Home Appliance Door Panel Assembly for Uniform Light Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliances, such as refrigerators, face challenges in achieving uniform and consistent lighting across the entire door surface, leading to poor appearance and user dissatisfaction due to shadows, inadequate light distribution, and potential deformation of light guide plates.
Innovation Solution
A panel assembly for home appliances, including a lighting device, a panel to form the front surface, a light guide plate behind the panel, and a member to transmit light from the light guide plate to the panel, is designed to provide uniform lighting and an adjustable outer appearance without a bezel or visible coupling region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If light emitting members are positioned at both ends of the door, then the structure is simple, but brightness is lowered due to insufficient light at the central part and uniform light distribution cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the light emitting member and the panel. The light guide plate receives light from the LED at one location and distributes it uniformly across the entire panel surface through its light-guiding properties, solving the problem of insufficient central brightness while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from direct light emission at discrete points (0D/1D) to continuous light distribution across a surface (2D) by using the light guide plate. This dimensional transformation allows uniform illumination across the entire panel area rather than concentrated light at specific locations
2Illumination intensity
If a light guide plate is provided inside the door with LED below it, then light can be transmitted through the door, but a bezel structure is needed to shield fixing components which prevents uniform light transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The support member and light guide plate are merged into a single integrated component. The light guide plate serves dual functions: guiding light from the LED and providing structural support to hold the LED in place. This eliminates the need for separate fixing components and the bezel structure that would block light transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the light transmission medium and the structural support element for mounting the LED. This multi-functionality removes the need for additional components like bezels that would interfere with uniform light transmission
3Duration of action of moving object
If the LED is turned on for a long time, then the light guide plate deforms and local dark marks are formed, but continuous operation is required for normal function
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer member is introduced to provide thermal compensation and mechanical cushioning between the light guide plate and the support structure. This buffer member compensates for thermal expansion and deformation that occurs during continuous LED operation, preventing contact between the deformed light guide plate and the front panel, thus avoiding local dark marks and maintaining reliable operation
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 the entire front surface of the appliance door to glow with uniform brightness and color, enhancing the appearance and user satisfaction while maintaining a compact and stable mounting structure.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate disposed behind the panel, and configured to guide light emitted from the lighting device towards the panel
Implementation Method 2
a member disposed between the panel and the light guide plate and configured to transmit light from the light guide plate to or towards the panel
Implementation Method 3
a panel configured to form a front surface of the panel assembly and/or of the door and to transmit light therethrough
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A home appliance, including: a cabinet (10) forming a space, and a door (20) for opening and closing the space and being configured to emit light, the door (20) comprising a door body (40) and a panel assembly (30) mounted on the door body (40), wherein the panel assembly (30) includes: a lighting device (36) configured to emit light; a panel (31) forming a front surface of the door (20) and configured to transmit light therethrough; a light guide plate (33) disposed behind the panel (31) and configured to guide light emitted from the lighting device (36) towards the panel (31); and a member (32) disposed between the panel (31) and the light guide plate (33) and configured to transmit light from the light guide plate (33) to the panel (31).