Luminary Interface for Appliance Consumable Status Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household appliances lack an effective method to communicate the status of consumables to users, requiring users to manually check or navigate menus, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A luminary communication interface that uses unique combinations of colored light motion and light intensity patterns to illustrate the status of consumables, such as filter cartridges and water softener cartridges, separate from the user interface, providing visual feedback on consumable levels and needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users manually check consumable status or navigate menu systems, then they can obtain information about consumables, but the process is inconvenient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumable status informationVSAvoidtime to check consumable status

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual checking methods (mechanical interaction with menu systems or physical inspection) with an optical communication system using luminary interfaces. The controller communicates consumable status through colored light patterns visible from outside the appliance, eliminating the need for users to physically access or navigate complex menu systems to obtain consumable status information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a luminary communication interface as an intermediary between the controller and the user. This interface uses colored light patterns to convey consumable status information, serving as a mediator that translates internal system data into externally visible visual signals, allowing users to obtain information without direct interaction with the appliance's internal systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a separate luminary communication interface is added to communicate consumable status, then user convenience is enhanced with visual feedback, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of checking consumable statusVSAvoidcomplexity of communication interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The luminary communication interface serves multiple functions: it communicates consumable status information, provides visual feedback on appliance operation state, and can indicate various alert conditions. By consolidating these communication functions into a single interface system using colored light patterns, the patent enhances ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same hardware infrastructure supports multiple communication purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-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

Facilitates easy communication of consumable status to users, reducing the need for manual checks and enhancing user convenience by providing visual cues for consumable replacement and cycle information, while also offering ambient lighting control.

Implementation Method 1

emitting a unique combination of colored light motion and light intensity patterns with a luminary communication interface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS11384465B2Household appliance with luminary communication interface

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A household appliance for performing a cycle of operation on an article according to a cycle of operation. The household appliance includes a cabinet defining a treating chamber that is configured to receive the article. The cabinet also includes at least one consumable, a controller, a user interface, and a luminary communication interface.