Air conditioner, and method for manufacturing air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioners lack a panel component that provides a high-quality, metallic texture and clear display capability, as metal panels are opaque and inconvenient to process, limiting their decorative and functional potential.
Innovation Solution
A panel component comprising a plastic substrate with a metal panel covering, featuring a light-transmitting structure such as display holes filled with transparent glue, allowing for a metallic texture and clear display while overcoming processing limitations and opacity issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If metal material is used for panel component, then decorative effect and high-quality impression are improved, but display capability deteriorates due to opacity
Solution Approach 1:
The panel component is segmented into multiple functional layers: a metal panel for decorative effect, a light-transmitting structure for display capability, and a plastic substrate for structural support. This segmentation allows each layer to fulfill its specific function without compromising the others.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining metal material (for decoration), light-transmitting material (for display), and plastic substrate (for support). This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties into a single functional assembly.
2Shape
If metal panel is used, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but processing convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The panel component is divided into separate parts (metal panel, light-transmitting structure, plastic substrate) that can be manufactured independently using appropriate processes for each material, then assembled together. This avoids the difficulty of processing all-metal panels while maintaining aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
By using a composite structure with a plastic substrate and separately attached metal panel, the invention leverages the ease of plastic processing for the substrate while adding the aesthetic metal layer through simpler attachment processes rather than complex metal fabrication.
3Illumination intensity
If light-transmitting structure is added to metal panel, then display capability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-transmitting structure is merged with the metal panel to form an integrated assembly where the two components work together as a unified structure. The light-transmitting structure is positioned behind the metal panel, combining decorative and display functions in one assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of metal panel and light-transmitting structure creates a composite component that achieves both decorative effect and display capability. The plastic substrate provides additional structural support, forming a stable composite assembly that manages complexity through functional integration.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A panel component (1) comprises a plastic substrate (3), a display (2), and a metal panel (6) covering an outer surface of the plastic substrate (3). The metal panel (6) is fixed on the plastic substrate (3). The display (2) is mounted on the plastic substrate (3) through a display mounting structure. A light-transmitting structure is arranged in the metal panel (6) in a region corresponding to the location of the display (2). The metal panel (6) enables the panel component (1) to have good decorating effect, and the light-transmitting structure ensures clear display. Further disclosed are an air conditioner provided with the panel component (1) and a method for manufacturing the air conditioner.