US 12,326,263 B2
Illuminated discretized user interface with uniform appearance
Kyle Andrew Kozinski, Louisville, KY (US); Kyle Howell, Louisville, KY (US); and Zachary Tencza, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/990,810.
Prior Publication US 2024/0167691 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. F24C 7/08 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01)
CPC F24C 7/086 (2013.01) [F24C 7/083 (2013.01); G02B 6/0025 (2013.01); G02B 6/0051 (2013.01); G02B 6/006 (2013.01); G02B 6/0095 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A user interface assembly for an appliance, the user interface assembly comprising:
a panel including a user interface comprising a display portion within the user interface;
a printed circuit board spaced apart from the panel, the printed circuit board comprising a plurality of light sources;
a diffuser stack disposed between the printed circuit board and the panel;
a light guide disposed between the printed circuit board and the diffuser stack, the light guide defining a thickness between an entrance side and an exit side, the light guide comprising a plurality of light channels through the thickness, wherein adjacent light channels are separated by a rib extending from the entrance side partially through the thickness; and
wherein each of the plurality of light channels surrounds a light source of the plurality of light sources such that each light channel directs a passage of substantially all light from the light source through the light guide to the panel in order to display a graphic in the display portion, and
wherein the rib includes a plurality of angular projections facing a light channel of the plurality of light channels, the angular projections forming an acute angle with the entrance side.