Method and device for presenting appliance-related information, and household appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances covered with panels lack direct visibility of their operating states, making it difficult for users to access essential information without opening the appliance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the movement of the appliance from an inactive to an active position, offset relative to adjacent surfaces, and projecting appliance information onto these surfaces using a projection unit, allowing users to view the information without opening the panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the household appliance is fully integrated with a panel covering it, then the aesthetic integration and compact design are improved, but the visibility of appliance information and operating state deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects appliance information from the two-dimensional panel surface onto a three-dimensional adjacent surface (such as a countertop or cabinet side), creating a spatial extension that maintains aesthetic integration while providing visible information display. The projection unit directs light onto surfaces surrounding the appliance, allowing information to be viewed without compromising the panel's aesthetic coverage.
2Loss of information
If a display is made visible from the outside, then the visibility of appliance information is improved, but the aesthetic integration and compact design deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a projection unit as an intermediary device that transfers information from the appliance to adjacent surfaces. This mediator allows information to be displayed without requiring a physical display on the panel itself, thus maintaining aesthetic integration while achieving information visibility through optical projection onto surrounding surfaces.
3Loss of information
If the appliance is moved to an active position offset from the panel, then the visibility of appliance information is improved, but the compact design and integration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the information display function from the appliance body itself and relocates it to adjacent surfaces through optical projection. This separation allows the appliance to remain compact and integrated with the panel while the information display occurs on external surfaces, eliminating the need for the appliance to physically move or extend.
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
Enhances visibility of appliance information, enabling users to easily access and view operational states, program details, and error messages without opening the appliance, while optimizing energy usage and user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
projecting the appliance information onto the surface in order to visibly present the appliance information
Data Source
AI summary
A method for presenting an item of appliance information of a household appliance that is covered with a panel includes: moving the household appliance from an inactive position to an active position, the active position representing a position, offset with respect to the inactive position, in which the household appliance is offset relative to a surface adjacent to the household appliance; and projecting the appliance information onto the surface in order to visibly present the appliance information.