Insulated Glass Refrigerator Door for Interior Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators face challenges in allowing users to locate items without opening the door, leading to increased temperature fluctuations and power consumption due to the loss of cool air when the door is opened to identify stored items.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a deposition-treated glass member in the refrigerator door that allows light to pass through, along with a transparent plate and an insulating gas layer, enabling users to see inside the refrigerator without opening it, and a light-emitting part to illuminate the storage compartment, facilitating item location and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the door is opened to figure out the position of an item, then the user can locate the item, but cool air flows out from the storage space causing temperature increase and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses imaging devices (cameras) to capture images of items in the storage space and displays them on a display unit mounted on the door or accessible via mobile devices. This creates a visual copy of the storage space contents, allowing users to locate items without opening the door, thereby preventing cool air escape and reducing power consumption
2Loss of information
If the door is opened to figure out the position of an item, then the user can locate the item, but the temperature of the storage space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging devices capture real-time or periodic images of the storage space interior and transmit them to display units. Users can view item positions through these images without opening the door, thus maintaining the storage space temperature and avoiding thermal fluctuations that would occur with door opening
3Loss of information
If a glass member is added to the door to allow viewing, then visibility is improved, but the door structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than modifying the door structure with glass members or viewing windows, the patent employs imaging devices that capture images and transmit them to separate display units. This approach provides viewing capability without altering the door's structural integrity or adding complexity to the door assembly itself
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the viewing function from the door structure by using independent imaging devices and display units. The imaging function is segmented from the door assembly, allowing the door to remain simple while providing visibility through electronic means
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 perceive stored items without opening the door, maintaining insulation performance and reducing power consumption by allowing selective operation of the light-emitting part and display unit.
Implementation Method 1
Gas for insulation is injected in a space formed between the glass member and the transparent plate
Implementation Method 2
a deposition treated layer formed on a rear surface of the glass member to allow light to partially pass through the glass member
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator, which includes a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a door assembly. The freezing compartment is adjacent to the refrigerating compartment. The door assembly selectively opens the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The door assembly includes a glass member defining a frontal exterior thereof and allowing an inside of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment to be seen therethrough when the door assembly is closed, a deposition treated layer formed on a rear surface of the glass member to allow light to partially pass through the glass member, and a transparent plate spaced a predetermined distance from the glass member. Gas for insulation is injected in a space formed between the glass member and the transparent plate, and the space is sealed.