Microwave Oven LED Mounting Plate for Existing Cavity Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transition to LED-based cooking cavity lights in microwave ovens requires significant adaptations in both the cooking cavity walls and existing production tooling, leading to economic and environmental inefficiencies due to temperature sensitivity and different installation requirements compared to conventional lights.
Innovation Solution
A mounting plate with a cutout that supports a light conductor rod and a shielding sleeve, which fits into existing openings in the cooking cavity wall, allowing for the use of LED lights without altering the cavity wall or existing tooling, and prevents microwave radiation from escaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If LED-based cooking cavity lights are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but the cooking cavity wall and production tooling require significant adaptations
Solution Approach 1:
A mounting plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the existing cooking cavity wall opening and the LED light assembly. The mounting plate includes a cutout that receives the light conductor rod and supports the shielding sleeve, allowing LED lights to be installed in openings originally designed for conventional lights without modifying the cooking cavity wall or production tooling
Solution Approach 2:
The LED cooking appliance light is divided into separate functional components: the LED illuminant, the light conductor rod, the shielding sleeve, and the mounting plate. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining compatibility with existing appliance structures
2Loss of energy
If LED illuminants are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but production tooling must be replaced or adapted
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate serves multiple functions: it adapts the mounting contour and position for LED lights, supports the light conductor rod, holds the shielding sleeve, and interfaces with existing cooking cavity wall openings. This multi-functionality allows the same mounting plate design to work with both conventional and LED lighting systems, maintaining production flexibility
3Temperature
If the LED light source is arranged at a larger distance from the cooking cavity, then temperature sensitivity is reduced, but the light must be conducted through a light conductor
Solution Approach 1:
The light conductor rod replaces direct electrical connection and physical mounting structures, using optical principles to transmit light from the LED illuminant positioned away from the cooking cavity to the required location inside the cavity, eliminating the need for complex thermal management mechanisms
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional light openings are used for LED lights, then production tooling can be retained, but microwave radiation must be prevented from escaping through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding sleeve, made of microwave-reflective material, is positioned around the light conductor rod within the mounting plate. It converts the potential harmful effect of microwave leakage through the opening into a beneficial solution by reflecting microwaves back into the cooking cavity while allowing light transmission, thus maintaining both production tooling compatibility and microwave containment
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
Enables seamless integration of LED lights into existing microwave oven designs without requiring changes to the cooking cavity walls or production tooling, while maintaining energy efficiency and preventing microwave leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a light conductor rod which conducts light emitted by the LED illuminant into the cooking cavity
Implementation Method 2
a shielding sleeve arranged in the opening and configured to prevent an exit of microwaves through the opening out of the cooking cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave oven including a cooking cavity that is enveloped by a cooking cavity wall; a cooking appliance light; an opening in the cooking cavity wall which supports the cooking appliance light; a shielding sleeve arranged in the opening and configured to prevent an exit of microwaves through the opening out of the cooking cavity, wherein the cooking appliance light includes a LED illuminant and a light conductor rod which conducts light emitted by the LED illuminant into the cooking cavity, wherein the cooking appliance light includes a mounting plate that includes a cut out in which the light conductor rod of the cooking appliance light is supported, wherein the mounting plate supports the shielding sleeve that envelops the light conductor rod, and wherein the mounting plate is arranged at the cooking cavity wall and covers the opening.