Panel assembly for a home appliance and home appliance therewith
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliance door designs, such as refrigerators, face challenges in achieving uniform and consistent lighting across the entire front surface, often resulting in poor appearance due to shadows and inadequate light distribution.
Innovation Solution
A panel assembly for home appliance doors that includes a lighting device, a panel to form the front surface, a light guide plate behind the panel to direct light, and a member between the panel and the light guide plate to ensure uniform light transmission across the entire panel surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If light emitting members are positioned at both ends of the door, then the structure is simple, but brightness is lowered due to insufficient light at the central part and uniform brightness cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the light emitting member and the panel. The light guide plate receives light from the LED at one end and distributes it uniformly across its entire surface through internal light guiding structures, eliminating the need for multiple LEDs while achieving uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a point-source lighting approach (LEDs at corners) to a surface-based lighting approach using a light guide plate. This dimensional change allows light to be distributed across the entire panel surface rather than originating from discrete points, achieving uniform brightness.
2Illumination intensity
If a light guide plate is provided inside the door with LED below, then light can be directed to the front surface, but components for fixing the light guide plate need to be disposed along the perimeter requiring a bezel structure
Solution Approach 1:
The support member integrates multiple functions: it provides structural support for the light guide plate, positions the LED, and eliminates the need for a separate bezel structure. This merging of functions reduces overall component count and structural complexity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the LED is turned on for a long time, then the light guide plate is deformed, but this causes local dark marks to be formed when the central part contacts the front panel
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer is introduced as a preventive measure to maintain a fixed distance between the light guide plate and the front panel. This spacer prevents direct contact that would cause dark marks, while still allowing the light guide plate to be positioned correctly for optimal light distribution.
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 allows for a uniform and consistent lighting of the entire door front surface, enhancing the appearance and user satisfaction by eliminating shadows and ensuring balanced brightness.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate disposed behind the panel and configured to guide light emitted from the lighting device to the panel
Implementation Method 2
a panel configured to form a front surface of the door and to transmit light therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance, e.g. a refrigerator, includes a cabinet forming a space and a door for opening and closing the space, the door including a door body with an insulator filled therein, and a panel assembly mounted in front of the door body, wherein the panel assembly includes a lighting device configured to emit light, a panel forming a front surface of the door and configured to transmit light therethrough, a light guide plate disposed behind the panel and configured to guide light emitted from the lighting device to the panel, and a member disposed between the panel and the light guide plate, including the panel and the light guide plate mounted thereon, and configured to transmit light of the light guide plate through an entire part of the panel.