Appliance Control Panel Reflective Channels for Uniform Indicator Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control panels in appliances, such as dishwashers, face challenges in providing uniform illumination for status indicators due to the short distance between light sources and illumination zones, resulting in harsh visual representations for users.
Innovation Solution
A control panel design featuring a printed circuit board with a light source positioned in a light directing channel within a control cover, which includes a reflective surface to redirect light towards the top surface, and an overlay panel with diffused indicator zones, effectively increasing the light's travel distance and improving diffusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If light sources are mounted close to indicator zones on the printed circuit board, then the control panel maintains a compact design, but the light diffusion is poor resulting in harsh visual representation
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the indicator zone. This light guide member receives light from the LED and redirects it toward the indicator zone, enabling effective illumination while maintaining a compact control panel design with limited space between the light source and indicator.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member utilizes a curved or angled surface to redirect light in a different spatial dimension, transforming the direct upward light path into a redirected path that reaches the indicator zone effectively while maintaining compact vertical spacing.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are positioned far from indicator zones, then light diffusion improves, but the control panel space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member acts as a mediator that extends the effective light path without increasing the physical footprint of the control panel, allowing improved light diffusion while maintaining compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member is positioned within the existing control panel structure, nesting the light redirection function within the available space rather than requiring additional external space.
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 design achieves uniform and improved illumination of status indicators, enhancing user experience by providing a more pleasant visual representation while maintaining a compact design within the limited space of appliance doors.
Implementation Method 1
the control cover further defines a reflective surface for redirecting the light generated by the light source toward the top surface of the control cover
Implementation Method 2
an overlay panel mounted on the top surface of the control cover, the overlay panel comprising one or more diffused indicator zones
Data Source
AI summary
A door for an appliance includes a control panel mounted on the door and defining an illumination direction. The control panel includes a printed circuit board defining a top surface, a light source mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board, a control cover mounted to the top surface of the printed circuit board over the light source and defining a light directing channel extending from a bottom surface of the control cover to a top surface of the control cover, and wherein the control cover further defines a reflective surface for redirecting the light generated by the light source toward the top surface of the control cover, and an overlay panel mounted on the top surface of the control cover, the overlay panel comprising one or more diffused indicator zones.