Dishwasher

Abstract

Disclosed is a dishwasher having a door that opens and closes a washing space. The door comprises: an operation unit which receives an operation command from a use; and a first input unit mounted on the operation unit. The first input unit may comprise: a light-emitting unit which emits light toward the front of the door and guides the user to a touch position; a sensor unit which is disposed at a position spaced apart from the light-emitting unit and senses a command signal by the user; and a conductive member which is electrically connected to the sensing unit and transmits the command signal of the user to the sensing unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher having a door for opening and closing a washing space,
 wherein the door includes:   a manipulation unit configured to receive a manipulation command from a user; and   a first input unit disposed in the manipulation unit,   wherein the first input unit includes:
 a light-emitting unit configured to radiate light in a frontward direction of the door to guide the user to a touch position; 
 a sensing unit disposed at a position spaced apart from a potion of the light-emitting unit and configured to detect a command signal from the user; and 
 a conductive member electrically connected to the sensing unit so as to transmit the command signal of the user to the sensing unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive member is disposed in front of the sensing unit and contacts a front surface of the sensing unit,
 wherein the conductive member is disposed in front of the light-emitting unit, and passes light emitted from the light-emitting unit therethrough.   
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the command signal of the user is input to the light-emitting unit of the first input unit, and
 wherein the input command signal is transmitted to from the light-emitting unit to the sensing unit through the conductive member.   
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the first input unit is disposed in the manipulation unit so that the light-emitting unit faces in a frontward direction of the door in a state in which the door closes the washing space. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein in a front view of the door, the conductive member is formed to surround the light-emitting unit and cover the sensing unit. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the first input unit includes:
 a casing coupled to the manipulation unit, and constructed to accommodate therein the light-emitting unit and the sensing unit, wherein the conductive member is disposed on an outer side surface of the casing; and   a circuit board accommodated in the casing, wherein the light-emitting unit and the sensing unit are mounted on the circuit board.   
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 6 , wherein the casing has a first through-hole defined at a position of the casing corresponding to a position at which the light-emitting unit is disposed, wherein light emitted from the light-emitting unit passes through the first through-hole; and
 a second through-hole defined at a position of the casing corresponding to a position at which the sensing unit is disposed, wherein the sensing unit is inserted into the second through-hole.   
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher of  claim 7 , wherein the conductive member includes a light diffusion sheet disposed thereon at a position corresponding to a position at which the light-emitting unit is disposed, wherein the light diffusion sheet is made of a transmissive or semi-transmissive material through which the light emitted from the light-emitting unit passes. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , wherein the casing includes:
 a mounting guide protruding from an inner side surface of the casing to extend across a board receiving space of the casing, wherein the mounting guide guides a mounting position of the circuit board; and   a first support protrusion protruding from an inner surface of the casing inwardly of the casing so as to support the circuit board.   
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 9 , wherein the casing further includes a second support protrusion protruding from a front outer surface of the casing and contacting an inner surface of the manipulation unit so as to support the casing. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 10 , wherein the manipulation unit includes:
 a front panel constituting a front surface of the manipulation unit, wherein the casing is disposed on an inner side surface of the front panel; and   a lower panel bent from a lower end of the front panel and constituting a lower surface of the manipulation unit,   wherein the front panel includes a first support protruding from the inner side surface thereof so as to support the bottom of the casing.   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the conductive member is disposed between the front panel and the casing,
 wherein one side surface of the conductive member contacts the inner side surface of the front panel, and the other side surface of the model contacts the sensing unit.   
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12 , wherein the manipulation unit further includes a handle having at least a portion received in the manipulation unit, wherein a portion of a lower surface of the handle is open,
 wherein a through-hole is defined in the lower panel of the manipulation unit at a position corresponding to a position where the open portion of the handle is positioned.   
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the casing is positioned to be spaced apart from the handle by a predetermined distance in a lateral direction of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the manipulation unit further includes a reinforcing rib protruding from an inner upper surface of the lower panel, wherein an end of the reinforcing rib is coupled to the inner side surface of the front panel.