Control Panel LED Bracket Light Guide Design for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control panel assemblies for washing machines face issues with non-uniform light emission from LEDs, leading to diffused light that is not focused correctly on the display panel, which increases manufacturing costs and assembly time, thereby reducing productivity.
Innovation Solution
The control panel assembly incorporates a light guide system with first and second light guide holes of varying cross-sectional areas and shapes, along with a light diffusion part that includes uneven forms or a film member, to ensure uniform light distribution and focus light emission onto specific protrusions, preventing diffusion into unintended areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a film is disposed between the LED and the display panel to remove diffusion of light or uniformly diffuse light, then light uniformity is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembling time increase, lowering productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide function and light diffusion function into a single integrated LED bracket structure. The bracket includes light guide holes with specific geometric configurations (varying cross-sectional areas, stepped structures) that simultaneously guide light from the LED and diffuse it uniformly, eliminating the need for a separate film component. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by achieving light uniformity through structural design rather than additional components, thereby maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform cross-sectional areas within the light guide holes. The holes have different cross-sectional areas at different positions along the light propagation path, with specific regions designed to have larger or smaller areas to control light distribution. This local variation in geometric properties enables uniform light diffusion throughout the display panel area without requiring additional films, thus improving light uniformity while avoiding the productivity penalty of extra assembly steps.
2Ease of manufacture
If light emitted from the LED is allowed to diffuse freely, then assembly is simpler, but light is diffused into positions different from the predetermined display panel position, reducing illumination precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses light guide holes with locally varied cross-sectional areas to control light propagation. Specific portions of the holes have different cross-sectional dimensions to redirect and confine light into predetermined paths. This local geometric control ensures light reaches the correct display panel positions without excessive diffusion, achieving positioning precision while maintaining a simple integrated structure that is easy to manufacture and assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide holes act as intermediary structures between the LED light source and the display panel. The holes with their specific geometric configurations serve as mediators that control and direct light propagation, preventing direct uncontrolled diffusion while guiding light along predetermined paths. This intermediary structure achieves precise light positioning without complex assembly requirements.
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
This solution achieves uniform light diffusion and focusing, enhancing the visual appeal and user experience while eliminating the need for additional components like films, thus improving productivity and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a light diffusion part configured to allow the light emitted from the LED to be uniformly diffused when passing through the light transmission part
Implementation Method 2
an LED bracket coupled to the circuit board, configured to accommodate the at least one LED to guide light emitted from the LED to front of the control panel, and having at least one light guide hole, of which a cross-sectional area is not uniform
Data Source
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AI summary
A control panel assembly (100) for an appliance comprises a control panel (110), a plurality of light emitting diodes (122), and an LED bracket (130) to accommodate the plurality of LEDs (122). The LED bracket (130) includes a plurality of light guide holes (131a), each of the plurality of light guide holes (131a) being configured to guide light from one of the plurality of LEDs (122), wherein each of the plurality of light guide holes (131a) comprises a first light guide hole (133) to accommodate one of the plurality of LEDs (122) and a second light guide hole (134) to guide light emitted from the LED (122) accommodated in the first light guide hole (133), whereby the cross-sectional area of the first light guide hole (133) decreases in a light proceeding direction and the second light guide hole (134) is relatively longer than the first light guide hole (133).