Home appliance and refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs require the entire decoration panel to be removed and replaced to change the outer appearance, leading to inconvenience and poor aesthetics due to shadow generation from internal light sources.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a light source, an illuminance sensor, and a user detection sensor that adjusts the light source's state based on detected illuminance and proximity, allowing for customizable lighting without panel replacement, and varying reference distances for user detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the entire decoration panel is removed and replaced to change the outer appearance, then the outer appearance can be changed, but it is inconvenient and the used panel cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The decoration panel is divided into multiple detachable sub-panels that can be independently removed and replaced. This allows users to change the outer appearance by swapping individual sub-panels rather than removing the entire panel, making the process more convenient and allowing selective reuse of sub-panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static decoration panel to a dynamic configuration where sub-panels can be easily attached and detached. This dynamic design enables flexible reconfiguration of the outer appearance without permanent installation, improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability.
2Device complexity
If the light emitting member is disposed further inside the panel, then the panel structure is achieved, but shadows are generated at both ends of the door causing poor outer appearance
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light emitting members are strategically positioned at different locations within the panel structure, including near the ends of the door. This local distribution of light sources ensures uniform illumination across the entire panel surface, eliminating shadow generation while maintaining the required panel structure complexity.
3Device complexity
If the light source brightness is controlled only by illuminance value, then the technology is simple, but the relationship with user is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates user detection sensors that provide feedback about user presence and proximity to the refrigerator. This feedback is combined with illuminance sensor data to dynamically adjust light source brightness, creating a control system that adapts to both environmental conditions and user context, enhancing versatility while maintaining manageable 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
Enables customizable and energy-efficient lighting that enhances user experience by adjusting brightness and color according to illuminance and time, preventing shadows and improving the refrigerator's appearance without the need for panel replacement.
Implementation Method 1
an illuminance sensor configured to detect illuminance
Implementation Method 2
The light source may include a plurality of LEDs
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance includes a cabinet having a space, a door configured to open and close the space and including a light source, an illuminance sensor provided in the cabinet or the door and configured to detect illuminance, a user detection sensor provided in the cabinet or the door and configured to detect user proximity, and a controller configured to control the light source based on information detected by the user detection sensor, wherein, when a user is detected to approach the home appliance within a reference distance by the user detection sensor, the controller controls the light source of the door to be changed from a first state to a second state, and the reference distance is changeable based on one or more of an illuminance and current time detected by the illuminance sensor.