Control Panel Sound Guide for Accurate Appliance Audio Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home appliance systems face challenges in accurately transmitting sound information to the outside due to signal attenuation and interference, particularly in outdoor installations, and lack efficient structures for sound propagation.

Innovation Solution

A home appliance system with a sound output device positioned on the rear surface of the control panel and a sound guide that directs sound information through a sound through-hole, ensuring efficient and accurate transmission of product information to an external controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sound information is transmitted through conventional home appliance structures, then the home appliance can communicate product information, but the sound information is attenuated and interfered with due to lack of efficient transmission structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound information transmission accuracyVSAvoidsound signal attenuation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sound guide as an intermediary component between the sound output device and the external environment. This sound guide efficiently directs sound waves from the sound output device located on the rear surface of the control panel through a sound through-hole to the outside, preventing signal attenuation and interference that would occur with conventional direct transmission structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the sound output device is positioned on the rear surface of the control panel, then the home appliance structure is compact and integrated, but the sound information transmission to the outside is inefficient without a sound guide

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol panel structure integrationVSAvoidsound information transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth) by positioning the sound output device on the rear surface of the control panel rather than the front surface. This spatial arrangement allows for a more integrated and compact device structure while maintaining effective sound transmission through the addition of a sound guide that channels acoustic energy from the rear surface location to the external environment through a sound through-hole.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 effectively transmits sound information to the outside, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of product information communication, reducing data loss and interference, and allowing for precise decoding by external controllers.

Implementation Method 1

a sound output device disposed on a rear surface of the control panel that outputs the sound information corresponding to product information of the home appliance through the sound through-hole to the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound propagation: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP2417731B1Home appliance
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2417731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2417731B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2417731B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A home appliance and home appliance system are provided. The home appliance may include an input device, through which an input signal is received from a user, and a control panel, into which the input device is inserted and connected, including a sound through-hole through which sound information passes. The home appliance may further include a sound output device disposed on a rear surface of the control panel that outputs the sound information corresponding to product information of the home appliance through the sound through-hole to outside of the home appliance. A gap may be formed between the input device and the sound through-hole into which the input device is inserted. Therefore, the sound information output from the sound output device may be transmitted to the outside through the gap. The home appliance may further include a sound guide, such that the sound information transmitted from the sound output device may be efficiently transmitted to the sound through-hole.