Controlling illumination in a household appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances, such as wine cabinets, require costly and aesthetically undesirable dedicated lighting sources to highlight specific sections for storing food items, which is inefficient and unappealing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize an existing lighting arrangement within the appliance to selectively illuminate and highlight sections by controlling individual light sources, color, or pulsation, via a processing unit connected to a wireless communication interface, allowing dual functionality for indicating storage positions without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dedicated light sources are mounted to each shelf to highlight specific sections, then the highlighting function is achieved, but the cost increases and aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The existing lighting arrangement, originally designed for general illumination, is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both illumination and section highlighting through selective activation of individual light sources controlled by a processing unit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the illumination function and highlighting function into a single integrated lighting arrangement, eliminating the need for separate dedicated light sources and reducing overall system complexity
2Ease of operation
If dedicated light sources are mounted to each shelf to highlight specific sections, then the highlighting function is achieved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The existing lighting arrangement, originally designed for general illumination, is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both illumination and section highlighting through selective activation of individual light sources controlled by a processing unit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling selective activation of specific light sources within the lighting arrangement to highlight particular sections, allowing functional differentiation without adding visible structural elements
3Device complexity
If the lighting arrangement is used for both general illumination and section highlighting, then device complexity is reduced, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a processing unit as an intermediary that manages the control complexity of the lighting arrangement, receiving instructions and translating them into appropriate light source activation patterns for both illumination and highlighting functions
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 efficient and aesthetically pleasing highlighting of specific sections within the appliance using existing lighting, reducing costs and enhancing user experience by repurposing the existing illumination system.
Implementation Method 1
shelves on which the wine bottles are stored may be equipped with light sources in the form of for instance light emitting diodes (LED)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling illumination in a household appliance (10) configured to store one or more food items (13), and a household appliance (10) performing the method. In an aspect, a method of controlling illumination in a household appliance (10) configured to store one or more food items (13) is provided, said household appliance (10) comprising a lighting arrangement (12) configured to illuminate an interior of the household appliance (10). The method comprises receiving (S101) an instruction to highlight at least a section of the interior of the household appliance (10), and controlling (S102) said lighting arrangement (12) to highlight said at least a section of the interior, thereby enabling a dual functionality for the lighting arrangement (12) to selectively light up the interior of the household appliance (10) and to highlight said section of the interior.