Indoor unit lighting device and air conditioner

Abstract

This invention provides an indoor unit light-emitting device and an air conditioner, relating to the field of air conditioner technology, and is designed to solve the problem of excessive wasted light source power. The indoor unit light-emitting device includes a light source and a light guide. The light source is located at one end of the light guide. The light guide includes an incident area, a light-guiding area, and a light-emitting area arranged sequentially along the light path. Two opposing surfaces of the light-guiding area are both reflective surfaces, and at least one of the two surfaces is a first surface. The angle between the upper part of the first surface and the horizontal plane is greater than the angle between the lower part and the horizontal plane. The indoor unit light-emitting device provided by this invention can improve the utilization rate of the light source power.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioner technology, and more specifically, to an indoor unit light-emitting device and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] With social development and improved manufacturing processes, air conditioners have become increasingly versatile and aesthetically pleasing. To facilitate nighttime use, floor-standing air conditioners are equipped with night indicator lights. However, current floor-standing air conditioners often use a combination of multiple LED light sources and lampshades for their lighting devices. This approach suffers from high cost and low reliability due to the use of multiple LEDs, and the concentrated brightness can even cause light pollution at night. While some technologies employ embedded light strips and light guides to soften the light, the distance between the light guide outlet and the light source results in overly dispersed light and significant waste of the light source's power. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The first objective of this invention is to provide a light-emitting device for an indoor air conditioning unit to solve the technical problem of excessive waste of light-emitting power in existing light sources.

[0004] The present invention provides an air conditioning indoor unit light-emitting device, which includes a light source and a light guide. The light source is located at one end of the light guide. The light guide includes an incident area, a light guiding area and a light emitting area arranged sequentially along the light transmission path. The two opposing surfaces of the light guiding area are both reflective surfaces, and at least one of the two surfaces is a first surface. The angle between the upper part of the first surface and the horizontal plane is greater than the angle between the lower part and the horizontal plane.

[0005] The beneficial effects of the light-emitting device for the indoor unit of the air conditioner of this invention are:

[0006] By setting the angle between the upper part of the first surface of the light guide area and the horizontal plane to be greater than the angle between the lower part and the horizontal plane, that is, shortly after the light enters the light guide from the light source, it passes through the incident area and enters the light guide area. Some of the light can encounter the lower part of the first surface. Due to the larger incident angle, it is difficult for the light to pass through the lower part of the first surface and exit. As a result, total internal reflection can occur and the light can continue to be transmitted upward. This improves the uniformity of light emission in the light guide area and makes full use of the light emitted by the light source.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the first surface and the horizontal plane gradually increases from bottom to top.

[0008] By setting the angle between the first surface and the horizontal plane to gradually increase, the light can be totally reflected on the opposite surface when it first encounters the inclined part of the first surface. When it is totally reflected again and encounters the first surface, the incident angle of the second, third, and even fourth incidents on the first surface can ensure that the light is totally reflected on the first surface and will not be emitted from the first surface. This increases the proportion of light emitted from the light guide and increases the light intensity of the light emission area.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the first surface is formed as an arc surface recessed on one side of the light guide area, and the thickness of the light guide area gradually decreases from bottom to top.

[0010] The first surface is machined into an arc surface with a concave shape on one side of the light guide area, which is simple to process and easy to form. Moreover, the thickness of the light guide area gradually decreases from bottom to top, which can also make the light concentration higher, thereby increasing the light intensity of the light output area.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the lower end of the first surface smoothly transitions to the upper end of the incident area.

[0012] The smooth transition between the lower end of the first surface and the upper end of the incident area can prevent light from concentrating at the junction of the first surface and the incident area, thus avoiding the appearance of alternating light and dark areas in the light guide and affecting the visual effect.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the first surface is provided with a frosted texture.

