Illuminated Shelf Assembly With Side Lighting and Shadow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional illuminated shelving in appliances, such as refrigerators, faces issues with bulky light sources that restrict access and create shadows, and requires electrical connections spanning the shelf panel, which can be cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A shelf assembly with side-mounted light sources and a watertight light housing that provides side illumination, using a connection between side brackets and the enclosure to power the lights, avoiding direct user illumination and shadows, and incorporating a controller for intelligent power management based on door position and presence detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are mounted at the front or rear of a shelf panel, then illumination is provided, but the light sources become bulky and restrict access to the shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The light sources are relocated from the traditional front or rear positions to the lateral sides of the shelf panel. This dimensional change in positioning allows the light sources to be distributed along the side edges, providing illumination without protruding into the storage space and thereby maintaining full access to the shelves.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple light sources distributed along the lateral sides of the shelf panel rather than using a single bulky light source at the front or rear. This segmentation allows for compact, distributed lighting that does not restrict access while still providing adequate illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are mounted at the front or rear of a shelf panel, then illumination is provided, but light is directed directly at the user creating glare
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning light sources at the lateral sides of the shelf panel rather than at the front, the direction of emitted light is changed from facing the user directly to illuminating the shelf contents from the side. This dimensional repositioning eliminates direct glare to the user while maintaining effective illumination of stored items.
3Illumination intensity
If light sources are mounted at a single direction, then illumination is provided, but undesirable shadows are created on the shelf
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into multiple light sources positioned at different lateral locations along the shelf panel. This segmentation creates multi-directional lighting that illuminates the shelf contents from various angles, thereby reducing the formation of shadows and providing more uniform illumination across the entire shelf surface.
4Use of energy by moving object
If electrical connections span the shelf panel to connect side brackets, then power is provided to light sources, but the electrical connection structure becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection function is extracted from the mechanical shelf support structure. Instead of integrating electrical connections into the side brackets, the patent uses separate electrical pathways such as conductive adhesive applied to the shelf panel surface or conductive traces embedded in the shelf panel, thereby simplifying the mechanical bracket design and reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary conductive material (such as conductive adhesive or conductive trace) is introduced between the power source and the light sources. This intermediary provides the electrical connection path without requiring complex mechanical-electrical integration in the side brackets, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining power delivery functionality.
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 even and shadow-free illumination within the appliance, enhancing visibility while maintaining a sleek design and efficient power usage through intelligent control.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources mounted and electrically coupled to one of the side brackets
Implementation Method 2
the housing can include a diffuser disposed within a path of illumination of the one or more light sources
Data Source
AI summary
A shelf assembly for an enclosure includes a shelf panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces. The edge includes front, rear, and side edges. A light housing is coupled to the shelf panel and includes one or more walls defining an interior. The light housing includes front, rear, and side portions disposed adjacent to the front, rear, and side edges of the shelf panel, respectively. A plurality of light sources received within the light housing to project light outwardly therefrom.