Rotatable Water Discharge Unit With Light-Guided Status Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
In direct filtration type water purifiers, users face difficulty in intuitively recognizing the position of the water discharge hole due to its rotational capability, and there is a need for immediate information on the discharged water without visual attention.
Innovation Solution
A water discharge unit with a rotatable body and a display device that uses light sources and a light guide cover to indicate the discharge position and water type, featuring separate indicators for purified, cold, and hot water, controlled by a detecting sensor and controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the faucet is made rotatable to enable position change of water discharge hole, then user convenience is improved, but intuitive recognition of water discharge position becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded light sources (first light source, second light source) that emit different colors to indicate the water discharge position and water type. The light guide cover transmits these colored lights to create visual indicators that are easily recognizable, solving the problem of intuitive recognition while maintaining rotatability for user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide cover acts as an intermediary element that guides and transmits light from the light sources to the external environment. It includes light guiding holes that direct light to indicate water discharge position and type, serving as a mediator between the internal light sources and the user's visual perception.
2Loss of information
If visual attention is required to obtain information on discharged water, then information accuracy is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to need for continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-coded visual indicators that provide immediate information about water type (purified, cold, hot) without requiring user attention. The different colored lights emitted by the light sources and transmitted through the light guide cover enable users to quickly identify water type at a glance, maintaining information accuracy while eliminating the need for continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator system operates autonomously to provide water information without requiring user intervention or attention. The light sources and light guide cover work together to automatically display water discharge position and type, enabling the system to serve itself by providing continuous information display that users can access passively.
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 intuitive water discharge position recognition and immediate information on water type through visible indicators, enhancing user convenience and clarity.
Implementation Method 1
a guide case configured to guide light emitted from the first light source and light emitted from the second light source so as to be incident on the light guide cover, and to prevent the light emitted from the first light source from being mixed with the light emitted from the second light source
Implementation Method 2
the light guide cover is configured to project the light emitted from the first light source and incident on the light guide cover in a direction of water discharge from the water discharge tube to indicate the direction of water discharge
Implementation Method 3
project the light emitted from the second light source and incident on the light guide cover toward an outer peripheral surface of the display device to indicate which of purified water, cold water, and hot water is selected
Data Source
AI summary
A water purifier including a water discharge unit configured so that purified, cold, and hot water are selectably dischargeable therethrough, the water discharge unit including a rotatable body, a water discharge tube having a changeable position according to rotation of the body, and a display device including a first and a second light source, a light guide cover, and a guide case to guide light emitted from the first and second light source so as to be incident on the light guide cover, and to prevent mixing of the light from the first and the second light sources. The light guide cover projects the light from the first light source in a direction of water discharge from the water discharge tube, and projects the light from the second light source toward an outer peripheral surface of the display device to indicate which of purified, cold, and hot water is selected.