User Interface Light Layout for Space-Saving Appliance Drawers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances like washing machines and dryers face challenges in optimizing the arrangement of light elements, which occupy valuable space and complicate user accessibility, leading to a trade-off in component sizing and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
The light elements are positioned on the side of the user interface element opposite to the drawer, allowing for a more compact design, increased drawer volume, and easier assembly by integrating the user interface and light elements into a common module, with illumination dependent on the operative state of the user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If light elements are arranged peripherally around the user interface element, then the appliance provides clear visual feedback and program indication, but it occupies valuable space on the user-accessible front side and complicates assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light group with the user interface element into a single integrated module. The light elements are arranged on a circuit board that is directly integrated with the user interface element housing, eliminating the need for separate mounting of lights and interface elements. This merging reduces assembly steps and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the peripheral arrangement of lights for clear visual feedback.
2Ease of operation
If light elements are positioned on the front side near the user interface, then they provide immediate visual feedback, but they reduce the available space for drawer components and handle design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the light group from the traditional front-side arrangement to the rear side of the user interface element. The light elements are arranged on the circuit board that is mounted on the rear side of the user interface element housing. This spatial relocation in another dimension (from front to rear) allows the drawer and handle to occupy the front space freely while the lights provide visual feedback through the interface element, thus resolving the space conflict.
3Ease of manufacture
If the user interface element and light elements are integrated into a common module, then assembly is simplified, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the appliance into distinct functional modules: the user interface element module (housing, interface element, and light group integrated together) and the drawer module. The light group is further segmented as a separate component assembly on its own circuit board that can be pre-assembled and tested before integration with the user interface element housing. This hierarchical segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of sub-components with controlled precision requirements, reducing the overall manufacturing complexity.
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 enhances user accessibility by providing a clear layout, increasing lateral space for the drawer and handle, simplifying assembly, and reducing user confusion by isolating light indicators to one side of the user interface.
Implementation Method 1
a light group (50) comprising a plurality of light elements (54)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
Household appliance (2), comprising a drawer (30), a user interface element (44) and a light group (50) comprising a plurality of light elements (54), said light elements (54) being disposed substantially peripherally with respect to said user interface element (44), wherein said light group (50) is arranged on a side of said user interface element (44) opposite to said drawer (30).