Switch assembly and cooking apparatus having the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking apparatuses often have switch assemblies that do not effectively distribute light uniformly, leading to reduced visibility and increased costs due to the need for multiple light sources.
Innovation Solution
A switch assembly with a light guide system that includes a first light guide portion to disperse light from a light source and a second light guide portion to guide the dispersed light, ensuring uniform light distribution around the switch using a single LED, reducing costs and enhancing visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to achieve uniform light distribution, then visibility is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED light source and the switch exterior surface. The light guide receives light from the LED and distributes it uniformly across the entire exterior surface of the switch, achieving the effect of multiple light sources while using only a single LED.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide distributes light in a two-dimensional plane across the exterior surface of the switch. By transforming the point-source light from the LED into a distributed surface illumination, the system achieves uniform lighting coverage without requiring multiple light sources positioned at different locations.
2Quantity of substance
If a single LED is used to reduce cost, then cost decreases, but uniform light distribution becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as a mediator that takes the non-uniform point-source light from the single LED and transforms it into uniform distributed light across the switch exterior surface. This intermediary component enables cost reduction through single-LED usage while maintaining uniform illumination quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide changes the spatial distribution parameters of the light. It transforms the concentrated light parameters from the LED into distributed light parameters across the surface, achieving uniformity through parameter transformation rather than through multiple light sources.
3Device complexity
If light is emitted directly from the LED, then device complexity is reduced, but visibility around the switch is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide performs multiple functions: it receives light from the LED, distributes light uniformly across the switch exterior surface, and enhances visibility around the switch. This single component achieves what would otherwise require multiple separate lighting elements, maintaining simplicity while improving performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system transitions from a point-source configuration to a surface illumination configuration. The light guide expands the light distribution from a single point (the LED) to a two-dimensional surface (the switch exterior), significantly improving visibility without adding complex multi-point lighting structures.
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
The light guide system uniformly distributes light around the switch, improving visibility and reducing costs by using a single LED, while maintaining efficient light emission over the entire light emitting surface.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide provided to uniformly disperse light emitted from the LED module around the switch
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a cooking apparatus including a switch assembly configured to uniformly distribute light emitted around a switch.A cooking apparatus includes a main body having a cooking chamber and a switch assembly rotatably mounted on the main body. The switch assembly includes a switch rotatably provided, a switch holder coupled to the switch and a light guide disposed between the switch and the switch holder to uniformly emit light emitted from a light source.