refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator designs face challenges in mounting the display assembly and touch assembly, which are complicated and difficult to align, affecting assembly efficiency and heat-insulation performance.
Innovation Solution
A simplified configuration for the display assembly that allows easy alignment and mounting, enhancing heat-insulation performance by making the assembly slim and improving identification through a display part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional mounting structure is used for the display assembly and touch assembly, then the display and touch functions are achieved, but the mounting structure becomes complicated and alignment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly and touch assembly are merged into a single integrated unit. The display cover serves as both the protective cover for the display assembly and the mounting structure for the touch assembly, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The display cover performs multiple functions: it protects the display assembly, serves as a mounting structure for the touch assembly, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the mounting process.
2Ease of manufacture
If the display assembly is made thicker to accommodate complex mounting structures, then mounting is easier, but heat-insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the mounting function into the display cover itself, the patent eliminates the need for additional thickness to accommodate separate mounting structures. The integrated design maintains a slim profile while achieving easy mounting through the multi-functional cover structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate mounting structures are used for display and touch assemblies, then each assembly can be mounted independently, but the overall assembly process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mounting capabilities for both display and touch assemblies into a single integrated display cover structure. This allows both assemblies to be mounted simultaneously in one operation, improving assembly efficiency while maintaining the versatility of independent positioning through the integrated design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator comprises: a cabinet (10) configured to define a storage space; and a door (20) configured to open or close the cabinet (10), wherein the door (20) includes: an outer plate (21) formed of a metal material and defining a front surface of the door (20), the outer plate (21) including a display part (211) with a plurality of first through holes (213) for displaying operation information therethrough and a manipulation part (212) for touch operation of a user; a door liner (22) configured to define a rear surface of the door (20); an insulating material (24) filled between the outer plate (21) and the door liner (22); an inner case (25) mounted on a rear surface of the outer plate (21) and defining a space (250) inside the door (20) that communicates with an opening (231) formed at a peripheral surface of the door (20); a display cover (30) mounted within the space (250) of the inner case (25) on a rear surface of the outer plate (21); a display assembly (40) accommodated in the display cover (30) and having a plurality of light emitting members (511) for emitting light through the first through holes (213) formed in the outer plate (21); and a touch sensor assembly (70) mounted on the display cover (30) at a position corresponding to the manipulation part (212) of the outer plate (21).