[0014] The frosted texture helps to create diffuse reflection on the first surface, making the light reflected from the surface of the light guide into the light guide softer, thus making the light emitted from the light-emitting area softer and avoiding glare when using the indoor unit of the air conditioner at night.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the light guide is inserted into a slotted hole in the front decorative panel, the bottom of the slotted hole in the front decorative panel has a guide slope, and the distance between the guide slope and the inner side of the front decorative panel gradually decreases from bottom to top.

[0016] By inserting the light guide into the slotted hole in the front trim panel, the top of the light guide can be fixed, preventing it from wobbling back and forth. The inclined guide surface allows the top of the light guide to be initially inserted at an angle between the inclined surface and the opposite side wall of the slotted hole, and then gradually rotated towards a vertical position, thus improving installation convenience. Furthermore, especially when the lower part of the light guide is elastically supported, this installation method reduces the required vertical installation height of the light guide at the beginning of the installation process, and continuously presses the light source downwards during installation, ensuring a tight fit between the top surface of the light source and the bottom surface of the light guide.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the front decorative panel is provided with an inner flange, and the inner surface of the inner flange forms one side wall of the slotted hole.

[0018] By setting an inner flange to form one side wall of the slotted hole, the outer surfaces of the light guide area and the incident area are prevented from directly contacting the inner surface of the front decorative panel. Direct contact would prevent bumps and scratches during assembly, transportation, and use, thus avoiding damage to the outer surfaces of the light guide area and the incident area, which could lead to insufficient total internal reflection and the creation of visible light spots. By avoiding direct contact, these phenomena can be avoided.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the front decorative panel is provided with a lower flange, and the outer surface of the lower flange forms the guide slope.

[0020] By setting a lower flange, the guide slope is formed with the outer side of the lower flange, which increases the height of the inner wall of the slot hole, ensuring that the slot hole has enough height to contact the top of the light guide, thereby improving the stability of the top of the light guide.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the light-emitting area is provided with an inner convex ridge, and the upper surface of the inner convex ridge abuts against the lower end of the lower flange.

[0022] By setting an inner convex ridge, when the support structure at the bottom of the light guide is an elastic support structure, the contact between the inner convex ridge and the lower flange can balance the upward elastic force of the elastic support structure on the light guide, thereby preventing the light guide from protruding from the slotted hole onto the local upper surface of the front decorative panel.

[0023] The second objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner that solves the technical problem of excessive waste of light source power.

[0024] The air conditioner provided by the present invention includes a cabinet-type indoor unit, wherein the cabinet-type indoor unit includes a front decorative panel, a front panel, and an indoor unit light-emitting device of any one of the above, wherein the light source is installed on the front panel, and the light guide is installed on the front decorative panel.

[0025] By incorporating the aforementioned indoor unit light-emitting device into the air conditioner, the air conditioner acquires all the advantages of the aforementioned indoor unit light-emitting device, which will not be elaborated upon here. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or background art of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or background art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the light-emitting device of the air conditioner indoor unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a partial disassembly view of the lower part of the cabinet-type indoor air conditioner on which the light-emitting device of the indoor air conditioner provided in this embodiment of the invention is installed.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0030] 10-Light guide; 11-Incident area; 12-Light guide area; 13-Light emission area; 14-Inner convex ridge;

[0031] 20 - Light source;

[0032] 30 - Front decorative panel; 31 - Groove hole; 32 - Inner flange; 33 - Lower flange; 331 - Guide slope;

[0033] 40 - Front panel. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0035] Example 1:

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the light-emitting device of the air conditioner indoor unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioner indoor unit light-emitting device provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a light source 20 and a light guide 10. The light source 20 is located at one end of the light guide 10. The light guide 10 includes an incident area 11, a light guide area 12 and a light output area 13 arranged sequentially along the light transmission path. The two opposing surfaces of the light guide area 12 are both reflective surfaces, and at least one of the two surfaces is a first surface. The angle between the upper part of the first surface and the horizontal plane is greater than the angle between the lower part and the horizontal plane.

