Opaque Barrier Design for Indicator Light Isolation on Appliance PCBs
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Solution Overview
Problem
In appliances with control panels, the unintentional illumination of printed circuit boards by indicator lights can create aesthetically displeasing and confusing visual information for users.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an opaque material between adjacent indicator lights on the printed circuit board to prevent or minimize light bleed, which reduces the illumination of the printed circuit board and maintains clear visual distinction between lit and unlit indicator lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If indicator lights are mounted on a printed circuit board, then visual information about appliance status is provided, but unintentional illumination of the printed circuit board occurs creating aesthetic and clarity issues
Solution Approach 1:
An opaque barrier material is introduced as an intermediary element between the indicator lights and the printed circuit board. This barrier selectively blocks light from reaching the PCB while allowing the indicator lights to maintain their visual signaling function, thus resolving the contradiction between providing clear visual information and preventing harmful unintended illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution applies local quality by placing opaque barriers specifically at locations where light leakage would cause problems (between adjacent indicator lights and toward the PCB), while leaving other areas of the indicator light assembly transparent or unaffected. This allows each region to have the appropriate optical property for its specific function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If opaque material is added between indicator lights, then light bleed is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solution utilizes optical property changes by incorporating opaque barriers with specific light-blocking characteristics. These barriers are designed to absorb or reflect light in a way that prevents bleed between adjacent indicator lights, achieving the light containment function through material property selection rather than complex mechanical structures.
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 effectively prevents light bleed, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and user clarity by ensuring that only intended indicator lights are illuminated, reducing confusion and improving the user interface experience.
Implementation Method 1
An opaque material is disposed between adjacent indicator lights of the plurality of indicator lights. The opaque material reduces illumination of the printed circuit board by at least one indicator light of the plurality of indicator lights.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance includes a user interface assembly. The user interface assembly includes a plurality of indicator lights mounted on a printed circuit board. An opaque material is disposed between adjacent indicator lights of the plurality of indicator lights. The opaque material is positioned and configured such that the opaque material reduces illumination of the printed circuit board by at least one indicator light of the plurality of indicator lights.