Microwave oven having hood
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave ovens with integrated hoods face challenges in maintaining cleanliness due to contaminated air flowing upward and limited cooling space, which can lead to contamination of the display and inner surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The microwave oven design includes a housing with a heating source, an exhaust device at the lower portion, a door with suction and discharge holes, and a cooling fan to guide air away from the display, preventing contamination and maintaining cleanliness by directing air through specific passages and discharge holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the microwave oven combines a hood and microwave functions in one device, then the functionality is improved, but the inner space becomes narrow and cleanliness maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hood and microwave oven into a single integrated device, merging the exhaust function and heating function in one appliance. This allows the system to perform multiple functions (exhaust and microwave heating) while sharing common components like the motor and air passages, thereby improving versatility without proportionally increasing space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the display is disposed on the door, then the user interface is improved, but the display is contaminated by contaminated air flowing upward from the lower side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door into multiple functional zones with separate air passages. The first air passage handles exhaust air flow from the lower side, while the second air passage is dedicated to cooling the display. This segmentation prevents contaminated exhaust air from reaching the display while maintaining separate cooling and exhaust functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separate cooling air passage that acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the display. This second air passage supplies clean cooling air to the display from a different location, preventing direct contact between the display and contaminated exhaust air while still providing necessary cooling.
3Volume of stationary object
If the cooling space is limited, then the device size is reduced, but the display cannot be effectively cooled and becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the cooling function into the vertical dimension by providing a separate cooling air passage that runs independently from the exhaust air passage. This allows cooling air to be supplied to the display from a different spatial path, effectively cooling the display without requiring additional horizontal space that would increase device width.
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 design effectively prevents contamination of the door and display by directing contaminated air away from these areas, ensuring cleanliness and efficient heat dissipation, even in compact spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan disposed at an inner surface of the door and configured to blow the air toward the discharge hole
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust device disposed at a lower portion of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave oven includes a housing that defines a cavity therein, a heating source configured to heat an object in the cavity, an exhaust device disposed at a lower portion of the housing, a door that is connected to the housing and defines a suction hole configured to receive air from an outside of the door and a discharge hole configured to discharge the air received through the suction hole, and a display disposed at a front surface of the door.