[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, the indoor unit of the air conditioner can be a cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, and more specifically, it can be a roughly cylindrical cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit. The light-emitting device of the indoor unit in this embodiment is applied to such a cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit. This light-emitting device is installed on the inner side of the front decorative panel 30, located on a portion of the upper surface of the light-emitting area 13 above the light guide 10, and propagates light outwards. Therefore, the concepts of "upper" and "lower" used in this invention are based on the normal placement posture of the cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit during normal use.

[0038] The light guide 10 is generally an arc-shaped plate, with its outer surface roughly parallel to the lower outer surface of the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner. That is, the light guide 10 is essentially vertically positioned within the indoor unit. Viewed from the center of the indoor unit outwards, the light guide 10 appears as an inverted trapezoid, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. In other words, if the light guide 10 is unfolded along the circumference of the arc-shaped plate, it forms an inverted trapezoid, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom.

[0039] The light guide 10 has an inner side and an outer side. The outer side of the light guide 10 refers to the side of the light guide 10 facing the outside of the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner, while the inner side of the light guide 10 refers to the side of the light guide 10 facing the center of the internal area of ​​the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner. The two opposing surfaces of the light guide area 12 are the outer side and the inner side of the light guide area 12, respectively, which are located at the corresponding positions of the outer side and the inner side of the light guide 10 in the light guide area 12.

[0040] In this embodiment, the light source 20 is located at the lower end of the light guide 10, and the light source 20 emits light upward from the bottom surface of the light guide 10. Some light rays pass directly upward from the bottom surface through the light guide 10, some light rays propagate obliquely from the bottom surface within the light guide 10 to both ends of the top surface of the light guide 10, and some light rays propagate upward on both the inner and outer surfaces of the light guide 10. Regardless of how the light rays propagate within the light guide 10, the overall propagation is from bottom to top.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the angle between the lower part of the first surface of the light guide area 12 and the horizontal plane is at least 70° or 75°, while the angle between the upper part of the first surface of the light guide area 12 and the horizontal plane can be at most 90°.

[0042] By setting the angle between the upper part of the first surface of the light guide area 12 and the horizontal plane to be greater than the angle between the lower part and the horizontal plane, that is, shortly after the light enters the light guide member 10 from the light source 20, it passes through the incident area 11 and enters the light guide area 12. Some of the light can encounter the lower part of the first surface. Due to the large incident angle, it is difficult to pass through the lower part of the first surface and exit. As a result, total internal reflection can occur and the light can continue to be transmitted upward. This improves the uniformity of the light emitted from the light exit area 13 of the light guide member 10, so that the light emitted by the light source 20 can be fully utilized.

[0043] In this embodiment, the inner surface of the light guide region 12 is the first surface, while the upper and lower parts of the outer surface of the light guide region 12 have the same angle with the horizontal plane. In another implementation, both the inner and outer surfaces of the light guide region 12 can be the first surface, or the outer surface of the light guide region 12 can be the first surface, which can also achieve at least the same technical effect.

[0044] like Figure 1As shown, preferably, the angle between the first surface and the horizontal plane gradually increases from bottom to top.

[0045] By setting the angle between the first surface and the horizontal plane to gradually increase, the light can be totally reflected on the opposite surface when it first encounters the inclined part of the first surface. When it is totally reflected again and encounters the first surface, the incident angle of the second, third and even fourth incident on the first surface can ensure that the light is totally reflected on the first surface and will not be emitted from the first surface. This increases the proportion of light emitted from the light-emitting area 13 of the light guide 10 and increases the light intensity of the light-emitting area 13.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, preferably, the first surface is formed as an arc surface recessed on one side of the light guide area 12, and the thickness of the light guide area 12 gradually decreases from bottom to top.

