Household appliance having light source
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Solution Overview
Problem
In household appliances with movable mechanical parts, such as doors or drawers, the frequent movement of light-emitting apparatuses leads to wire fatigue and potential electric leakage due to the connection between the enclosure and the movable part, causing defects and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The light source is fixed on the housing of the appliance, with the light guide element's receiving end passing through a movement gap to connect with the light source, eliminating the need for wires on movable parts and allowing for adjustable and flexible light distribution, while using a hinge connection to maintain aesthetics and reduce material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both the light source and light guide element are disposed on the movable mechanical part (cover), then the light-emitting apparatus moves with the cover to maintain functional alignment, but the wire connecting to the light source undergoes fatigue wear due to frequent movements, causing electric leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light-emitting apparatus into two parts: the light source is fixed on the stationary housing, while the light guide element is disposed on the movable cover. This segmentation allows the light guide element to move with the cover without requiring a wire connection, thereby eliminating wire fatigue wear while maintaining functional alignment through the movement gap mechanism.
2Reliability
If the light source is fixed on the housing, then wire fatigue wear is avoided, but the distance between the light source and light guide element may be excessively large, causing light leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the light guide element can move within the movement gap on the cover, allowing the system to adapt to different distances between the light source and light guide element. This dynamic positioning ensures optimal light coupling efficiency while maintaining the fixed light source configuration that prevents wire fatigue.
3Illumination intensity
If a rigid light guide bar is used, then light can be effectively guided, but frequent movements of the cover cause damage to the light guide bar, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid light guide bar with a flexible light guide element that can bend and adapt to the movements of the cover. This flexible light guide element maintains effective light guidance while accommodating the frequent movements without damage, thereby extending service life while preserving illumination efficiency.
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 configuration reduces wear and tear on the light guide element, prolongs its service life, ensures stable light output, and prevents electric leakage, while allowing for decorative and functional lighting effects.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide element that guides the light source to a target position or coverts the light source to a target shape
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a household appliance, including a housing (2) that forms an appearance body of the household appliance, where the housing has an opening portion (3), the household appliance further includes a cover (4, 8, 10) that is movably disposed on the housing to open or close the opening portion and forms a part of appearance of the household appliance, a light source (14, 140, 1400) is provided on the housing, and a light guide element (16, 16a, 16b, 1610) is provided on the cover (4, 8, 10), where the light source (14, 140, 1400) is fixed on the housing (2), and a light receiving end (161, 161a, 161b, 1610) of the light guide element (16, 16a, 16b, 1610) passes through a movement gap between the cover (4, 8, 10) and the housing (2) to approach or connect to the light source (14, 140, 1400). Therefore, this wire is fixed in the housing (2), and does not frequently move as the cover moves, thereby avoiding occurrence of fatigue wear.