Refrigerator with automatic lighting and method to control the automatic lighting of a refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated wine display cabinets face challenges with inconvenient user interfaces for controlling internal lights, leading to energy inefficiency and bulb life issues, especially when combined with automatic door opening systems.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a position sensor and control device that activates internal lights and opens the door based on user interaction, allowing activation through touch and integrating with automatic opening systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the user interface is positioned near the roof of the cabinet for controlling internal lights, then the control is integrated into the system, but the user interface becomes difficult to reach in large cabinets
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting control function is extracted from the centralized user interface on the roof and relocated to the door surface. Users can now control the internal lights by interacting with the door itself (touching or knocking), which is easily accessible. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining control integration through wireless communication while improving accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the internal lights are left on due to inconvenient control, then the user can always see the bottles, but energy consumption increases and bulb life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The door itself becomes the control interface for the lighting system. When the user touches or knocks on the door, the system automatically activates the internal lights without requiring the user to navigate to a remote interface. This self-service approach ensures lights are only activated when needed, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining ease of use.
3Device complexity
If a dedicated control on the user interface is used for switching internal lights, then the lighting control is centralized, but the control becomes very inconvenient with automatic door opening systems
Solution Approach 1:
The door serves multiple functions: it remains the primary structural component for opening/closing while also functioning as the control interface for the lighting system. By integrating the control function into the door itself, the system works seamlessly with both manual and automatic door opening modes, resolving the contradiction between centralization and convenience.
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
Provides a convenient and energy-efficient lighting control system that integrates seamlessly with automatic door opening, enhancing user experience and reducing energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
a position sensor configured to detect current positions of a reference portion of the door relative to a reference portion of the main body
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator comprises:a main body provided with a cooling chamber;a door hinged to the main body and movable between a stationary closed position, in which the door closes the cooling chamber, and a fully open position; the door being provided with at least one transparent portion;a position sensor configured to detect current positions of a reference portion of the door relative to a reference portion of the main body;a lighting system comprising at least one light source arranged within the chamber;a control device, configured to activate the at least one light source in response to a command given by a user on the door; the control device being configured to activate the at least one light source when the variation of the current position with respect to a reference position is greater, in absolute value, than an activation threshold.