[0047] The first surface is processed into an arc surface that is recessed on one side of the light guide area 12. This process is simple and easy to form. Moreover, the thickness of the light guide area 12 gradually decreases from bottom to top, which can also make the light concentration higher, thereby increasing the light intensity of the light output area 13.

[0048] In another implementation, the intersection of the first surface and the vertical plane can be multiple straight lines, with each line gradually increasing in angle with the horizontal plane from bottom to top. Adjacent lines can intersect directly or be transitioned by a circular arc.

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, preferably, the lower end of the first surface smoothly transitions to the upper end of the incident area 11.

[0050] The lower end of the first surface and the upper end of the incident area 11 are smoothly connected, which can prevent light from concentrating at the junction of the first surface and the incident area 11, thus avoiding the light guide 10 from having alternating light and dark areas and affecting the visual effect.

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, preferably, the first surface has a frosted texture.

[0052] The frosted texture helps to create diffuse reflection on the first surface, making the light reflected from the surface of the light guide 10 into the interior of the light guide 10 softer, so that the light emitted from the light output area 13 is softer and avoids glare when using the indoor unit of the air conditioner at night.

[0053] Figure 2 This is a partial disassembled view of the lower part of the cabinet-type indoor air conditioner on which the light-emitting device of the indoor unit of the air conditioner provided in this embodiment of the invention is installed. Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, preferably, the light guide 10 is inserted into the slot 31 of the front decorative panel 30, and the bottom of the slot 31 of the front decorative panel 30 has a guide slope 331, and the distance between the guide slope 331 and the inner side surface of the front decorative panel 30 gradually decreases from bottom to top.

[0054] Specifically, the slotted hole 31 is crescent-shaped when viewed from above, meaning it is generally arc-shaped or nearly arc-shaped, with the width at the middle of its length being greater than that at both ends, and the width gradually decreasing. In this embodiment, the slotted hole 31 can be a through hole, with the surface of the light-emitting area 13 exposing the corresponding area of ​​the front decorative panel 30. In another implementation, the slotted hole 31 can be a recessed hole from the bottom up, and a transparent material such as plexiglass can be inlaid above the light-emitting area 13. The edge of the plexiglass matches the top of the slotted hole 31 to block it from above, thereby preventing dust in the indoor air from entering the interior of the cabinet air conditioner indoor unit.

[0055] The guide slope 331 can be at an angle of about 40°-50° to the vertical surface, so that the light-emitting area 13 of the light guide 10 can be inserted in an inclined state first, and then gradually turn to a vertical or near-vertical state.

[0056] By inserting the light guide 10 into the slotted hole 31 of the front decorative panel 30, the top of the light guide 10 can be fixed, preventing it from wobbling back and forth. The guide slope 331 allows the top of the light guide 10 to be initially inserted at an angle between the guide slope 331 and the side wall of the slotted hole 31, and then gradually rotated towards a vertical position, thus improving installation convenience. Furthermore, especially when the lower part of the light guide 10 is elastically supported, this installation method reduces the required vertical installation height of the light guide 10 at the beginning of the installation process, and continuously presses the light source 20 downwards during installation, ensuring a tight fit between the top surface of the light source 20 and the bottom surface of the light guide 10.

[0057] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, preferably, the front decorative panel 30 is provided with an inner flange 32, and the inner surface of the inner flange 32 forms one side wall of the groove hole 31.

[0058] By providing an inner flange 32 to form one sidewall of the slotted hole 31, the outer surfaces of the light guide area 12 and the incident area 11 are not in direct contact with the inner surface of the front decorative panel 30. Direct contact would prevent bumps and scratches during assembly, transportation, and use, thus avoiding damage to the outer surfaces of the light guide area 12 and the incident area 11, which could lead to insufficient total internal reflection in the light guide area 12 and the incident area 11, resulting in the appearance of light spots. Avoiding direct contact prevents these phenomena.

[0059] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, preferably, the front decorative panel 30 is provided with a lower flange 33, and the outer side of the lower flange 33 forms a guide slope 331.

