Refrigerator Shelf Lighting Power Circuit for Adaptive LED Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator appliances face challenges in efficiently powering adjustable shelves with lighting devices, as existing systems often require manual configuration and lack adaptive power management, leading to inefficient energy distribution and potential over-powering of shelves.
Innovation Solution
A power supply circuit with electrical connectors and a jumper block system that selectively supplies power to a subset of shelf mounting positions, utilizing an LED driver and electronic controller to determine and adapt to the arrangement of adjustable shelves, allowing for efficient power distribution and multiple current levels from different power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If power is supplied to all shelf mounting positions, then all shelves can be illuminated, but energy is wasted when not all shelves are installed or needed
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply circuit dynamically adapts to the actual shelf configuration by detecting which electrical connectors have installed shelves and automatically adjusting power distribution accordingly. This dynamic adaptation eliminates energy waste on uninstalled shelves while maintaining full adaptability to various shelf arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the presence of shelves at each mounting position and use this information to control power supply to corresponding electrical connectors. This feedback loop ensures power is supplied only to active shelves, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and configuration flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If manual configuration is required for power supply, then power can be precisely controlled, but operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply circuit performs self-configuration by automatically detecting shelf presence at each electrical connector and independently controlling power supply to each position without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability eliminates configuration time while maintaining precise power control, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time loss.
3Device complexity
If fixed power supply is used for all connectors, then power distribution is simple, but it causes over-powering when not all shelves are installed
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply circuit is segmented into multiple independent control channels, each corresponding to a specific electrical connector and shelf position. Each segment can be independently activated or deactivated based on shelf presence, allowing simple individual control while preventing energy waste on uninstalled shelves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality control by providing different power supply states to different electrical connectors based on local shelf presence conditions. Each connector receives power only when a shelf is installed at its position, achieving energy efficiency without requiring complex global power management.
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 efficient and adaptive power management to adjustable shelves, optimizing energy use and ensuring proper lighting conditions based on shelf arrangement, reducing energy waste and enhancing user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The LED driver may be configured to determine an arrangement of the plurality of adjustable shelves by sensing whether each of the plurality of selectable power supply channels is electrically coupled to at least one lighting device
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein and a plurality of electrical connectors disposed at a plurality of shelf mounting positions within the temperature-controlled compartment. The refrigerator appliance also includes a plurality of adjustable shelves each carrying at least one light emitting diode (LED), where each of the plurality of adjustable shelves is removably mounted in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the at least one LED is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of electrical connectors. The refrigerator appliance further includes a power supply circuit that is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical connectors and that is configured to selectively supply power to only a subset of the plurality of electrical connectors.