Home appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with decorative panels require complete removal and replacement for design changes, and they face issues with stable light emission and uniform brightness due to the placement of light-emitting members.
Innovation Solution
A home appliance design featuring a door panel with a front plate that allows light to pass through, a light guide plate behind it, and a lighting device with multiple light sources that emit light of a set color, allowing for adjustable color selection and uniform brightness across the panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light-emitting members are disposed on both left and right ends of the reflective layer, then the transparent panel can glow in a set color, but light cannot be transmitted to the side ends that are bent for the placement of the light-emitting members, causing dark areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective layer as an intermediate dimension between the light-emitting members and the transparent panel. This reflective layer redirects light that would otherwise be lost at the bent side ends, ensuring uniform light transmission across the entire panel surface including the previously dark areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective layer acts as an intermediary element that captures light from the light-emitting members and redistributes it to the side ends of the transparent panel. This mediator ensures that the bent side ends receive adequate light, eliminating the dark areas while maintaining the overall glowing effect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire decoration panel is removed and replaced to change outer appearance, then the user's preference can be satisfied, but the decoration panel before replacement can no longer be used and the process is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the decoration panel into separable components: the transparent panel and the light-emitting members. This segmentation allows users to replace only the transparent panel for appearance changes while retaining the light-emitting members, simplifying the replacement process and reducing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-emitting members serve as a universal component that can be reused with different transparent panels. This multi-functionality enables the same light-emitting members to work with multiple panel designs, allowing appearance changes without complete replacement of the lighting system.
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
Enables users to change the color of the door panel without replacing it, ensuring uniform brightness and preventing shadows at the outermost end, thus enhancing user convenience and the aesthetic appeal of the appliance.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate provided behind the front plate and configured to guide light toward the front plate
Implementation Method 2
the front plate includes an inclined part formed at one end adjacent to the lighting device and having an inclined surface extending in a direction parallel to a direction in which the light source is arranged
Implementation Method 3
a lighting device including a plurality of light sources that emit light of a set color toward the light guide plate
Data Source
AI summary
The preset invention relates to a home appliance comprising: a cabinet having a storage space formed therein; a door for opening or closing an opened front surface of the cabinet; and a panel assembly mounted on a front surface of the door, wherein the panel assembly comprises: a front plate which forms the outer appearance of the door front surface and through which light passes; a light guide plate provided behind the front plate to guide light toward the front plate; and a lighting device including a plurality of light sources for emitting light having a configured color toward the light guide plate and a substrate on which the plurality of light sources are arranged, and the front plate is formed at one end adjacent to the lighting device and includes an inclination portion having an inclination surface formed to extend in a direction parallel to a direction in which the light sources are arranged.