The shading layer can be coated on the vacant areas which are not covered with the light-blocking structures 4, and the shading layer does not need to be arranged on the surface of the base layer 1 which is covered with the light-blocking structures 4, so that the material is saved, and the cost is reduced.

In this embodiment, the touch layer 5, the light-blocking structure 4 and the substrate are made of flexible materials. Of course, the light guide plate 2 may be made of a bendable material. The whole structure of the panel component is a flexible structure, so that the panel component can adapt to different installation requirements without customizing the shape in advance.

In the embodiment of the present application, the light emitted from the light source 3 is incident between the upper surface and the lower surface of the light guide plate 2, so as to reduce the thickness of the panel assembly, and then the panel assembly is formed into an integral structure through a laminated structure, so as to implement a light and thin integrated design, specifically, the thickness range of the panel assembly is 1-2.5 mm. For example, the thickness of the panel assembly from the screen printed layer to the base layer is 2 mm.

In one possible embodiment of the present application, the panel assembly further includes an outer panel 6 located on a side of the light guide plate 2 opposite to the base layer 1. The silk screen layer can be adhered and fixed with the outer panel 6. Because the panel assembly is made of flexible and bendable material except the outer panel 6, the requirement on the shape of the outer panel 6 is low, for example, the outer panel 6 may be an arc-shaped panel or a flat panel, and the application is not limited.

The screen printing layer of the inner layer, the light source 3, the base layer 1 and other parts can be protected by the outer panel 6, and the panel assembly is fixed. The outer panel 6 may be a glass panel or an acryl panel, and the present application is not limited thereto. The panel assembly with the outer panel 6 may also be directly fixed to the housing in a modular fashion, and the housing may have mounting holes or other mounting structures at corresponding locations.

Of course, in some embodiments, the panel assembly may not need the outer panel 6, and thus may be directly adhered to the target position of the housing by the way that the silk-screen layer faces the housing, and only the corresponding position of the housing needs to be made of a transparent material.

Based on the same concept, the invention also provides a manufacturing method of the panel assembly, a control panel and a household appliance, which are described in the following embodiments. Since the manufacturing method of the panel assembly, the control panel and the principle of solving the problems of the household appliance and the technical effect which can be obtained are similar to the panel assembly introduced above, the manufacturing method of the panel assembly and the implementation of the water heater can refer to the implementation of the panel assembly, and repeated parts are not described again.

Considering that the panel assembly is fixed on the PCB (controller), although the whole structure has a fixed shape, the installation flexibility is limited, and the installation position of the panel assembly needs to be unified with the PCB, the installation of the panel assembly is limited by the installation position of the PCB (controller), and the installation flexibility is greatly limited.

In view of the above, a control panel is also provided in one embodiment of the present application. The control panel includes a panel assembly and a control portion. The panel assembly includes: a base layer 1, a light guide plate 2 and a light source 3; the light guide plate 2 and the light source 3 are arranged on one side of the base layer 1; the base layer 1 is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source 3; the light guide plate 2 has an upper surface facing away from the base layer 1 and a lower surface facing the base layer 1; the light emitted from the light source 3 enters the light guide plate 2 between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

The panel component can be electrically connected with the control part. The control unit controls the light source 3 to emit light. Specifically, the printed circuit is electrically connected with the control part. Wherein, the electrical connection of the panel component and the control part is detachable connection. In this embodiment, the panel assembly and the control portion can be independently installed at a target position. The panel component and the controller are mounted independently and can not interfere with each other, so that the panel component and the control part are mounted separately, dependence limitation on a PCB (printed circuit board) and requirements on the control part are reduced, and even the control part can be integrated in a control unit of the water heater. The control part may be a control board, such as a PCB board.

In another embodiment, the panel assembly can also be electrically connected to the control portion. At least a portion of the panel assembly is unsupported by the control portion. The panel assembly can be adhered to a target location and supported by the adhered portion. The control part and the panel component can be installed separately and are connected through the connecting end. At least part of the panel assembly is not supported by the control part, so that the dependence of the panel assembly on a PCB (printed circuit board) can be reduced, the panel assembly and the control part can be separately installed, the requirement on the control part is reduced, and even the control part can be integrated in a control unit of the water heater.

In the embodiment of the control panel of the present application, the panel component may refer to the panel component described in any of the above embodiments or implementation manners, and details are not described in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the touch layer 5 has a touch circuit terminal. The base layer 1 has printed circuit terminals thereon. The touch circuit leading-out end and the printed circuit leading-out end are used for being electrically connected with the control part. In order to install the panel assembly conveniently, the touch circuit leading-out end and the printed circuit leading-out end are provided with plug-in structures.

