Lighting system for a household appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems for household appliances require multiple sensors and switches to efficiently illuminate only the relevant area, leading to increased complexity and energy inefficiency, as they often need to cover multiple compartments within an appliance.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system that uses a plurality of depth sensors and lighting devices controlled by a processor to dynamically adjust illumination based on the detected position of an object within the appliance, allowing for efficient illumination of specific compartments without the need for dedicated sensors for each target area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multiple sensors and switches are used to efficiently illuminate only the relevant area, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single depth sensor array is used to perform multiple functions: detecting object presence, determining object position, and controlling lighting. This replaces the need for separate proximity sensors, switches, and control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sensing and control functions into a unified system where the depth sensor array directly communicates with the processor to control lighting. This merging of functions eliminates the need for multiple discrete components and intermediate control elements, reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated sensors are installed for each target area, then illumination precision is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interior space is divided into multiple target areas, and the depth sensor array is segmented into multiple individual sensors, each responsible for detecting a specific region. This segmentation allows precise determination of which target area contains an object, enabling selective illumination of only the relevant area without requiring dedicated sensors for each compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses depth information (adding a third dimension to the sensor array's field of view) to determine object position and identify which target area requires illumination. This dimensional approach allows a single sensor array to replace multiple dedicated sensors, achieving precise illumination control without increasing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If a single sensor array is used to detect objects in multiple compartments, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The depth sensor array is divided into multiple individual sensors, each with a specific field of view covering particular target areas. By segmenting the sensor array and assigning each sensor to monitor specific compartments, the system achieves precise object position detection across multiple areas while using a single integrated sensor system, thus maintaining both low complexity and high precision.
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
This solution enables efficient and adaptive lighting by determining the location of objects within the appliance, reducing energy consumption and simplifying the installation process by eliminating the need for multiple sensors and switches, while maintaining effective illumination of the relevant areas.
Implementation Method 1
A lighting system for a household appliance comprises a plurality of depth sensors arranged in a sensor array configuration to define a detection space, and a processor in communication with the plurality of depth sensors to determine a position of an object in the detection space
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~6
Figure 4
AI summary
A method of controlling illumination in a household appliance (40) including receiving ranging measurement data from each of a plurality of distance sensors (101, 102, 103) arranged at fixed positions relative to the appliance. The ranging measurement data indicates a distance reading taken by the respective distance sensor. The position of an object relative to the appliance can be determined from the received ranging measurement data, and at least one area (401-1, 401-2, 401-3) of the appliance can be identified based on the determined position of the object. A control signal to adjust the illumination of the identified area is then transmitted to at least one of a plurality of lighting devices (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) of the appliance.