Metal Air Conditioner Panel With Light-Transmitting Display Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing panel components of air conditioners are either entirely made of plastic, lacking a metallic texture, or entirely made of metal, which is opaque and cannot support clear displays, limiting their aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A panel component comprising a plastic substrate with a metal panel covering it, featuring a light-transmitting structure such as display holes filled with transparent material, allowing for a metallic texture and clear display capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the panel component is made entirely of metal to achieve high-quality metallic texture, then the aesthetic appeal is improved, but the display capability deteriorates because metal is opaque and cannot perform clear display
Solution Approach 1:
The panel component uses a composite structure combining metal panel and plastic substrate. The metal panel provides the desired metallic texture and aesthetic appeal, while the plastic substrate embedded within allows light transmission for clear display. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal panel is designed with localized light-transmitting structures (light-transmitting holes or grooves) at specific display areas. This allows the majority of the panel to maintain its metallic texture while creating local regions that enable light transmission for display functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If the panel component is made of plastic to enable clear display, then the display capability is improved, but the aesthetic appeal deteriorates because plastic lacks metallic texture
Solution Approach 1:
The panel component uses a composite structure combining metal panel and plastic substrate. The metal panel provides the desired metallic texture and aesthetic appeal, while the plastic substrate embedded within allows light transmission for clear display. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If light-transmitting structures are added to the metal panel to enable display, then the display capability is improved, but the structural integrity deteriorates due to processing limitations on metal
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic substrate acts as an intermediary material that is easier to process than metal. Light-transmitting structures are formed in the plastic substrate, which then supports the metal panel. This intermediary approach enables display functionality while preserving the structural integrity of the overall panel assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of metal and plastic materials allows the plastic component to bear the light-transmitting structures, reducing the structural burden on the metal panel and maintaining overall structural integrity while enabling display functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A panel component (1) comprises a plastic substrate (3), a display (2), and a metal panel (6) covering an outer surface of the plastic substrate (3). The metal panel (6) is fixed on the plastic substrate (3). The display (2) is mounted on the plastic substrate (3) through a display mounting structure. A light-transmitting structure is arranged in the metal panel (6) in a region corresponding to the location of the display (2). The metal panel (6) enables the panel component (1) to have good decorating effect, and the light-transmitting structure ensures clear display. Further disclosed are an air conditioner provided with the panel component (1) and a method for manufacturing the air conditioner.