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 guide plates.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a lighting device with a light-emitting unit positioned outwardly from the case opening, where light is reflected through a cover to provide surface illumination, minimizing the need for additional components and connection lines, and enhancing the appearance by preventing spotlight effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are provided at both ends of a vertical lighting module, then the lighting module can be assembled, but uniform and bright light quantity 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 cover. The light guide plate receives light from LEDs at both ends and distributes it uniformly across the entire vertical surface through internal light guiding and diffusion mechanisms, eliminating the need for multiple LED arrays while achieving even illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting approach transitions from point-source illumination (LEDs at ends) to surface illumination by using a light guide plate that extends light distribution across the two-dimensional vertical surface of the cover, achieving uniform brightness throughout the entire 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, lowering productivity and increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is integrated directly with the cover structure, merging two previously separate components (light guide plate and cover) into a unified assembly. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting components and simplifies the assembly process, improving productivity while maintaining surface light emission functionality.
3Illumination intensity
If a light guide plate is used for uniform lighting, then brightness uniformity is improved, but the frame and end regions where light sources are disposed cannot emit light, creating appearance disadvantages
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting module employs different lighting strategies for different regions: the central area uses the light guide plate for uniform surface emission, while the end regions incorporate additional light-emitting structures or enhanced LED placement to ensure these previously dark areas also contribute to the overall illumination, achieving uniformity across the entire surface including borders.
4Ease of operation
If multiple components are used for lighting, then lighting functionality is achieved, but service performance is lowered due to increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting module is designed as a segmented, modular unit that can be easily detached from the refrigerator interior. The entire lighting assembly (including LEDs, light guide plate, and cover) forms a replaceable module that can be quickly removed and replaced as a single unit, significantly simplifying maintenance and repair operations despite the integrated internal structure.
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 surface lighting across the interior space, simplifies maintenance, and improves the aesthetic appeal by eliminating the need for extra frames or caps, while reducing the overall component count and manufacturing costs.
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 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
Implementation Method 3
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.