Cooker Indicator Layout for Thin Heating Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating cookers face challenges in reducing thickness due to the height of light emitting indicator units, which causes uneven shining and heat-induced degradation of the light emission source, making it difficult to suppress the height while maintaining functionality.
Innovation Solution
The light emission source is positioned below the light blocking portion of the indicator sheet, allowing indirect illumination and reducing heat exposure, thereby narrowing the space between the light emission source and the indicator sheet, and using surface mount LEDs to minimize height and heat impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the space between the light emission source and the indicator sheet is narrowed to suppress the height of the light emitting indicator unit, then the thickness of the heating cooker is reduced, but uneven shining of the indicator sheet becomes greater and the appearance is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
A light guiding member is introduced as an intermediary component between the light emission source and the indicator sheet. This light guiding member receives light from the light emission source and guides it to illuminate the indicator sheet, enabling uniform illumination while maintaining a narrow space and thus reducing the overall thickness of the heating cooker.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guiding member extends in the thickness direction (vertical dimension) to distribute light laterally across the indicator sheet. By utilizing the thickness dimension for light guidance rather than relying solely on lateral spacing, the design achieves uniform illumination without increasing the horizontal footprint or compromising compactness.
2Length of stationary object
If the space between the light emission source and the indicator sheet is narrowed to reduce the height of the light emitting indicator unit, then the thickness of the heating cooker is reduced, but the light emission source is exposed to greater heat from the heating target cooking vessel, causing deterioration and shortened lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The light guiding member serves as a thermal barrier and light conduit simultaneously. It transmits light from the emission source to the indicator sheet while providing thermal insulation that protects the light emission source from direct heat exposure from the heating target cooking vessel, thereby extending its lifetime without increasing thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guiding member functions as a thin protective barrier that shields the light emission source from thermal damage. This thin film-like structure provides thermal protection while maintaining optical transparency, enabling the compact design to withstand high-temperature environments without compromising the reliability of the light emission source.
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 configuration suppresses uneven shining, extends the lifetime of the light emission source, and allows for a further reduction in the thickness of the heating cooker while maintaining effective indication.
Implementation Method 1
a light emission source 67 disposed on the inner face of the bottom wall of the box-like body 66. The light emission source 67 is structured with a point light source such as a lead type bullet LED
Implementation Method 2
The indicator sheet 69 is structured with a translucent material so that it is illuminated by the light emitted from the light emission source 67 and passed through the opening 68, and shines in its entirety
Implementation Method 3
Each of the heating units 63 is structured with, for example, a substantially circular induction heating coil that heats the heating target cooking vessel via the top board 62
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A heating cooker of the present invention is structured such that, an indicator sheet 29 of a light emitting indicator unit 25 has a light transmitting portion 29a that transmits light of a light emission source 28 and a light blocking portion 29b that is provided away from a heating unit 23 than the light transmitting portion 29a is and that blocks the light of the light emission source 28, and that the light emission source 28 is disposed below the light blocking portion 29b. Thus, uneven shining of the indicator sheet 29 can be suppressed, and the effect of heat from a heating target cooking vessel to the light emission source 28 can be suppressed, whereby a further reduction in thickness of the heating cooker can be realized.