Concealed AC Illumination Panel for Clear Light Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners with integrated lamps face challenges in creating a clear illumination pattern due to the lamp being visible when turned off and the light spreading widely, making it difficult to achieve a specific shape or recognizable pattern from a distance.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design featuring an illumination panel with a light emitting unit, a reflector, and a gap between the first and second covers, which reflects light to form a clear illumination pattern on the front, while preventing the light emitting unit from being seen externally and allowing for variable emission modes in size and position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a lamp is disposed behind the transparent part to illuminate the room, then the decorative beauty is improved, but the lamp becomes visible when turned off and the light spreads widely making it difficult to form a clear illumination pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple functional components: a light emitting unit (LEDs), a reflector with specific reflective surfaces, a transparent cover, and a housing structure with gaps. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the LEDs provide light, the reflector directs it, the cover protects while allowing light transmission, and the gaps control light escape - collectively achieving clear illumination patterns without requiring a complex integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector acts as an intermediary element between the light emitting unit and the external environment. It receives light from the LEDs and redirects it through specific paths defined by its reflective surfaces, controlling where the light exits and forms patterns. This intermediary structure enables clear pattern formation while keeping the light emitting unit hidden, resolving the contradiction between illumination quality and structural simplicity
2Shape
If the light emitting unit is placed behind the cover to hide it, then the appearance is improved, but the light has difficulty forming a recognizable pattern from a distance
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is designed with non-uniform local qualities - specific reflective surfaces are positioned and angled to direct light in particular directions. The gaps in the housing are strategically located to allow light escape at specific angles. This local optimization of light reflection and transmission properties creates distinct geometric patterns (circles, triangles, squares) that remain recognizable from a distance while keeping the light emitting unit concealed
3Use of energy by moving object
If the lamp is turned off to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the lamp becomes visible through the transparent part creating an unwanted appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple LEDs capable of emitting different colors (red, green, blue, yellow) and controls their illumination states dynamically. When energy saving is needed, specific LEDs can be turned off while others remain active, or all can be dimmed. The transparent cover allows these illumination state changes to be visible as color patterns rather than simply on/off states, providing aesthetic value even when not fully illuminated while reducing energy consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a clear and recognizable illumination pattern from a distance, simplifying the air conditioner's design and allowing for the display of operation information or various items without the light emitting unit being visible, using a minimal structure.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit to the front of the first cover through the gap
Data Source
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AI summary
An air conditioner of the present invention includes: a body (1) for taking indoor air inside through an air intake port, conditioning the air, and discharging the air to an air discharge port(6,8); and an illumination panel (2) on the body (1), wherein the illumination panel (2) includes: an illumination panel base (50); a first cover (60) on the illumination panel base (50); a light emitting unit (70) for emitting light outward between the illumination panel base (50) and the first cover (60), between the illumination panel base (50) and the first cover (60); a second cover (80) having a gap (78) between the first cover (60) and the second cover (80); and a reflector (90) for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit (70) to the front of the first cover (60) through the gap, such that it has the advantage in that it can show a clear illumination pattern on the front of the first cover (60) while preventing the light emitting unit (70) from being seen from the outside.