Home appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs fail to allow for easy change of the front exterior surface without disassembling the door, and they often expose internal configurations when attempting to implement colored lighting, which affects the aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a front plate with a base layer and a colored layer that can transmit light, combined with a lighting device and controller, allowing the door to change colors without disassembly, ensuring the internal configuration remains concealed and maintaining a luxurious appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a transparent panel is used to allow colored light transmission, then the lighting effect is improved, but the internal configuration becomes exposed to users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a switchable transparency mechanism that allows the panel to dynamically change between transparent and opaque states. This enables the system to adapt its transparency property based on operational conditions, allowing light transmission when needed while concealing internal components when the lighting device is off.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a panel with variable optical properties that can change its light transmission characteristics. The panel is designed to transmit colored light effectively while maintaining the ability to obscure internal configurations, achieving both aesthetic lighting effects and component protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the transmittance of light of the transparent panel is lowered to conceal the internal configuration, then the privacy is improved, but it becomes difficult to implement a set color
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamically controllable panel that can adjust its optical properties. When opacity is increased to conceal internal components, the lighting device can still emit colored light that interacts with the panel to produce the desired color effect, maintaining color implementation capability across different transparency states.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it can conceal internal configurations when needed, transmit colored light for aesthetic purposes, and maintain color fidelity across different levels of transparency. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between privacy and color implementation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a decor panel is detachably provided to change the front exterior, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as the entire panel must be removed and replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the decor panel into multiple detachable sections or modules that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows users to change the exterior appearance by swapping only the desired panel sections rather than removing the entire panel assembly, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates easily detachable and attachable panel sections with simplified coupling mechanisms. These dynamic connection designs enable quick exterior changes without requiring complex disassembly procedures, making the adaptability feature user-friendly and operationally simple.
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 the door to emit light evenly and change colors as desired by the user, maintaining a luxurious appearance both when the lighting is on and off, while preventing exposure of internal components.
Implementation Method 1
a colored layer formed on one surface of the base layer and has a first color, wherein the front surface of the door has the first color when the lighting device is turned off
Implementation Method 2
a lighting device emitting light of a set color, wherein the front surface of the door shines in a color selected by a user when the lighting device is turned on
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance includes a cabinet having a storage space formed therein; a door configured to open and close an open front of the cabinet; a panel assembly mounted on a front surface of the door; and a controller, wherein the panel assembly includes: a front plate forming a front exterior of the door and transmitting light; and a lighting device emitting light of a set color, wherein the front plate includes: a base layer; and a colored layer formed on one surface of the base layer and has a first color, wherein the front surface of the door has the first color when the lighting device is turned off, and wherein the front surface of the door shines in a color selected by a user when the lighting device is turned on.