Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator lighting causes glare and detracts from aesthetics due to direct illumination, which affects user experience and visual appeal.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a pair of lighting units along the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment cold air supply duct, which indirectly illuminates the interior by reflecting light off the curved surfaces of the refrigerating case, thereby eliminating direct glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting is installed in the refrigerator compartment, then the user can clearly check the foods stored inside, but the lighting causes glare and deteriorated aesthetics because the user directly recognizes the lighting
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the lighting unit and the refrigerator compartment interior. The lighting unit emits light that is transmitted through the light guide plate, which then directs the light to illuminate the compartment indirectly. This mediator prevents direct exposure of the light source to users, eliminating glare while maintaining effective illumination for viewing stored foods.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting design transitions from direct frontal illumination to indirect illumination through a different spatial dimension. Instead of placing lights directly facing the user, the lighting units are positioned at the rear of the compartment and light is guided through the light guide plate to illuminate from the sides and rear surfaces, changing the dimensional approach to lighting delivery.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional lighting is installed in the refrigerator compartment, then the compartment is illuminated for visibility, but the direct lighting deteriorates the aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate serves as a mediator that transforms the appearance of lighting within the compartment. By guiding light through this component rather than allowing direct exposure of bulbous lighting units, the aesthetic appearance is improved while still achieving comprehensive illumination coverage of the refrigerator compartment interior.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly exposing the lighting unit structure, the design uses the light guide plate to create a softened, diffused copy of the light output. The light guide plate replicates and redistributes the light in a visually pleasing manner that maintains functional illumination while improving aesthetic appearance.
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
This solution reduces glare and enhances the aesthetic appeal by providing a soft, indirect lighting effect that improves user experience without compromising the refrigerator's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
indirectly illuminates the interior by reflecting light off the curved surfaces of the refrigerating case
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator incudes a refrigerating case constituting a refrigerator compartment; and a refrigerator compartment cold air supply duct disposed in a rear surface of the refrigerating case, spaced apart from one lateral surface and the other lateral surface of the refrigerating case. The refrigerator compartment cold air supply duct may include a pair of lighting units disposed along both sides of the rear surface, and the pair of lighting units may be disposed to face the lateral surface and the other lateral surface of the refrigerating case, respectively.