Refrigerator Door Edge Lighting to Improve Visibility Without Glare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators are difficult to locate in low-intensity illumination environments, making it inconvenient to operate the refrigerator door, especially since the door's location is not easily recognizable.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light-emitting means, such as LEDs, within a connection space between the door assembly and exterior member, which emits light along the exterior member's longitudinal direction, allowing it to be visible without direct exposure to the outside, thus preventing dazzling and enhancing the refrigerator's appearance through indirect lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-emitting means is directly exposed to the outside, then the refrigerator door location is easily recognized, but users experience dazzling and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an exterior member as an intermediary element between the light-emitting means and the external environment. This exterior member transmits light while diffusing it, thereby maintaining visibility of the refrigerator door location while preventing direct dazzling effects on users. The exterior member acts as a mediator that transforms the concentrated light output into a diffuse, comfortable illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior member is designed to change the appearance and transmission characteristics of light. It can alter the intensity and distribution of light passing through it, transforming the direct harsh light from the light-emitting means into a softer, more diffuse illumination that maintains visibility without causing discomfort to users.
2Illumination intensity
If the exterior member is made transparent to allow light emission, then the refrigerator appearance is enhanced, but the light source becomes directly visible causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior member utilizes optical properties to transform the characteristics of transmitted light. It allows light to pass through for aesthetic illumination while simultaneously diffusing and softening the light, preventing direct visibility of the harsh light source and eliminating discomfort to users.
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 enables easy recognition of the refrigerator door's location, minimizes user discomfort from direct light, and enhances the appliance's aesthetic appeal by creating a sophisticated appearance through pattern highlighting and indirect lighting effects.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting means which is provided at one side of the exterior member and emits light in a longitudinal direction of the exterior member
Implementation Method 2
the patterns stand out because of the dispersion and diffusion effects of light
Implementation Method 3
the patterns stand out because of the dispersion and diffusion effects of light
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a door of a refrigerator including: a door assembly which defines the appearance of the refrigerator door; an exterior member which is provided ahead of the door assembly to emit light; a connection member which connects the exterior member to the door assembly; a connection space which is formed between the door assembly and connection member; and a light-emitting means which is disposed at the connection space and emits light to the exterior member. There is an advantage in that it is possible to prevent dazzling of users, since the exterior member is not exposed to the outside and light is emitted via an end of the exterior member.