Dishwasher Rear-Wall Lighting for Uniform Glare-Free Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashers have inadequate lighting in the washing compartment, leading to poor illumination, glare, and reduced usable space due to the placement of point-shaped light sources, which are often disruptive and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The dishwasher features large-area luminous surface elements covering a significant portion of the rear wall, combined with transparent, translucent, or reflective surface elements, providing extensive, uniform, and glare-free illumination while maintaining structural integrity and stability through a stiffening web framework.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If point-shaped light sources are used in conventional dishwashers, then the lighting function is provided, but the illumination is inadequate and causes glare

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination qualityVSAvoidglare
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rear wall is divided into multiple openings, each covered by a separate illumination element. This segmentation allows light to be distributed uniformly across multiple zones rather than concentrated at single points, eliminating glare while providing comprehensive illumination of the washing compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different surface elements (transparent, translucent, or reflective) are assigned to different openings based on local lighting requirements. This allows optimization of light distribution in specific areas while maintaining overall uniform illumination and avoiding glare in the user's field of view.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If large-area luminous surface elements are used to improve illumination, then uniform and extensive lighting is achieved, but the structural integrity of the washing compartment may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform illuminationVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The rear wall is segmented into multiple discrete openings rather than replaced by a single large luminous surface. This maintains the structural framework of the wall while providing extensive illumination coverage through distributed light sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The illumination elements combine transparent, translucent, or reflective surface materials with the structural wall material. This composite approach provides both lighting function and structural integrity, as the rigid wall material maintains strength while the optical materials provide illumination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Area of stationary object

If multiple openings are created in the rear wall for illumination elements, then lighting coverage is improved, but the wall structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting coverage areaVSAvoidwall structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The openings in the rear wall serve dual functions: they allow light to pass through for illumination while the surrounding rigid wall material maintains structural integrity. The same wall structure provides both structural support and lighting functionality without requiring separate complex frameworks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Illumination intensity

If point light sources are positioned to provide illumination, then lighting function is achieved, but they reduce the usable space of the washing area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting functionVSAvoidusable washing space
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The light sources are extracted from the interior of the washing compartment and positioned in the illumination elements on the rear wall. This removes the disruptive point sources from the usable washing space while maintaining their lighting function, thereby preserving the full volume of the washing area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 significantly enhances the illumination of the washing area, providing improved ergonomics and comfort, while maintaining the structural integrity and stability of the washing compartment, and allowing for efficient use of space without the need for additional structural adaptations.

Implementation Method 1

The luminous surface element is designed to conduct light and/or to emit light in such a way that one or more light beams from at least one light source arranged outside the washing area can be coupled into the luminous surface element at at least one coupling point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight conduction: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

a reflector film that reflects light and/or thermal radiation is arranged as a surface element on the side of the luminous surface element facing away from the washing area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2986198B1Dishwasher
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2986198B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2986198B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2986198B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a dishwasher (1) having a dishwashing compartment (5) which is charged with liquid in dishwashing mode and which is bounded by a plurality of walls (7) of a dishwashing container (3) and by the inner wall of a door (11). At least one aperture (23) in at least one of the walls (7), in particular in the rear wall (7d) of the dishwashing container (4), is covered or closed by at least one illumination element (IL) which comprises at least one planar light-emitting element (8) and, assigned thereto, at least one transparent, translucent or reflecting planar element (FE).