Oven Camera Optical Shade Design to Block External Light Reflections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic appliances with optical monitoring devices, such as cameras, face image quality deterioration due to external light sources reflecting off transparent panels, which are not effectively mitigated by existing solutions that require tinting or complex mounting systems.
Innovation Solution
An optical shade element is positioned between the inner and outer panels of a domestic appliance door, forming a funnel-shaped aperture that matches the camera's angle of view, encircling the optical path to block irritating light reflections, refractions, and scatterings, thereby enhancing image quality without the need for tinted panels or complex assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If transparent panels with high optical transmission are used, then light transmission is improved, but external light reflections and irritations worsen
Solution Approach 1:
An optical shade element is introduced as an intermediary component between the camera and the transparent panels. This shade element selectively blocks external light reflections and irritations while allowing the camera to observe through the transparent panels, thus mediating between the need for high light transmission and the need to eliminate harmful reflections.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical shade element is positioned specifically in the region where external light reflections and irritations affect the camera view, without obstructing the entire transparent panel. This local intervention maintains high optical transmission where needed while eliminating harmful reflections in the critical viewing zone.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If tinting or darkening the outside window is applied to block irritating light, then reflection protection is improved, but light transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the transparent panels themselves (tinting or darkening), an separate optical shade element is introduced as a mediator. This element provides reflection protection without interfering with the optical transmission properties of the original transparent panels, thus avoiding the trade-off between protection and transmission.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex mounting systems or multiple components are used to block irritating light, then reflection protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical shade element is designed to be integrated with the existing door structure or camera mounting, combining multiple functions (blocking reflections, allowing observation) into a single component rather than requiring separate mounting systems and multiple parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical shade element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it blocks external light reflections, allows the camera to observe through transparent panels, and can be integrated with existing door or camera mounting structures, reducing the need for additional specialized components.
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 solution significantly improves image quality by eliminating the negative effects of external light reflections on the camera's view, allowing for high-transmission transparent panels while simplifying the assembly process and reducing the number of parts required, effectively protecting the camera from irritating light across various lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the optical shade element is arranged in an intermediate space between inner panel and outer panel and circumferentially encloses at least partially, preferably encloses fully in circumferential direction, the optical path of the optical monitoring device
Implementation Method 2
Irritating light emitted by the external light source may pass through an outside window of the double glass window, but might be reflected by the inside window into a camera observing food
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular domestic oven, comprising: —a treatment chamber; —at least one inner panel (6) and one outer panel (1) for allowing insight into the interior of the treatment chamber from the exterior; —at least one optical monitoring device (4) for optically monitoring at least a part of the interior of the treatment chamber through the inner panel (6) and the outer panel (1); —at least one optical shade element (2) for at least partially preventing irritating light from reaching an optical sensor of the optical monitoring device (4); characterized in that the optical monitoring device (4) is arranged on a side of the outer panel (1) opposite to the treatment chamber side of the outer panel (1) and in a distance to the outer panel (1), and wherein the optical shade element (2) is arranged in an intermediate space between inner panel and outer panel (1) and circumferentially encloses at least partially the optical path (9) of the optical monitoring device (4) extending from the interior of the treatment chamber to the sensor of the optical monitoring device (4) through the inner panel, the outer panel (1) and the intermediate space between inner panel and outer panel (1).