Light Source Module with Guided Illumination for Ceramic Glass

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances with indication lamps require special surface-treated glass to achieve lighting effects, increasing manufacturing time and costs due to the need for light transmission in specific regions, which is not feasible with general ceramic glass.

Innovation Solution

A light source module comprising LEDs, a light source guide with a light transmitting path, and a shield to direct light to a predetermined region on the glass top plate, using a diffuser to spread light and prevent heat transfer, allowing effective lighting without special surface-treated glass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If special surface-treated glass is used to transmit light through predetermined regions, then lighting effect is achieved, but manufacturing time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effectVSAvoidmanufacturing time and costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The glass surface is divided into a light transmission region and a non-transmission region, with the light transmission region specifically treated to allow light passage while the non-transmission region remains opaque. This segmentation enables selective light transmission without treating the entire glass surface, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The glass surface is given different properties in different regions: the light transmission region has surface treatment for light transmission, while the non-transmission region maintains its original opaque properties. This local differentiation achieves the lighting effect only where needed, avoiding unnecessary manufacturing steps across the entire glass surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If indication lamp light is transmitted through ceramic glass, then lighting effect is provided, but heat transfer to LED occurs in high-temperature environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effectVSAvoidheat transfer to LED
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED and the ceramic glass. The light guide receives light from the LED and transmits it to the glass surface, while its heat-resistant properties prevent direct heat transfer from the high-temperature glass to the LED, thus protecting the LED from thermal degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily replaced if degraded by heat. This approach allows the use of simpler, more cost-effective materials for the light guide that prioritize light transmission over long-term heat resistance, while the overall system maintains reliability through easy replacement rather than requiring expensive heat-resistant materials throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 cost-effective and efficient lighting effect on general-purpose ceramic glass, reducing manufacturing time and costs while maintaining high-quality illumination, even in high-temperature cooking environments, and preventing LED degradation from excessive heat.

Implementation Method 1

a light source guide to accommodate the light source, including a light transmitting path formed in the light source guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

using a diffuser to spread light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

a shield to direct light to a predetermined region on the glass top plate, using a diffuser to spread light and prevent heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat blocking: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3267115B1Light source module and cooking appliance including the same
Publication Date: 2020.05.20 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3267115B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3267115B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3267115B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates a light source module and a cooking appliance including the same. The light source module includes a light source emitting light toward a glass top plate, a light source guide to accommodate the light source, form a light transmitting path formed therein, and limit a light irradiation region so as to guide light emitted from the light source to a light display region of the upper glass through the light transmitting path, and an attachment bracket provided between the light source guide and the glass top plate, the attachment bracket having an optical emission path allow light to pass from the light transmitting path to the light display region.