Washing Machine LED Panel Assembly for Uniform Light Diffusion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control panel assemblies for washing machines face issues with non-uniform light emission and diffusion from LEDs, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced productivity due to the need for additional components like films to address these problems.
Innovation Solution
A control panel assembly design featuring an LED bracket with non-uniform light guide holes and an LED window with a light diffusion part, which includes uneven forms or a film member to uniformly diffuse light, eliminating the need for additional components and enhancing light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a film is disposed between the LED and the display panel to uniformly diffuse light, then light diffusion uniformity is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembling time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guide function and light diffusion function into a single integrated LED bracket structure. The bracket includes light guide holes with varying cross-sectional areas (larger at the LED end, smaller at the display panel end) and uneven inner surfaces that provide both light guidance and uniform diffusion, eliminating the need for a separate film component.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED bracket employs local quality variations through uneven inner surfaces and light guide holes with non-uniform cross-sectional areas. The bracket's inner surface facing the LED has a different structure than the surface facing the display panel, with specific regions designed to diffuse light uniformly while other regions guide light efficiently, all within a single component.
2Manufacturing precision
If a film is disposed between the LED and the display panel to uniformly diffuse light, then light diffusion uniformity is improved, but productivity is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light guide function and light diffusion function into a single integrated LED bracket structure. The bracket includes light guide holes with varying cross-sectional areas (larger at the LED end, smaller at the display panel end) and uneven inner surfaces that provide both light guidance and uniform diffusion, eliminating the need for a separate film component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the light diffusion function from the separate film component and integrates it directly into the LED bracket structure. The bracket's uneven inner surfaces and varying hole geometries provide the diffusion effect that previously required an additional film layer, simplifying the overall assembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If light guide holes with non-uniform cross-sectional area are used, then light diffusion uniformity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the cross-sectional area of light guide holes along the light propagation direction. The holes have larger cross-sections near the LED and smaller cross-sections near the display panel, with continuous or stepped variations in diameter. This parameter variation achieves uniform light diffusion while remaining manufacturable through standard injection molding techniques.
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 solution achieves uniform light diffusion and transmission without additional components, improving the product's appearance and reliability while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a light diffusion part configured to allow the light emitted from the LED to be uniformly diffused when passing through the light transmission part
Implementation Method 2
an LED bracket coupled to the circuit board, configured to accommodate the at least one LED to guide light emitted from the LED to front of the control panel
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine having a control panel assembly for controlling an operation of the washing machine. The control panel assembly includes a control panel; a circuit board disposed at an inner side of the control panel; at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed on the circuit board and emitting light; an LED bracket that is coupled to the circuit board, accommodates the at least one LED, guides light emitted from the LED to front of the control panel, and has at least one light guide hole of which a cross-sectional area is not uniform in at least a portion of the light guide hole in a direction in which light emitted from the LED is guided; and an LED window that is disposed at a front side of the LED bracket and allows light emitted from the LED to be transmitted to front of the control panel.