Integrated Washer Control Panel Housing for Light Scattering Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing washing machine control panels face issues with light scattering from multiple light emitting elements, leading to deteriorated display quality and poor button operation, along with complex assembly processes and high production costs due to the numerous components involved.
Innovation Solution
A control panel design featuring a circuit board housing with a light guide to direct light forward and a main control unit that shields the rear side of the circuit board, made of fire-retardant materials, to prevent heat transfer and simplify assembly, while reducing the number of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a great number of members are arranged in front of the light emitting elements and switches, then the control panel can be assembled with separate components for flexibility, but light scattering occurs resulting in deterioration of display quality and poor button operation ability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guide member, button support member, and circuit board housing into a single integrated housing structure. This consolidation eliminates the scattering of light that occurred with multiple separate members while maintaining the functional flexibility of having distinct components for light guiding, button support, and circuit board accommodation within the unified structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a great number of members are arranged in front of the light emitting elements and switches, then the control panel can be assembled with separate components, but the assembly process becomes complicated and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional members (light guide member, button support member, and housing) into a single integrated circuit board housing. This reduces the number of separate components that need to be assembled, simplifying the assembly process and reducing production complexity while maintaining the ability to provide distinct functions for light guiding, button support, and circuit board accommodation.
3Reliability
If insulating material is coated on the front surface of the circuit board to prevent heat transfer when fire occurs, then fire safety is improved, but the number of components and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fire-retardant plastic housing as an intermediary structure between the light emitting elements and the external environment. This housing provides the fire safety function that would otherwise require insulating material coating on the circuit board, while eliminating the need for additional insulating materials and their associated assembly steps. The housing acts as a mediator that protects against fire hazards without adding component complexity.
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 enhances assembly efficiency, improves display quality by reducing light scattering, and lowers production costs by simplifying the assembly process and integrating the main control unit with the control panel, while providing fire safety without the need for additional insulating coatings.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide member to guide light forward from the light emitting elements
Implementation Method 2
The circuit board housing may be made of fire-retardant plastic
Data Source
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AI summary
A washing machine including a main body and a control panel (100) mounted to the main body. The control panel includes a control panel frame (110) assembled to the main body, a circuit board (140) housing coupled to a rear side of the control panel frame and having an open rear side, and a circuit board accommodated in the circuit board housing (130). The circuit board is inserted into the circuit board housing through the open rear side of the circuit board housing such that a front surface thereof, on which light emitting elements (144) to display operational modes of the washing machine are mounted, faces an inner wall surface of a front wall portion of the circuit board housing.