Tinted console cover for an appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwasher consoles with non-clear resin covers experience light bleed, which decreases lumen intensity and is labor-intensive and costly to address with light-blocking films.
Innovation Solution
A console assembly with a non-clear resin cover and a light-blocking film that defines light pass-through openings, preventing light from escaping and maintaining visibility of emitted light through the console cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If light-blocking film is placed over the edges of the console cover, then light bleed is prevented, but the process becomes labor intensive and expensive with unsatisfactory adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The light-blocking function is merged with the console cover itself by forming the cover from an opaque or translucent material that inherently blocks light. This eliminates the need for separate light-blocking film layers, reducing installation complexity while maintaining light bleed prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The console cover material itself provides the light-blocking property without requiring additional components or installation steps. The opaque or translucent nature of the material enables it to serve its own light-blocking function, eliminating the need for external film application.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If light-blocking film is used to cover console cover edges, then light bleed is reduced, but adherence becomes unsatisfactory and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light-blocking function is integrated into the console cover material itself rather than being provided by a separate film layer. This eliminates adherence issues entirely as the light-blocking capability is inherent to the cover structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The console cover material provides its own light-blocking function through its opaque or translucent properties, eliminating the need for additional film components that would require adherence to the cover surface.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-clear resin is used for the console cover, then light bleed is prevented, but lumen intensity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The console cover is designed with differentiated optical properties in different regions. The material allows sufficient light transmission in areas where illumination is needed while blocking light in areas where bleed would occur, achieving both goals through spatial variation of optical characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical parameters of the console cover material are optimized to balance light transmission and light blocking. By selecting materials with specific transparency or translucency levels, the design achieves adequate lumen intensity while preventing light bleed from escaping the console cover edges.
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
Prevents light bleed from the console cover edges, maintaining light intensity and eliminating the need for additional light-blocking components, while simplifying installation and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The console cover is formed at least in part of a non-clear resin that is substantially opaque such that, when light is emitted by the light source, light emitted by the light source that passes through the console cover and the light pass-through opening is visible to a human eye and light bleed from the one or more edges is not visible to the human eye
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher appliance having a console assembly equipped with light bleed prevention features is provided. In one aspect, the dishwasher includes a cabinet, a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet, and a console assembly mounted to the door. The console assembly includes a light source operable to emit light into a console cover. A light blocking film is mounted to a top surface of the console cover and defines a light pass-through opening through which light may pass to illuminate an indicia. The console cover includes one or more edges that may be exposed to an ambient environment. The console cover is formed at least in part of a non-clear resin such that light is allowed to travel through the console cover and through the light pass-through opening yet light bleed stemming from the one or more edges is not visible to a human eye.