Refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators require opening the door to confirm the storage of food, leading to unnecessary leakage of cool air and increased energy consumption, as the interior is not visible without opening the door.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator with a selectively transparent door panel that allows users to see inside without opening the door, featuring a transparent display assembly with a light guide plate supported by spacers to maintain thermal insulation and prevent scratches, while minimizing thermal deformation and allowing for screen output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the door is made opaque to maintain thermal insulation, then energy loss is reduced, but the user cannot see the stored food without opening the door

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecool air leakageVSAvoidvisibility of stored food

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The door panel incorporates a transparent display assembly that can change its optical properties. The display can switch between transparent and opaque states, or display visual information about stored food, allowing users to view food contents without physically opening the door, thus preventing cool air leakage while maintaining visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Ease of operation

If the door is made transparent to see stored food, then user convenience is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of stored foodVSAvoidthermal insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent display assembly can dynamically change between transparent and opaque states based on user needs. When transparency is not required, the door maintains full insulation performance. When viewing is needed, the display becomes transparent temporarily, minimizing overall energy loss while providing necessary visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Device complexity

If the light guide plate is placed close to the display for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal deformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly structureVSAvoidthermal deformation of light guide plate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between the display and the light guide plate. This spacer maintains a controlled distance between the two components, preventing direct thermal contact while keeping the overall assembly compact. The spacer acts as a thermal barrier, reducing heat transfer to the light guide plate and minimizing thermal deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the light guide plate is rigidly fixed for stable positioning, then position stability is improved, but scratches occur on the plate surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidscratches on light guide plate

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible spacer is used to support the light guide plate instead of rigid fixing mechanisms. The flexible material provides gentle support that maintains positioning stability while accommodating thermal expansion and contraction of the light guide plate. This flexible support prevents mechanical stress and scratching that would occur with rigid fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 verify stored food without opening the door, reducing energy loss and enhancing user convenience by providing a clear view of the interior while maintaining thermal insulation and preventing damage to the light guide plate.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide plate disposed to be spaced apart from the display inside the sealed space; a display light emitting light to an end of the light guide plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight guide: Waveguide (optics)

Implementation Method 2

an outer spacer defining a circumferential surface of the transparent display assembly and having both ends coming into contact with the front panel and the rear panel to provide a sealed space between the front panel and the rear panel; a first spacer mounted on the rear surface of the front panel to support the light guide plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS10285513B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, the door, and a transparent display covering an opening of the door through which an inner space of the refrigerator is visible. The transparent display assembly includes a front panel, a rear panel, an outer spacer defining a circumferential surface of the transparent display assembly and a sealed space between the front panel and the rear panel, a display disposed inside the sealed space, a light guide plate, a display light configured to emit light to an end of the light guide plate, and a first spacer mounted on a rear surface of the front panel and configured to support the light guide plate and maintain a predetermined distance between the light guide plate and the front panel.