humidifier

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional humidifiers emit direct light, which disturbs occupants' sleep and vision, and makes it difficult for users to check the operating state due to the lamp being submerged in water and the light transmission issues through a light transmitting plate.

Innovation Solution

A humidifier design featuring a light source and diffuser positioned below a transparent discharge flow path, with a light diffuser extending downward to diffuse light uniformly and prevent direct emission, allowing users to visually check the humidified air from a distance without disturbing occupants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a lamp is disposed inside the main body to emit light, then the operating state can be visually checked, but the light is directly transmitted to occupants through the light transmitting plate, disturbing their sleep and vision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of operating stateVSAvoiddisturbance to occupants' sleep and vision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a light diffuser as an intermediary component between the light source and the discharge flow path. This diffuser scatters the light in multiple directions, preventing direct transmission to occupants while still allowing the operating state to be visible through the discharge flow path. The diffuser acts as a mediator that transforms the direct light into diffused light, resolving the contradiction between visibility and sleep disturbance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the lamp is disposed on the bottom surface and submerged in water, then the structure is compact, but the light emitted is difficult to spread and illuminate the discharged humidified air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidlight spread and illumination of humidified air
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light diffuser function from the water environment and implements it through a dedicated component positioned in the discharge flow path. By taking out the light spreading function from the submerged lamp context and creating a separate diffuser element, the system achieves both structural compactness and effective light spread without the limitations of submerging the light source in water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the light transmitting plate and discharge flow path are spaced apart, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult for users to check the operating state from a distance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidvisibility of operating state from distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the discharge flow path as an additional dimensional medium for light transmission. Instead of relying solely on the light transmitting plate, the system uses the flowing humidified air in the discharge flow path as a light-conducting medium that extends the visibility distance. This dimensional approach allows users to check the operating state from farther away while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design provides indirect and uniform lighting, enabling users to monitor the humidifier's operation in a dark space without disturbing sleep, reducing light condensation and ensuring the light is focused inwardly for better visibility.

Implementation Method 1

a light diffuser which diffuses the light emitted from the light source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

in the peripheral wall, at least a portion corresponding to a vertical location of the discharge flow path is transparent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4455573A1humidifier
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4455573A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4455573A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4455573A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to humidifier. The humidifier of the present invention includes a case; a humidifying device which is disposed inside the case, and generates humidified air; a light source which is disposed inside the case, and emits light; and a light diffuser which diffuses the light emitted from the light source, wherein the case includes: a peripheral wall; and a discharge flow path which extends in an up-down direction from an inner side of the peripheral wall, and is located in an upper side of the humidifying device, wherein in the peripheral wall, at least a portion corresponding to a vertical location of the discharge flow path is transparent, wherein the light source is disposed in a lower side of the discharge flow path, wherein the light diffuser is disposed between the light source and the discharge flow path, and extends downward in a center direction of the case.