[0060] Specifically, the inner wall of the slotted hole 31, that is, the side wall of the slotted hole 31 that is closer to the center of the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner, has a height that is equivalent to the thickness of the front decorative panel 30 around it, while the guide slope 331 is completely distributed on the outer side of the lower flange 33 in the height direction.

[0061] By setting the lower flange 33, the guide slope 331 is formed by the outer side of the lower flange 33, which can increase the height of the inner wall of the slot hole 31 and ensure that the slot hole 31 has enough height to contact the top of the light guide 10, thereby improving the stability of the top of the light guide 10.

[0062] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, preferably, the inner surface of the light-emitting area 13 is provided with an inner convex ridge 14, and the upper surface of the inner convex ridge 14 abuts against the lower end of the lower flange 33.

[0063] By setting the inner convex rib 14, when the support structure at the bottom of the light guide 10 is an elastic support structure, the contact between the inner convex rib 14 and the lower flange 33 can balance the upward elastic force of the lower elastic support structure on the light guide 10, so as to prevent the light guide 10 from extending out of the slot hole 31 onto the partial upper surface of the front decorative panel 30.

[0064] Example 2:

[0065] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, Embodiment 2 also provides an air conditioner, including a cabinet-type indoor unit. The cabinet-type indoor unit includes a front decorative panel 30, a front panel 40, and an indoor unit light-emitting device of any of the above. The front panel 40 is equipped with a light source 20, and the front decorative panel 30 is equipped with a light guide 10.

[0066] By incorporating the aforementioned indoor unit light-emitting device into the air conditioner, the air conditioner acquires all the advantages of the aforementioned indoor unit light-emitting device, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0067] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

[0068] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the term "comprising" or any other variations thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0069] In the above embodiments, descriptions of directions such as "up" and "down" are based on the accompanying drawings.

[0070] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

[0071] Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A light-emitting device for an air conditioner indoor unit, characterized in that, The light source (20) is located on the lower side of the light guide (10). The light guide (10) includes an incident area (11), a light guide area (12), and a light output area (13) arranged sequentially along the light transmission path. The light output area (13) is located at the upper end of the light guide (10). The two opposing surfaces of the light guide area (12) are both reflective surfaces, and at least one of the two surfaces is a first surface. The angle between the upper part of the first surface and the horizontal plane is greater than the angle between the lower part and the horizontal plane. The angle between the first surface and the horizontal plane gradually increases from bottom to top. The first surface is formed as an arc surface recessed on one side of the light guide area (12). The thickness of the light guide area (12) gradually decreases from bottom to top.

2. The air conditioner indoor unit light-emitting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end of the first surface smoothly transitions to the upper end of the incident area (11).

3. The air conditioner indoor unit light-emitting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first surface has a frosted texture.

4. The air conditioner indoor unit light-emitting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light guide (10) is inserted into the slot (31) of the front decorative panel (30). The bottom of the slot (31) of the front decorative panel (30) has a guide slope (331). The distance between the guide slope (331) and the inner side of the front decorative panel (30) gradually decreases from bottom to top.

5. The air conditioner indoor unit light-emitting device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The front decorative panel (30) is provided with an inner flange (32), the inner surface of which forms one side wall of the slotted hole (31).

6. The air conditioner indoor unit light-emitting device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The front decorative panel (30) is provided with a lower flange (33), and the outer side of the lower flange (33) forms the guide slope (331).

7. The air conditioner indoor unit light-emitting device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner surface of the light-emitting area (13) is provided with an inner protruding ridge (14), and the upper surface of the inner protruding ridge (14) abuts against the lower end of the lower flange (33).

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes a cabinet-type indoor unit, which includes a front decorative panel (30), a front panel (40), and an air-lighting device for the indoor unit according to any one of claims 1-7. The front panel (40) is equipped with the light source (20), and the front decorative panel (30) is equipped with the light guide (10).

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