refrigerator
Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators lack a convenient method for users to verify the contents inside without opening the door, leading to unnecessary cooling air leakage and increased door opening times, especially when the storage position of food is unknown.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a transparent door assembly that allows users to see inside without opening it, featuring a light guide plate, spacers, and a display light system that prevents damage from door impacts and long-term use, while maintaining thermal insulation and supporting the light guide plate for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is made transparent to allow viewing inside the refrigerator, then users can confirm contents without opening the door, but the structural complexity of the door increases due to additional components like light guide plates and display assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the display assembly and light guide plate within the door structure itself. The display is positioned between the front and rear panels of the door, with the light guide plate nested within the same space, allowing multiple functional components to be integrated into the door without significantly increasing external dimensions or visual complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural containment, integrates the transparent display function, houses the light guide plate for illumination, and incorporates spacers for structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the light guide plate is positioned close to the display for optimal illumination, then lighting efficiency improves, but the risk of damage from door impacts and long-term use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning spacers between the light guide plate and the display before any damage can occur. These spacers create a protective buffer zone that absorbs impacts and prevents direct contact between the light guide plate and potentially damaging components, ensuring the light guide plate's longevity while maintaining adequate illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers serve as intermediary elements between the light guide plate and the display. They mediate the spatial relationship by maintaining a controlled distance, allowing light to pass through while providing mechanical protection. This intermediary structure enables the system to achieve both lighting efficiency and component protection.
3Reliability
If spacers are used to maintain distance between the light guide plate and display for protection, then durability improves, but the lighting efficiency may decrease due to increased distance
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are strategically positioned at specific locations where protection is most needed, rather than creating a uniform large gap throughout. This localized approach provides necessary protection at critical points while maintaining optimal light transmission paths in other areas, thus balancing protection requirements with lighting 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
Enables users to confirm contents without opening the door, reducing cooling air leakage and power consumption, while ensuring the display light remains functional and the light guide plate remains undamaged, maintaining thermal insulation and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide plate spaced apart from the display to brighten up the display
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door opening and closing the cabinet, and a transparent display assembly which covers an opening of the door and through which an inner space of the refrigerator is seen. The transparent display assembly includes a front panel defining at least a portion of a front surface of the door, a rear panel defining at least a portion of a rear surface of the door, a display disposed between the front panel and the rear panel, a light guide plate spaced apart from the display to brighten up the display, a spacer disposed between the front panel and the light guide plate to allow the light guide plate to be maintained at predetermined distance from the display, a display light (68) disposed outside the light guide plate to emit light to an end of the light guide plate, and a light guide plate stopper (683) further protruding than the display light (68) between the end of the light guide plate and the display light (68) to prevent the display light (68) from coming into contact with the end of the light guide plate.