Appliance Light Guide Layout for Visible Quiet-Operation Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Some household appliances, such as quiet dishwashers, lack effective visual indicators for determining their operational status from a distance, as existing solutions like infolight spots may not be visible or clear enough.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance with an information light device featuring a light guide that emits a band or stripe of light along its side, using LEDs to project light onto the floor or adjacent surfaces, providing a clear visual indication of the appliance's on/off status from a distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light spot is used to indicate appliance operation status, then the indicator is simple to implement, but the visibility from a distance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the light indication from a two-dimensional spot on the floor to a three-dimensional vertical beam that extends upward and can be seen from multiple angles and distances. The light guide structure directs light vertically to create a visible column of light that enhances detectability from afar.
Solution Approach 2:
The light indication system is divided into multiple segments along the vertical direction, with light guides positioned at different heights. This segmentation creates multiple light sources that form a continuous vertical indication, improving visibility from various distances and angles while maintaining system simplicity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the appliance operates quietly, then energy consumption is reduced and operation is smoother, but the user cannot determine operational status by sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide as an intermediary device that converts the appliance's operational state into a visible light signal. The light guide acts as a mediator between the quiet appliance operation and the user's need for operational status information, providing visual feedback without requiring audible noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the acoustic indication mechanism (relying on operational noise) with an optical indication mechanism (using light guides and light sources). This substitution allows the appliance to maintain quiet operation while still providing clear operational status information through visual light signals.
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 enhances visibility of the appliance's operational status from afar, ensuring users can easily determine if the appliance is in operation, improving usability and safety by providing a clear and visible visual cue.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide that extends along a substantial length of the side portion and is configured to emit light in accordance with an on/off status of the appliance
Implementation Method 2
at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed in an upper portion of the main body
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance includes an information light device that projects light onto a surface to enable a user to determine whether or not the household device is in operation. The information light device may include a light guide. The light guide may be disposed along a side portion of the household appliance.