Refrigerator Shelf Wireless Illumination to Prevent Electrical Hazards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators often struggle to provide uniform illumination within their interior spaces due to the limited placement of light sources, leading to difficulties in locating stored items effectively.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design incorporating a shelf with a built-in light source unit, utilizing wireless power transmission technology to power the light source, where a transmitter and receiver use secondary resonance frequencies to efficiently transmit power without wires, preventing issues like short-circuits and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is installed at a particular position in the inner space, then the illumination is simple to implement, but the entire inner space cannot be uniformly illuminated
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented by installing multiple light sources on different shelves rather than using a single centralized light source. Each shelf with a light source unit independently illuminates its local area, and collectively they achieve uniform illumination of the entire inner space.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination approach transitions from a single-point (vertical) installation to a distributed multi-dimensional arrangement. Light sources are placed on multiple shelves at different heights and positions, creating a three-dimensional illumination network that covers the entire storage compartment uniformly.
2Illumination intensity
If a light source is installed on the shelf, then uniform illumination of the inner space is achieved, but electrical connections may cause short-circuits and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical/electrical connection system is replaced with a wireless power transmission system. Power is transmitted from the main body to the shelf-mounted light source using electromagnetic fields (inductive coupling), eliminating physical electrical contacts and thereby preventing short-circuits and corrosion issues.
Solution Approach 2:
An electromagnetic field serves as an intermediary medium to transfer power from the transmitter in the main body to the receiver in the shelf-mounted light source unit. This intermediary transmission method avoids direct electrical contact between components, enhancing reliability in the humid refrigerator environment.
3Reliability
If wireless power transmission is used to power the light source unit, then electrical hazards are prevented, but power transmission efficiency must be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless power transmission system optimizes energy efficiency by adjusting operational parameters such as transmission frequency and coupling distance. The system activates power transmission only when the shelf is pulled out (changing position parameter), and uses resonance frequency matching to maximize power transfer efficiency while minimizing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless power transmission operates periodically rather than continuously - activating when the shelf is pulled out and deactivating when pushed in. This periodic operation reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable illumination when needed, optimizing the balance between safety and energy efficiency.
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 ensures uniform illumination of the refrigerator interior while avoiding electrical hazards, optimizing power transmission efficiency, and maintaining a safe and efficient illumination system.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter connected to an external power supply for wirelessly transmitting power, and a receiver for wirelessly receiving the power from the transmitter
Implementation Method 2
the transmitter transmits the power to the receiver using a secondary resonance frequency generated when the receiver is located close to the transmitter
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator for uniformly illuminating an inner space thereof. The refrigerator includes a cabinet including a storage compartment having a predetermined size, a shelf installed in the storage compartment, the shelf including a light source unit for illuminating an inside of the storage compartment, a transmitter connected to an external power supply for wirelessly transmitting power, the transmitter having a primary resonance frequency within a predetermined range, and a receiver for wirelessly receiving the power from the transmitter so as to supply the power to the light source unit of the shelf, the transmitter transmitting the power to the receiver using a secondary resonance frequency generated when the receiver is located close to the transmitter.