The embodiment of the application also provides a household appliance, and the household appliance can be a refrigerator, a washing machine, an air purifier, an induction cooker, an electric water heater, a gas water heater, a wall-mounted stove or the like. Specifically, the household appliance includes: the panel component comprises a shell, a panel component arranged on the shell and a control part electrically connected with the panel component. The panel assembly may show an operation state of the home appliance. Further, the panel assembly may control an operation state of the home appliance, for example, control on and off of the heating device and water temperature, by receiving a touch command of a user. In this embodiment, the control portion and the panel assembly are respectively mounted at different positions of the housing.

Wherein the panel assembly comprises: base layer 1, light guide plate 2, light source 3. The light guide plate 2 and the light source 3 are arranged on one side of the base layer 1; the base layer 1 is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source 3; the light guide plate 2 has an upper surface facing away from the base layer 1 and a lower surface facing the base layer 1; the light emitted from the light source 3 enters the light guide plate 2 between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

In this embodiment, the household appliance includes a function executing mechanism and a main controller electrically connected to the function executing mechanism. The control part is integrated in the main controller. The function executing mechanism may be an executing part of a main function of the home appliance. For example: a refrigerating mechanism of a refrigerator, a washing mechanism of a washing machine, a blower mechanism of an air purifier, a heating mechanism of a water heater, a motor mechanism of a fan, and the like. Of course, in other embodiments, the main controller and the control unit may be separate structures.

As shown in fig. 3. The embodiment of the application also provides a manufacturing method of the panel assembly, which comprises the following steps:

s200, arranging a light guide plate and a light source on one side of the base layer;

s400, printing an icon on the touch layer;

s600, installing the touch layer on one side, back to the base layer, of the light guide plate.

The base layer is provided with a printed circuit electrically connected with the light source. The light guide plate is provided with an upper surface back to the base layer and a lower surface facing the base layer; the light emitted by the light source enters the light guide plate between the upper surface and the lower surface and exits from the upper surface or the lower surface.

The above steps S200 and S400 are not clear in the order of execution, and step S200 may be executed first, or step S400 may be executed first. Of course, it is preferable that step S200 and step S400 are performed in synchronization.

The manufacturing method can also comprise the following steps: and S100, arranging a light-blocking structure on the base layer. The base layer is also provided with an empty area which is not covered by the light-blocking structure at one side provided with the light-blocking structure. Accordingly, step S200 includes: and arranging the light guide plate and the light source on the vacant area which is not covered by the light isolating structure on the base layer.

Specifically, the light-blocking foam can be adhered to the base layer. The light guide plate and the light source can be simultaneously arranged on the base layer or can be not simultaneously arranged on the base layer. For example: the light source may be mounted on the base layer before the light blocking structure, and the light guide plate may be mounted on the base layer after the light blocking structure. The light source can be used for pre-positioning the light-blocking foam, so that the subsequent light guide plate can be conveniently installed.

In order to avoid that the icons on the silk screen printing layer cannot be matched with the touch layer, the icons are printed on the shrunk touch layer. Specifically, the silk-screen layer is printed on the shrunk touch layer. The touch layer with the icons is adhered to one side of the light guide plate and the light isolating structure, which is back to the base layer, after the light guide plate and the light isolating structure are installed. Specifically, the touch layer can be adhered to one side of the light guide plate and the light isolating structure back to the base layer through optical adhesive.

To facilitate the printing setup of the printed circuit, the manufacturing method may further comprise the steps of: s50, shrinking the base layer, and then, S51, printing the printed circuit on the shrunk base layer.

Any numerical value recited herein includes all values from the lower value to the upper value that are incremented by one unit, provided that there is a separation of at least two units between any lower value and any higher value. For example, if it is stated that the number of a component or a value of a process variable (e.g., temperature, pressure, time, etc.) is from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, and more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that equivalents such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 are also expressly enumerated in this specification. For values less than 1, one unit is suitably considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1. These are only examples of what is intended to be explicitly recited, and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value that are explicitly recited in the specification in a similar manner are to be considered.

Unless otherwise indicated, all ranges include the endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of "about" or "approximately" with a range applies to both endpoints of the range. Thus, "about 20 to about 30" is intended to cover "about 20 to about 30", including at least the endpoints specified.

All articles and references disclosed, including patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term "consisting essentially of …" describing a combination shall include the identified element, ingredient, component or step as well as other elements, ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms "comprising" or "including" to describe combinations of elements, components, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of such elements, components, or steps. By using the term "may" herein, it is intended to indicate that any of the described attributes that "may" include are optional.

A plurality of elements, components, parts or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, component, part or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, component, part or step may be divided into separate plural elements, components, parts or steps. The disclosure of "a" or "an" to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose other elements, ingredients, components or steps.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many embodiments and many applications other than the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the present teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the foregoing claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not intended to forego such subject matter, nor should the inventors be construed as having contemplated such subject matter as being part of the disclosed subject matter.