Laundry care appliance with a lighting element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry care devices face challenges with inhomogeneous and spatially uneven lighting on their panel elements, particularly in poorly lit environments, which affects user interaction with interfaces like rotary switches or knobs.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a lighting element using individually controllable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that provide homogeneous illumination without the need for a diffuser or minimum distance, allowing for a thin, flexible design that can be easily integrated into compact spaces and reducing component and installation costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional point light sources (LEDs) are used, then illumination can be achieved, but inhomogeneous illumination and spatially uneven beam characteristics result

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination homogeneityVSAvoidlighting structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the light source from point-like (conventional LED) to planar (OLED). This parameter change transforms the radiation characteristics to achieve homogeneous illumination without requiring additional optical components like diffusers, thereby resolving the contradiction between illumination quality and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the radiation characteristics of OLEDs as a model to achieve the desired illumination effect. By copying the planar emission properties of OLEDs, the system achieves homogeneous illumination while eliminating the need for complex optical systems that would otherwise be required with conventional point sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Illumination intensity

If conventional lighting solutions are used, then panel illumination is achieved, but components and installation space are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel illuminationVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the lighting function directly into the panel structure by using OLEDs that can be integrated into the panel element itself. This eliminates the need for separate lighting components and their associated mounting spaces, thereby reducing the overall installation volume while maintaining effective panel illumination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs thin-film OLED technology that can be directly integrated into the panel structure. These thin films provide the necessary illumination without requiring bulky housing or mounting structures, significantly reducing the installation space required for the lighting system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Illumination intensity

If conventional LED modules are used, then lighting function is provided, but manufacturing costs and component count increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the lighting function from complex LED modules and implements it using simpler OLED structures. This extraction eliminates unnecessary components and simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing both component count and production costs while maintaining the required lighting function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adopts OLED technology that can be manufactured more cost-effectively than conventional LED modules. By using materials and processes that are inherently less expensive (such as organic compounds that can be deposited using simpler techniques), the overall manufacturing cost is reduced while achieving the same lighting performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 effective and cost-efficient illumination of the panel element, enhancing user interaction and reducing environmental impact by eliminating the need for circuit boards, while allowing for flexible and area-defined light emission.

Implementation Method 1

a lighting element which has a plurality of individually controllable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4442893A1Laundry care appliance with a lighting element

Publication Date: 2024.10.09 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a laundry care appliance (100) with an appliance housing (101) which separates an interior space (103) of the laundry care appliance (100) from an exterior space (105) of the laundry care appliance (100), wherein the laundry care appliance (100) has a diaphragm element (107) which is arranged on a front surface (109) of the appliance housing (101). The diaphragm element (107) has a lighting element (135) which comprises a plurality of individually controllable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and wherein the lighting element (135) is configured to illuminate an outer surface (115) of the diaphragm element (107) facing away from the appliance housing (101).