Rotatable Frusto-Spherical Lighting Assembly for Directional Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting assemblies in over-the-range microwave appliances and range hoods provide diffuse and fixed lighting, making it difficult to focus or direct light effectively to specific areas.
Innovation Solution
A lighting assembly featuring a frusto-spherical housing mounted for rotation within a bracket, equipped with an adjustment mechanism and a light source, allowing for directional control and focusing of light through a lens, enabling users to direct light where needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed lighting assembly with incandescent bulb is used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the light cannot be focused or directed to specific areas
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting assembly incorporates a rotatable housing that allows the light direction to be dynamically adjusted. The housing can rotate about a first axis, and the light source can be adjusted to point in different directions within the housing, enabling the lighting to adapt to various illumination needs rather than being fixed in a single direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting assembly is divided into separate functional components: a rotatable housing, an adjustable light source mounting, and a support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the housing provides rotational movement, the light source provides directional adjustment, and the support structure provides stability, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If an incandescent bulb is used, then the lighting assembly is simple to manufacture, but the light is dim and diffuse
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable light source mounting allows the light source to be positioned at different angles and orientations within the housing. This dynamic positioning capability enables the light to be directed precisely where needed, concentrating illumination on specific areas rather than distributing it diffusely, thereby improving illumination intensity without requiring a complete redesign of the manufacturing process.
3Ease of operation
If the lighting assembly is fixed in place, then the installation is simple and reliable, but the light cannot be easily focused where needed
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting assembly incorporates multiple degrees of freedom: the housing rotates about a first axis to change the general direction of light, and the light source itself can be adjusted to point in different directions within the housing. This dynamic adjustment capability allows easy focusing of light on different areas while the overall mounting remains stable and reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure is segmented into a stable support base and a movable housing assembly. The support structure provides reliable fixed installation, while the housing and light source components provide adjustable positioning. This segmentation allows the system to maintain mounting stability while enabling easy light focusing and directional control.
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 flexible and targeted lighting, improving illumination where required, such as on cooking surfaces, countertops, or other objects, enhancing usability and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a lens is mounted within the frusto-spherical housing. The lens is spaced apart from the light source by a distance that can be selectively adjusted in order to provide selective focus of light emitted by the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting assembly is provided. The lighting assembly includes a bracket and a frusto-spherical housing received by the bracket and mounted for rotation relative to the bracket. By rotating the frusto-spherical housing within the bracket, light emitted by the lighting assembly can be focused or directed in a selected direction.