Refrigerator with a hidden display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with through holes on the outer plate for displaying information suffer from aesthetic deterioration and complex mounting structures, leading to inaccurate information display due to misalignment of light emitting parts and holes.
Innovation Solution
A hidden display assembly in refrigerators with a first display for error codes and current state information, and a second hidden display for test results or mode information, using light guides and a diffusion sheet to ensure stable alignment and improved aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If through holes are formed on the outer plate for display, then information can be displayed, but aesthetic sense deteriorates and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the display function from the outer plate by moving it to the inner plate. The display assembly is mounted on the inner plate and faces the storage space, eliminating the need for through holes in the outer plate. This separates the display function from the exterior surface, preserving aesthetic appearance while maintaining information display capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display is repositioned from a two-dimensional surface display on the outer plate to a three-dimensional space-facing display on the inner plate. This dimensional shift allows the display to face the storage space interior rather than requiring penetration through the outer plate surface, thus avoiding aesthetic deterioration.
2Loss of information
If through holes are formed on the outer plate, then information can be displayed, but mounting structure becomes complicated and alignment precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly is extracted from the outer plate mounting system and relocated to the inner plate. This eliminates the complex mounting structure required for through holes and alignment mechanisms in the outer plate, simplifying the overall mounting system while maintaining display functionality.
3Loss of information
If through holes are formed on the outer plate, then information can be displayed, but alignment precision between holes and light emitting parts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display assembly with light emitting parts is extracted and mounted on the inner plate, eliminating the need for precise alignment between through holes and light emitting parts in the outer plate. This relocation removes the alignment precision requirement entirely, as the display now faces the storage space without requiring light transmission through the outer plate.
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 allows for easy service access and accurate information display while maintaining a sleek exterior, reducing manufacturing complexity and enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide configured to guide light of the light emitting part
Implementation Method 2
a diffusion sheet disposed at a position that corresponds to the second light guide
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space, a door configured to open or close the storage space, a display assembly detachably coupled to the door, and a display window disposed on a front surface of the door and having a transmission part capable of transmitting light. The display assembly includes a first display disposed to correspond to the transmission part and a second display disposed not to correspond to the transmission part.