Induction Hob Light Waveguide Layout for Cooler LED Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooktop devices face inefficiencies in lighting design, leading to high manufacturing costs, light scattering, and limited aesthetic and functional options, while conventional LEDs require high temperature resistance and power ratings.
Innovation Solution
The cooktop device positions light sources outside the cooking and surrounding areas, using LEDs with lower temperature resistance requirements, coupled with an optical waveguide that minimizes light losses and allows for precise illumination, eliminating the need for opaque coatings and reducing material waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are positioned within the cooking and surrounding areas, then lighting coverage is improved, but temperature resistance requirements increase and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates light sources from the traditional planar arrangement within the cooking/surrounding areas to a vertical dimension below the cooktop surface. This dimensional relocation allows light sources to operate in a cooler environment while still achieving adequate lighting coverage through optical waveguides that transport light to the required areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical waveguides as intermediary elements that transport light from the relocated light sources (positioned below the cooktop) to the cooking and surrounding areas. This intermediary mechanism enables the light sources to be positioned in a cooler zone while still providing effective illumination, thereby reducing temperature resistance requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional LEDs are used with high temperature resistance, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing costs and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light sources from the high-temperature environment above the cooktop surface and positions them below the surface where temperatures are lower. This extraction allows the use of standard LEDs with lower temperature resistance ratings, reducing manufacturing costs and power requirements while maintaining adequate reliability through the protective waveguide structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If gaps exist between optical waveguide and cooktop surface, then assembly is easier, but light losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible optical waveguide structure that can conform to the cooktop surface geometry. This flexibility allows the waveguide to maintain intimate contact with the cooktop surface, minimizing light losses at interfaces while still permitting relatively simple assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes curved or flexible waveguide geometries that can adapt to the cooktop surface contour. This curvature allows the waveguide to follow the surface profile closely, reducing air gaps and light losses while maintaining ease of installation through flexible routing and positioning.
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 design results in a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and aesthetically pleasing cooktop with enhanced functionality, including varied color illumination and improved user experience, while minimizing light scattering and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical waveguide unit comprising at least one optical waveguide for transmitting the light to at least one surrounding area of the cooking area
Implementation Method 2
at least one light source unit comprising at least one light source for providing light
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a hob device (10), in particular an induction hob device, comprising at least one hob plate (12) having at least one cooking region (14), comprising at least one light source unit (16) having at least one light source (18) for providing light, and comprising at least one light wave guide unit (22) having at least one light wave guide (24) for transmitting the light into at least one area (26) surrounding the cooking region (14). According to the invention, in order to provide a generic device with improved properties in terms of efficiency, the light source unit (16) is arranged below a region (28) of the hob plate (12) lying outside the surrounding area (26).