Oven Door Button Illumination With Compact Light Guide Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooking apparatuses have a large input/display device that occupies valuable space and increases the overall size, detracting from usable space and hindering the visibility into the cooking cavity.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a light-emitting source, such as an LED, positioned opposite to the input sensor and a guide that directs light to the button, allowing for a compact and illuminated button display, which reduces the size of the input/display device and enhances usability by illuminating the buttons, thus minimizing space consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large input/display device is used, then the functionality and visibility of control interface is improved, but the overall size of the cooking apparatus increases and usable space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the light-emitting source at the rear of the button (opposite side from the input sensor) and uses a guide structure to direct light through the button to the sensor. This spatial rearrangement in multiple dimensions allows the control interface to be compact while maintaining illumination functionality, resolving the contradiction between interface visibility and apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure is integrated within the button assembly, with the light-emitting source, guide, and button forming a nested configuration. The guide is positioned between the light source and the button surface, allowing the illumination system to be compactly embedded within the control interface structure, reducing overall size while maintaining functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If a compact input/display device is used, then the overall size is reduced and usable space is improved, but the illumination of buttons may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide as an intermediary element between the light-emitting source and the button. This guide directs and concentrates the light from the rear-emitting source through the button to the input sensor, ensuring sufficient illumination intensity even with a compact device size. The guide acts as a mediator that optimizes light delivery in a space-constrained configuration.
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 configuration allows for a more compact and user-friendly interface, providing an unobstructed view of the cooking cavity while maintaining the functionality of the input sensor and control panel, effectively utilizing space and improving the operational status display.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting source, such as an LED, positioned opposite to the input sensor and a guide that directs light to the button
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, a door, an input selection device provided on an exterior of the door, and a control panel provided in the door and operably coupled to the input selection device. The input selection device may include buttons which are illuminated by a light source provided with the control panel. A guide may be positioned between the control panel and the input selection device to guide the light generated by the light source to the input selection device and concentrate light on the buttons to illuminate the buttons. In this manner, the cooking apparatus may include a selection device on its door including buttons that are effectively illuminated.