Domestic appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances with communication modules face challenges in minimizing shielding by metal parts, which limits the range of the antenna and complicates installation across different variants, leading to increased complexity and logistics costs.
Innovation Solution
A communication module is integrated within a plastic base support, positioned between the front wall and a support rib, allowing minimal shielding and easy installation, with the option to protrude or be positioned differently to accommodate variant-specific characteristics, and is optionally embedded in damping material for vibration isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the communication module is installed in a metal base plate, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the electromagnetic shielding increases and the communication range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module is extracted from the metal base plate and relocated to the plastic base support. This separation removes the harmful electromagnetic shielding effect of metal while maintaining the structural integrity of the base plate. The plastic base support provides a non-shielding environment for the communication module to operate effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
A plastic base support is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal base plate and the communication module. This plastic intermediary provides mechanical support and positioning for the communication module while being transparent to electromagnetic waves, thus eliminating the shielding problem while maintaining structural stability.
2Reliability
If the communication module is integrated into a variant-specific panel, then the communication functionality is achieved, but the device complexity and logistics costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic base support is designed as a universal component that can accommodate the communication module in all appliance variants. Instead of creating variant-specific panels with integrated communication modules, the same base support structure is used across all variants, reducing device complexity and logistics costs while maintaining communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module is segmented from the variant-specific panels and relocated to the common plastic base support. This segmentation allows the communication module to be positioned in a standardized location that is independent of panel variations, simplifying the overall device architecture and reducing complexity.
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 enhances the communication module's range by minimizing electromagnetic shielding and simplifies installation across various appliance variants, while ensuring reliable data transmission and improved service life through reduced vibration impact.
Implementation Method 1
the base carrier is at least partially permeable to electromagnetic radiation, so that the communication module is only slightly shielded
Implementation Method 2
the communication module is arranged on or in a damping material that isolates against vibrations of the household appliance
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic appliance (1) comprising a housing (2), a supporting base (3) designed to support the housing (2) at the base (18) and a communication module (4) which is configured to wirelessly transmit and/or receive data. The communication module (4) is located inside the supporting base (3) and the latter (3) is made of plastic, particularly in the region adjoining the communication module (4).