# US 2019/0169781 A1 · User interface with capacitive touch sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169781 A1 - Document ID: US20190169781A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/828,504 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Bryan James Beckley; S. Neil Malone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169781A1 ## CPC - D06F 34/32: characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens - D06F 23/02: and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis - D06F 37/06: Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle - D06F 37/40: for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - H03K 17/9622: {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard} - H05K 1/0278: {Rigid circuit boards or rigid supports of circuit boards locally made bendable, e.g. by removal or replacement of material} - H05K 1/181: associated with surface mounted components - D06F 2101/00: User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - H03K 2217/960755: Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches - H05K 2201/09081: Tongue or tail integrated in planar structure, e.g. obtained by cutting from the planar structure - H05K 2201/10053: Switch - H05K 2201/10151: Sensor - H05K 2201/10484: Obliquely mounted - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A user interface includes a curved outer surface, a generally flat printed circuit board defining a base plane, and a capacitive touch sensor connected to the generally flat printed circuit board and offset from the base plane. The capacitive touch sensor is substantially aligned with the curved outer surface. The user interface may be provided on an appliance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction and a transverse direction that are mutually perpendicular to one another, the washing machine appliance comprising: a cabinet defining an opening; a tub mounted within the cabinet and configured for containing fluid during operation of the washing machine appliance; a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing; and a user interface disposed on the cabinet, the user interface comprising: a curved outer surface; a generally flat printed circuit board defining a base plane; and a capacitive touch sensor connected to the generally flat printed circuit board and offset from the base plane, the capacitive touch sensor substantially aligned with the curved outer surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is connected to the generally flat printed circuit board by a stem; the capacitive touch sensor, the generally flat printed circuit board, and the stem comprising a continuous and unitary structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The washing machine appliance of claim 2, wherein the stem defines a first curve in a lateral-transverse plane and a second curve in a vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the curved outer surface defines a curve in one of a lateral-transverse plane and a vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein the curved outer surface defines a curve in the lateral-transverse plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein the curved outer surface defines a curve in the vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the curved outer surface defines a first curve in a lateral-transverse plane and a second curve in a vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, further comprising a shim between the generally flat printed circuit board and the capacitive touch sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is cantilevered from the generally flat printed circuit board. ### Claim 10 A user interface of an appliance, the user interface comprising: a curved outer surface; a generally flat printed circuit board defining a base plane; and a capacitive touch sensor connected to the generally flat printed circuit board and offset from the base plane, the capacitive touch sensor substantially aligned with the curved outer surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The user interface of claim 10, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is connected to the generally flat printed circuit board by a stem; the capacitive touch sensor, the generally flat printed circuit board, and the stem comprising a continuous and unitary structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The user interface of claim 11, wherein the stem defines a first curve in a lateral-transverse plane and a second curve in a vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The user interface of claim 1, wherein the curved outer surface defines a curve in one of a lateral-transverse plane and a vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The user interface of claim 13, wherein the curved outer surface defines a curve in the lateral-transverse plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The user interface of claim 13, wherein the curved outer surface defines a curve in the vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The user interface of claim 10, wherein the curved outer surface defines a first curve in a lateral-transverse plane and a second curve in a vertical-transverse plane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The user interface of claim 10, further comprising a shim between the generally flat printed circuit board and the capacitive touch sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The user interface of claim 10, wherein the capacitive touch sensor is cantilevered from the generally flat printed circuit board.