Half-Mirror Appliance Display for Off-State Design Harmony
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliance displays using LCDs do not harmonize with appliance designs when turned off, as they appear black, leading to a disjointed appearance and potential confusion about the appliance's power status.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus with a transparent protection layer, a half mirror layer that reflects external light and transmits diffused light from the display unit, and a printing layer that matches the appliance's color, ensuring the display unit blends in with the appliance's design both on and off, and includes a capacitive touch key and light source for user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If an LCD is applied to home appliances to display information, then the display function is improved, but the aesthetic harmony with the appliance design deteriorates when the LCD is turned off (appears black and stands out)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a printing layer with a specific color (e.g., black or dark gray) over the LCD panel. When the LCD is turned off, the printing layer is visible and matches the appliance's color scheme, making the display area blend seamlessly with the surrounding design. When the LCD is turned on, the displayed content appears through the printing layer, maintaining both aesthetic harmony and display functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining the LCD panel with a printing layer applied on top. This composite material approach allows the display surface to have dual characteristics: it functions as an active display when powered on and appears as a passive colored surface when powered off, thus resolving the contradiction between display function and aesthetic harmony.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the LCD is turned off to minimize power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the appliance's power status becomes confusing (users mistake the off state for the entire appliance being off)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a printing layer as an intermediary element between the LCD panel and the user. This printing layer provides visual feedback about the appliance's operational state even when the LCD is turned off, serving as a mediator that communicates power status without requiring the LCD to remain active, thus maintaining energy efficiency while preventing user confusion.
3Illumination intensity
If the LCD area is made larger to provide better visibility, then the display quality is improved, but the design unity with the appliance periphery deteriorates (the display stands out more)
Solution Approach 1:
The printing layer is applied with a color that matches the appliance's overall color scheme. This allows the display area to be larger and more visible when active, while when inactive, the printed surface blends with the surrounding appliance body, maintaining design unity regardless of the display area size.
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 unified aesthetic with the appliance, masking the display unit's contours when turned on or off, and prevents mistaken perception of the appliance being turned off when the display is inactive, enhancing design harmony and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a half mirror layer configured to adhere onto a back surface of the transparent protection layer, reflect a portion of external light, and transmit light diffused from an image display area of the display unit
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus and a home appliance including the display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus includes a display unit, a transparent protection layer configured to be disposed on a front surface of the display unit and has a wider area than an area of the display unit, a half mirror layer configured to adhere onto a back surface of the transparent protection layer, reflect a portion of external light, and transmit light diffused from an image display area of the display unit, and a printing layer configured to be formed on a back surface of the half mirror layer and cover the display unit. A color of a background displayed in an image display area of the display unit in response to the display unit being turned on is equal to a color of the printing layer.