Light-Transmitting Coupling Element for Control Knob Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control knobs for household appliances, such as gas cooking hobs, require separate elements for coupling and illumination, leading to inefficiencies in light guiding and increased energy consumption, as well as complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A control knob with a coupling element made of light-transmitting material that serves both to connect the knob to the shaft rotationally and illuminate the operator, eliminating the need for additional elements and enhancing light guiding efficiency by reducing material interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate elements are used for coupling and illumination, then the control knob can be assembled with distinct functional components, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires additional elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coupling element and illumination element into a single integrated component. The coupling element is made of light-transmitting material that allows light to pass through it to illuminate the control knob, eliminating the need for separate coupling and illumination elements. This reduces the number of parts and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining both mechanical coupling and illumination functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it mechanically couples the control knob to the shaft and also acts as an illumination element by transmitting light. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity and the number of required elements while maintaining ease of manufacture.
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiple material interfaces are present between light source and opening, then different functional requirements can be met, but light guiding efficiency decreases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the coupling element and illumination element into one integrated component made of light-transmitting material, the patent reduces the number of material interfaces in the light path. This improves light guiding efficiency and reduces energy consumption as light can travel directly through the coupling element without encountering additional interfaces that would cause reflection or absorption losses.
3Device complexity
If a single element is used for both coupling and illumination, then the assembly process is simplified and energy consumption is reduced, but the element must simultaneously satisfy both mechanical and optical requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is designed to fulfill both mechanical coupling and optical illumination functions simultaneously. It is made of light-transmitting material that provides both the necessary mechanical strength for coupling and the optical transparency for illumination, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element utilizes light-transmitting materials that combine mechanical strength with optical transparency. This allows a single element to satisfy both mechanical coupling requirements and optical illumination requirements, resolving the contradiction between simplified design and manufacturing feasibility.
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 simplifies the assembly process, improves light guiding efficiency, and reduces energy consumption by using a single element for both coupling and illumination, resulting in a more effective and efficient control knob design.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling element made of light-transmitting material configured to send light through the opening towards the operator
Data Source
AI summary
A control knob for rotating a shaft in a household appliance, in particular for operating a valve shaft in a gas valve of a cooking hob. The control knob comprises:a knob element for manual operation by an operator, the knob element comprising an opening; anda coupling element made of light-transmitting material configured to send light through the opening towards the operator;the coupling element being configured to connect the knob element to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner.