Illuminated control panel assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control panel assemblies for washing machines face issues with non-uniform light emission and diffusion from LEDs, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced productivity due to the need for additional components like films to address these problems.
Innovation Solution
The proposed control panel assembly incorporates an LED bracket with non-uniform light guide holes and an LED window with a light diffusion part, featuring a light transmission part and protrusions to uniformly diffuse light, eliminating the need for additional components like films.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a film is disposed between the LED and the display panel to remove diffusion of light or uniformly diffuse light, then light uniformity is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembling time increase, lowering productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide function and light diffusion function into a single integrated LED bracket structure. The LED bracket includes light guide holes with non-uniform cross-sectional areas that directly guide and diffuse light from the LEDs to the display panel, eliminating the need for a separate film component. This merging of functions maintains light uniformity while reducing assembly steps and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED bracket features light guide holes with locally varied cross-sectional areas that change along the light propagation direction. The cross-sectional area is larger near the LED and gradually decreases toward the display panel, creating localized optical properties that control light diffusion and achieve uniform illumination without requiring additional films.
2Illumination intensity
If a film is disposed between the LED and the display panel to remove diffusion of light or uniformly diffuse light, then light uniformity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide function and light diffusion function into a single integrated LED bracket structure. The LED bracket includes light guide holes with non-uniform cross-sectional areas that directly guide and diffuse light from the LEDs to the display panel, eliminating the need for a separate film component. This merging of functions maintains light uniformity while reducing assembly steps and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the light guide holes within the LED bracket structure. The cross-sectional area of the light guide holes varies along the light propagation path, creating internal optical control that replaces the need for external film components. This parameter variation achieves light uniformity while simplifying the overall structure and reducing manufacturing cost.
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 ensures uniform light diffusion and focusing, enhancing the user experience with appealing lighting and improving product reliability while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
an LED bracket coupled to the circuit board, configured to accommodate the at least one LED to guide light emitted from the LED to front of the control panel
Implementation Method 2
having at least one light guide hole, of which a cross-sectional area is not uniform in at least a portion of the light guide hole in a direction in which the light emitted from the LED is guided
Implementation Method 3
a light transmission part configured to allow the light emitted from the LED to be transmitted to front of the control panel
Implementation Method 4
a light diffusion part configured to allow the light emitted from the LED to be uniformly diffused when passing through the light transmission part
Data Source
AI summary
A appliance control panel assembly includes a control panel; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); a bracket to accommodate the LEDs, the bracket including a plurality of light guide holes for guiding light from the LEDs; and a window for allowing the light from the LEDs and guided through the light guide holes to be visible at a front of the control panel. Each of the light guide holes includes a first portion to accommodate one of the plurality of LEDs, and a second portion to guide light emitted from the LED towards the window. The length of the second portion is longer than a length of the first portion.