Transparent Refrigerator Door With Variable Opacity Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have opaque doors, making it difficult for users to see the contents of the storage chamber before opening, leading to cold air loss and increased power consumption due to frequent door openings and closings.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a partially transparent door system, featuring a variable transparency film and lighting device that automatically activates when a user approaches, allowing visibility into the storage chamber without opening the door, and an insulation panel to maintain energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the door is made opaque, then the exterior appearance is clean and simple, but the user cannot see the storage chamber contents without opening the door
Solution Approach 1:
The door incorporates a variable transparency film that can dynamically change between opaque and transparent states based on user needs. This dynamic property allows the door to adapt its transparency rather than being fixed, resolving the contradiction between visibility and appearance by providing both states as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparency parameter of the door is made changeable through the variable transparency film and evaporation treatment. By controlling the transparency parameter (from opaque to transparent), the system can optimize for either visibility or clean appearance depending on the situation, eliminating the need to choose one fixed state.
2Loss of information
If the door is opened frequently to check contents, then the user can see what is stored, but cold air is lost and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable transparency film acts as an intermediary that provides visual access to the storage chamber contents without requiring physical door opening. Users can view the contents through the transparent state of the film, eliminating the need to open the door and lose cold air, thus resolving the contradiction between information access and energy conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The door utilizes optical property changes (transparency/opacity transitions) to provide visibility of storage contents. This optical change allows users to see inside without opening the door, preventing cold air loss while maintaining the ability to access information about stored items.
3Loss of information
If a transparent door is used, then the user can see the storage chamber, but the exterior appearance is compromised and insulation performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The door's transparency is dynamic rather than static. The variable transparency film maintains an opaque state by default to preserve insulation and appearance, transitioning to transparent only when needed for viewing. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by having the door be opaque most of the time (maintaining insulation) and transparent only when visibility is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The door transitions between opaque and transparent states periodically or on-demand based on user interaction (e.g., approaching the refrigerator). This periodic transparency activation minimizes the time the door is transparent, thereby maintaining good insulation performance while still providing visibility when needed.
4Loss of information
If the variable transparency film and lighting device are always on, then the storage chamber is always visible, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable transparency film and lighting device operate periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. They are activated only when a user approaches or requests visibility, and deactivated when not needed. This periodic operation provides visibility when required while minimizing energy consumption during periods when viewing is not necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect user presence and automatically activates the transparency film and lighting only when needed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual switching and ensures the system operates only when providing value, resolving the contradiction between constant visibility and energy efficiency.
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 transparent door system allows users to see the storage chamber contents without opening the door, reducing cold air loss and energy consumption by automatically illuminating and adjusting transparency based on user proximity, while maintaining a clean exterior appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a variable transparency film attached to a back surface of the evaporation treatment unit provided in the front panel to get transparent when the power is supplied
Implementation Method 2
an evaporation treatment unit evaporated on an overall back surface of the front panel to transmit lights partially
Implementation Method 3
a proximity sensor provided in the second door to sense a user's approaching
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a refrigerator; a lighting device provided in the storage chamber, a first door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the storage chamber, an auxiliary storage chamber provided in the first door, a second door, a front panel formed of a transparent material, an evaporation treatment unit evaporated on an overall back surface of the front panel to transmit lights partially, a variable transparency film attached to a back surface of the evaporation treatment unit provided in the front panel to get transparent when the power is supplied, a frame unit with an opening having a corresponding size to an opening provided in the first door, an insulation panel distant from the front panel, a power supply unit for supplying an electric power to the variable transparency film and the lighting device, a proximity sensor provided in the second door to sense a user's approaching.