Electrophoretic Door Panel for Dynamic Home Appliance Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliances require costly and time-consuming processes to change exterior designs and maintain color, which can damage electrophoretic display panels and reduce durability, while also increasing power consumption and compromising sealing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A home appliance design featuring an electrophoretic display panel with a light-transmissive panel, an electrophoretic film, a protective plate, and a sealing member, where the electrophoretic film includes electrode layers and charged particles that change color based on applied electric fields, allowing for design changes without panel replacement, reducing power consumption, and enhancing durability through a protective plate and improved sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If an exterior panel is replaced to change the exterior design, then the appearance quality is improved, but the cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies an electrophoretic display panel that enables dynamic color changes without physical replacement. The display panel can switch between different color modes (first color mode and second color mode) through electrical control, allowing the exterior design to be changed dynamically while the panel remains in place, thus eliminating the time loss associated with physical panel replacement.
2Shape
If an exterior panel is replaced to change the exterior design, then the appearance quality is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrophoretic display panel provides a cost-effective solution by enabling multiple exterior designs through electrical control rather than requiring multiple physical panels. The system can switch between different color modes using the same physical panel, significantly reducing the cost associated with manufacturing, storing, and installing multiple exterior panels.
3Stability of the object's composition
If power is continuously applied to maintain color, then the color stability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrophoretic display panel utilizes periodic action by applying voltage only during color transition phases and then maintaining the color state without continuous power supply. The display holds its color state (first or second color mode) without requiring continuous energy input, similar to how electrophoretic particles remain in their positioned state once the electric field is removed, thus achieving color stability with minimal power consumption.
4Ease of manufacture
If the electrophoretic film is directly exposed, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability decreases due to damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a protective plate that covers and protects the electrophoretic film from external damage while maintaining the overall structure. The protective plate acts as a shield that prevents physical damage to the fragile electrophoretic film, thereby improving reliability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process, as it involves adding a protective layer over the existing structure.
5Ease of manufacture
If sealing is not applied at the edges, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability decreases due to poor sealing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is applied along the edge portions of the light-transmissive panel to provide sealing protection. This sealing structure prevents moisture and contaminants from entering the internal components while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process. The sealing member can be integrated into the existing assembly process, providing reliable sealing without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
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 dynamic exterior design changes without panel replacement, reduces power consumption in maintaining color modes, and improves durability and sealing accuracy, thus enhancing the appliance's appearance and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electrophoretic film disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the door body
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance, includes: a main body; and a door configured to open and close the main body, the door including a door body and a door panel disposed on one side of the door body. The door panel includes: a light-transmissive panel disposed on the one side of the door body, the light-transmissive panel being configured to allow light to pass through; an electrophoretic film disposed between the light-transmissive panel and the door body; a protective plate disposed between the electrophoretic film and the door body, the protective plate being configured to protect the electrophoretic film; and a sealing member disposed along an edge portion of the light-transmissive panel extending outwardly from an edge of the electrophoretic film and an edge of the protective plate, the sealing member being configured to cover the edge of the electrophoretic film and the edge of the protective plate.