Refrigerator Shelf Edge Lighting for Even Front-Side Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical refrigerators have large and complex light-guiding members that are inefficient in maximizing illumination on the front side of shelves while increasing material costs and structural complexity.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a light source unit positioned on the inner case to illuminate a light-guiding member disposed on the shelf's edge, using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module with a substrate and scattering agent to evenly distribute light across the shelf, minimizing the size and material cost of the light-guiding member and simplifying its structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-guiding member is longitudinally disposed in forward and backward directions of a shelf, then illumination coverage is improved, but the light-guiding member becomes large in size and complicated in structure
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding member is segmented into a first light-guiding member disposed at the front side of the shelf and a second light-guiding member disposed at the rear side of the shelf. This segmentation allows each member to be shorter and simpler in structure while collectively providing comprehensive illumination coverage across the entire shelf space.
2Illumination intensity
If a light-guiding member is longitudinally disposed in forward and backward directions of a shelf, then illumination coverage is improved, but material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding member is divided into two separate segments positioned at different locations (front and rear) of the shelf. This segmentation reduces the total length of light-guiding material required compared to a single longitudinal member, thereby reducing material cost while maintaining effective illumination coverage.
3Illumination intensity
If a light source unit is disposed to illuminate the storage compartment, then illumination function is provided, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The light source unit is integrated directly into the shelf holder structure, merging the lighting function with the existing support structure. This eliminates the need for separate lighting assemblies and reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining effective illumination of the storage compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf holder is designed to serve multiple functions: supporting the shelf and simultaneously housing the light source unit. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure while providing both mechanical support and illumination functions.
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 on the shelf's front side, reduces material costs, and simplifies the structure of the light-guiding member, providing even lighting and enhanced internal decoration while allowing for adjustable shelf heights without the need for separate lighting units.
Implementation Method 1
a light source unit illuminating the storage compartment; and a light-guiding member disposed on at least one end of the shelf, wherein the light source unit is disposed such that a portion of light generated in the light source unit enters the light-guiding member
Implementation Method 2
using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) module with a substrate and scattering agent to evenly distribute light across the shelf
Data Source
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.