refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face challenges in providing uniform and even lighting across the entire vertical length of the interior space due to the placement of LEDs, leading to increased component count, higher manufacturing costs, and reduced service performance, as well as an unsightly appearance with light concentration issues.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device configuration featuring a light-emitting unit positioned on the cover of the refrigerator, where light is reflected and transmitted through the cover to provide surface light emission, preventing spotlight phenomena and allowing for easy maintenance and assembly without additional frames or caps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are provided at both ends of the lighting module, then the lighting device can illuminate the refrigerator interior, but uniform and even light distribution across the entire vertical length cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the refrigerator interior. The light guide plate receives light from LEDs positioned at both ends and distributes it uniformly across its entire surface, transforming the point-source lighting into area lighting that illuminates the entire vertical length evenly without requiring additional light sources or complex optical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting solution transitions from one-dimensional point-source illumination (LEDs at ends) to two-dimensional surface illumination using a light guide plate. The light guide plate converts the localized light emission into distributed surface lighting, achieving uniform illumination across the entire vertical length by utilizing the plate's extended surface area.
2Illumination intensity
If a light guide plate and mounting components are added to achieve uniform brightness, then surface light emission is realized, but the number of components increases leading to reduced productivity and increased manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is integrated with the lighting device housing as a single assembled unit. The mounting components are designed to secure the light guide plate and LED module together, allowing the entire lighting assembly to be installed as one component in the refrigerator. This merging reduces the number of separate parts that need to be handled during assembly, improving productivity despite the addition of the light guide plate.
3Ease of manufacture
If the light guide plate frame areas are used for mounting, then the lighting device can be assembled, but these frame regions cannot emit light resulting in poor appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device structure differentiates between regions: the light guide plate's active emission areas are optimized for light transmission, while the frame regions are designed specifically for mechanical mounting and structural support. The frame areas are positioned such that they do not interfere with the light emission zones, and the overall design ensures that the mounting structures are minimal and do not create dark spots that would significantly affect the 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
The solution achieves uniform brightness and improved appearance by ensuring light is emitted from the entire surface, reducing component complexity, lowering costs, and enhancing user experience with easy maintenance and assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting unit accommodated in the cavity, wherein the light-emitting unit is disposed more outwardly than the case opening, wherein the light-emitting unit irradiates light toward an inner surface of the cavity
Implementation Method 2
a reflection portion formed on the cover, wherein the reflection portion is configured to allow light from the light-emission unit directed toward the case opening to be redirected toward the inner surface of the cavity
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A refrigerator apparatus includes a case opening passing through a inner case; and an lighting device in the opening, wherein the device includes: a lamp case having a cavity defined therein; a light-emitting unit accommodated in the cavity, wherein the light-emitting unit is disposed more outwardly than the case opening, wherein the light-emitting unit irradiates light toward an inner surface of the cavity; a cover coupled with the lamp case to cover the case opening, wherein light from the light-emitting unit is reflected from the cavity through the cover toward the refrigerator interior space; and a reflection portion formed on the cover, wherein the reflection portion is configured to allow light from the light-emission unit directed toward the case opening to be redirected toward the inner surface of the cavity.