Refrigerator Shelf Edge Light Guide for Even Front Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In typical refrigerators, the light-guiding member is large in size and complex in structure due to its need to be longitudinally disposed on both sides of the shelf, which complicates the illumination effect and increases material costs.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a light-guiding member that is minimized in size and simplified in structure by using a Light Guide Plate (LGP) with a scattering agent, integrated with a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module, where the LGP is disposed on the shelf edge and illuminated by LEDs positioned on the inner case, allowing even light dispersion and reflection to maximize front-side illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-guiding member is longitudinally disposed on both sides of the shelf to illuminate the storage compartment, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the size and structural complexity of the light-guiding member increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light-guiding function from a complex longitudinal structure and concentrates it into a small member disposed only at the front edge of the shelf. This small light-guiding member reflects light from the LED module to illuminate the front side of the shelf, achieving effective illumination coverage without requiring a large and complex structure spanning the entire shelf length.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the light-guiding member illuminate the entire storage compartment directly, the patent inverts the approach by using the light-guiding member to illuminate only the front side of the shelf, where the LED module is positioned. The LED module itself provides illumination for the rest of the storage compartment, creating a simplified division of illumination functions.
2Illumination intensity
If a light-guiding member is disposed longitudinally on both sides of the shelf to maximize illumination, then the illumination effect is improved, but the material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential light-guiding function and implements it in a small member located only at the front edge of the shelf, rather than using extensive light-guiding material along the entire longitudinal length of the shelf. This significantly reduces the quantity of light-guiding material required while maintaining effective illumination of the front side where it is most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the light source and light guidance into a compact integration at the front edge of the shelf. The LED module and the small light-guiding member work together as a unified illumination system, eliminating the need for separate extensive light-guiding structures and reducing overall material requirements.
3Illumination intensity
If a light-guiding member is made large in size to cover the entire shelf length, then the illumination coverage is improved, but the size of the refrigerator interior space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light-guiding function from a space-consuming longitudinal structure and concentrates it into a compact member at the front edge of the shelf. This small light-guiding member reflects light to illuminate the front side effectively while occupying minimal interior space, preserving the refrigerator's storage capacity.
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
This design maximizes illumination of the shelf's front side while reducing the size and material cost of the light-guiding member, simplifying its structure and ensuring consistent lighting across the shelf, even with adjustable shelf heights.
Implementation Method 1
a light-guiding member 40 which is disposed on a shelf 6 and guides light from the light source unit 8
Implementation Method 2
using a Light Guide Plate (LGP) with a scattering agent
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body, a door, a shelf, a light source unit, and a light-guiding member. The main body includes a storage compartment. The door opens and closes the storage compartment. The shelf is detachably coupled to the storage compartment to partition the storage compartment into a plurality of spaces. The light source unit illuminates the storage compartment. The light-guiding member is disposed on at least one end of the shelf. Here, the light source unit is disposed such that a portion of light generated in the light source unit enters the light-guiding member.