Refrigerator Light Guide Design for Drawer and Interior Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In prior art refrigerators and freezers, the limited installation space between the ceiling and air gap, as well as the distance between the door and drawers, restricts the effective placement and functionality of lighting solutions, particularly in illuminating the interior and extended drawers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a lighting unit comprising a light guide and a light source, where the input geometry is designed to couple light into the guide, and the output geometry is arranged closer to the open front side to illuminate the interior and drawers, utilizing a bend or angle in the light guide and an oblique, round, concave, or convex output geometry, with a full vacuum thermal insulation system to reduce condensation and enhance light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the lighting unit is placed entirely in the front area between the ceiling and air gap, then the installation space is insufficient, but the lighting coverage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide extends in the depth dimension of the refrigerator, allowing the light source to be positioned in the front area while the light output extends toward the rear, illuminating drawers at multiple positions without requiring increased front area space
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide acts as an intermediary between the light source and the interior/drawers, transmitting light from the compact front-area source to illuminate deeper regions that would otherwise be inaccessible
2Length of moving object
If the distance between the door and drawers is reduced, then the installation space is constrained, but the lighting cannot reach pulled-out drawers effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting solution utilizes the depth dimension by extending the light guide toward the rear of the refrigerator, compensating for the reduced front-to-back distance and ensuring light reaches drawers even when they are pulled out
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is designed to dynamically illuminate drawers in their pulled-out position by positioning the light output to extend beyond the drawer's retracted position, adapting to the drawer's movement state
3Area of stationary object
If the light source is positioned close to the ceiling for compact installation, then the installation space is optimized, but the light distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as an intermediary that distributes light uniformly along its length, taking the point source from the ceiling and transforming it into a linear light source that provides even illumination across the interior and drawers
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide transforms the spatial distribution of light from a concentrated point on the ceiling to an extended linear distribution along the depth of the refrigerator, achieving uniform illumination through dimensional transformation
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 provides efficient and uniform illumination of the interior and drawers, reducing color fringes and condensation issues, while optimizing the use of limited installation space and ensuring that all drawers are illuminated when opened.
Implementation Method 1
the lighting unit comprises a light guide (1) and a light source (2), wherein the light guide (1) has an input geometry or structure and an output geometry or structure, wherein the input geometry and the light source (2) are designed and arranged in such a way to couple light from the light source (2) into the light guide (1)
Implementation Method 2
the device has thermal insulation in the form of a full vacuum system
Implementation Method 3
A full vacuum system is understood to mean thermal insulation that consists exclusively or predominantly of an evacuated area filled with a core material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer with a locking element and a cooled interior, wherein the appliance has a ceiling and an open front that can be closed by the locking element, wherein a lighting unit is arranged on and/or in the ceiling, wherein the lighting unit comprises a light guide and a light source, wherein the light guide has an input geometry and an output geometry, wherein the input geometry and the light source are designed and arranged to couple light from the light source into the light guide, and wherein the output geometry is designed to couple the coupled light out of the light guide and to illuminate the interior and/or an extended drawer at least partially, wherein the output geometry is arranged horizontally closer to the open front than the input geometry.