Oven Muffle Lighting with Offset Light Source to Reduce Heat Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic oven lighting systems struggle to illuminate the cooking chamber evenly without dazzling the user and often require expensive, heat-resistant light sources due to their proximity to hot regions.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system for the oven muffle featuring a light source positioned outside the light outlet window, a diffuse reflective surface, and a lens element that collects and directs light, ensuring even illumination while keeping the light source away from hot regions, using less expensive components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light source is positioned close to the cooking chamber for effective illumination, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the light source is exposed to high temperatures requiring expensive heat-resistant components
Solution Approach 1:
A reflective surface acts as an intermediary between the light source and the cooking chamber. The light source is positioned outside the muffle, and the reflective surface inside the muffle redirects light from the light outlet window onto the cooking chamber, allowing effective illumination without exposing the light source to high temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is segmented into separate functional components: the light source is separated from the cooking chamber, with light transmitted through a light outlet window and redirected by a reflective surface. This segmentation allows the light source to be positioned in a cooler region while still achieving effective illumination
2Illumination intensity
If a direct light source is used for illumination, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the user is dazzled by direct light
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface serves as an intermediary that indirects light onto the cooking chamber. Light from the light outlet window is reflected onto the cooking chamber surfaces, providing bright illumination without direct light exposure to the user
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective surface is positioned to reflect light onto specific areas of the cooking chamber, creating localized illumination zones that brighten the interior without directing light toward the user's position
3Temperature
If the light source is positioned outside the light outlet window to avoid heat, then the temperature exposure is reduced, but the illumination evenness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface acts as a mediator that distributes light from the light outlet window across different areas of the cooking chamber. By strategically positioning the reflective surface, light is redirected to multiple zones, achieving even illumination despite the light source being positioned outside the window
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system utilizes spatial dimensionality by positioning the light source outside the muffle and using the reflective surface to redirect light into the cooking chamber. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the light to be distributed evenly across the cooking chamber volume without requiring the light source to be inside
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 provides even illumination of the cooking chamber without direct light exposure to the user, allowing for the use of less expensive, heat-resistant light sources, reducing costs and improving safety by maintaining the light source in cooler regions.
Implementation Method 1
a lens element with a collecting property which is arranged in the light path between the light source and the reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
a reflective surface with a diffuse reflection property which is arranged behind the light outlet surface within the contour of the light outlet window and is irradiated with light from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A domestic oven includes a muffle which delimits a cooking chamber, and a lighting device for illuminating the cooking chamber. The muffle has in a muffle side wall a light outlet window into which a window element having a light outlet surface is fitted. The lighting device includes a light source which, when viewed normally to the muffle side wall, is arranged outside the contour of the light outlet window, a reflective surface with a diffuse reflecting property which is arranged behind the light outlet surface within the contour of the light outlet window and is irradiated with light from the light source, and a lens element with a collecting property which is arranged in the light path between the light source and the reflective surface. In some embodiments, the lens element is also arranged outside the contour of the light outlet window.