Dishwasher Remote Lighting Display for Functional Component Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwashers have limited and complex optical displays for functional components, making it difficult to provide clear information about operating states and required actions, especially for movable components, and often require intricate integration of light sources.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device is positioned independently of functional components, using a directed light beam to create a light spot that can be controlled to indicate different operating states and options through shape, movement, color, or intensity, allowing for a broader spectrum of information display without structural integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If an optical indicator (e.g., LED) is arranged directly on or in the immediate vicinity of a functional component, then the user receives direct visual feedback about the operating state, but the structural integration becomes technically complex especially for movable components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture an image of the functional component and displays it on a screen, creating a visual copy of the component's state. This allows the user to see the operating state (e.g., position of movable components) without physically integrating indicators into the component itself, thus reducing integration complexity while maintaining information delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a camera and display screen as intermediary elements between the functional component and the user. Instead of direct optical indicators on the component, the system uses image capture and digital display to convey operating state information, simplifying the structural integration requirements
2Reliability
If a light source is integrated into a movable functional component, then the optical display moves with the component providing continuous feedback, but the technical complexity of arranging and integrating the light source increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of integrating light sources into movable components, the patent captures images of the components in their various positions and displays them on a screen. This copying approach provides reliable visual feedback about component positions and states without the manufacturing complexity of integrating light sources into movable parts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical integration (light sources physically mounted on components) with an electronic imaging and display system. The camera and screen system substitutes for the complex mechanical integration of light sources, achieving similar feedback functionality with easier manufacturing
3Loss of information
If multiple light sources are arranged on different functional components, then each component has dedicated visual feedback, but the overall device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single camera and display screen system to provide feedback for multiple functional components. The camera can capture images of different components and the display can show various states, making the feedback system universal and multi-functional rather than requiring dedicated light sources for each component
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the feedback functions for multiple components into a single integrated system. Instead of separate light sources for each component, the camera and display system combines the information delivery function, reducing the total number of components while maintaining component-specific information delivery
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 enhances user guidance by providing clear and flexible optical displays that can be easily updated or redesigned, enabling the projection of images and moving spots, thus improving information density and user understanding of operational states and actions.
Implementation Method 1
a light spot which is generated by a directed light beam of a lighting device arranged remotely from the functional component
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a dishwasher (1) with a wash chamber (2) enclosed by a wash tub (3) and a door (4), and several functional components (5) arranged in the wash chamber and/or on the door, wherein at least one functional component is assigned an optical display indicating its operating status and/or an operating option available on it. The optical display is formed by at least one light spot (14) at least on a partial surface of the functional component (5) or its immediate vicinity, wherein the light spot (14) is generated by the directed light beam (16) of a lighting device (17) arranged remotely from the functional component (5), and wherein the lighting device (17) can be controlled by a control device (18) such that it selectively illuminates the functional component (5) and/or its immediate vicinity, thereby forming the light spot (14).