Edge-Lit Refrigerator Shelf Lighting for Uniform Low-Heat Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator illumination devices are often bulky and transmit unwanted heat, failing to provide efficient and uniform lighting within the refrigerator.
Innovation Solution
An edge-lit illumination device using a transparent or translucent panel with a semilogarithmic grid pattern and LEDs to distribute light uniformly across the interior, minimizing heat transfer and ensuring adequate illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional light fixtures with incandescent lamps are used, then illumination is provided, but the device becomes bulky and transmits unwanted heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional incandescent lamp fixtures with a light guide panel system that uses edge-lit LEDs and optical diffusion through a semilogarithmic grid pattern. This substitution eliminates bulky mechanical fixtures while providing uniform illumination across the refrigerator interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide panel acts as an intermediary between the LED light source and the refrigerator interior space. The panel diffuses light uniformly across its surface using the semilogarithmic grid pattern, eliminating the need for direct viewing of bulky light fixtures while distributing illumination evenly.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional light fixtures with incandescent lamps are used, then illumination is provided, but unwanted heat is transmitted to the interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces incandescent lamps that generate significant heat with edge-lit LEDs coupled to a light guide panel. This substitution dramatically reduces heat transmission to the refrigerator interior while maintaining effective illumination through optical diffusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heat-generating incandescent lamp component and replaces it with a cold-light LED system. The light guide panel separates the light generation function from the illumination function, allowing heat to be isolated at the LED edge source while the panel surface remains cool.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional illumination devices are used, then lighting is provided, but uniform distribution of light is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a semilogarithmic grid pattern on the light guide panel that varies the density of light-guiding lines across different regions. This creates non-uniform line spacing that compensates for the natural light intensity gradient, achieving uniform overall illumination across the panel surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the light guide pattern from a uniform grid to a semilogarithmic grid. This parameter change in line spacing density compensates for light intensity decay across the panel, transforming non-uniform LED edge lighting into uniform surface illumination.
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 provides a compact, efficient, and uniformly lit interior space within the refrigerator, reducing heat transfer and enhancing visibility while maintaining a comfortable lighting level.
Implementation Method 1
an illuminator for introducing light into the panel along an edge of the panel
Implementation Method 2
a first surface of the panel includes a plurality of lines for diverting introduced light to a region that is outside of the panel
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An illumination device for illuminating an interior space of a refrigerator includes a panel and an illuminator for introducing light into the panel. The illuminator introduces light into the panel along an edge of the panel. A surface of the panel includes a plurality of lines for diverting introduced light to a region that is outside of the panel. The plurality of lines form a grid.