Washing machine door having decorative ring, washing machine, and laundry method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machine door designs with LED or time display modules are aesthetically compromised due to visible electrical elements when power is off, and lack moisture-proofing, leading to potential failure.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine door with a decorative ring featuring a base with distinct light and time display areas, where the light display area has lower transmittance than the time display area, and a semitransparent or opaque cover is used to conceal LED beads when power is off, enhancing moisture protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LED beads or time display modules are installed on the washing machine door, then the washing machine can display time information and decorative lighting effects, but the electrical elements become visible when power is off, compromising the aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
A decorative ring with light guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the LED beads and the external environment. The light guide plate diffuses and redirects light, making the LED elements invisible from the front when powered off, while still enabling time display and decorative lighting functions when powered on.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative ring employs different light transmittance properties in different areas: the time display area has higher light transmittance to allow clear viewing of displayed information, while the light display area has lower transmittance to conceal LED beads. This spatial variation in optical properties resolves the appearance contradiction.
2Illumination intensity
If transparent or semitransparent components are used for the decorative ring and light guide plate, then light can be effectively transmitted for display purposes, but moisture can penetrate and cause failure of the display module
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative ring and light guide plate are constructed from transparent or semitransparent materials that provide both optical transmission and moisture barrier properties. This composite structure maintains light transmission for display functionality while simultaneously protecting internal electrical elements from moisture penetration.
3Shape
If the light display area has lower light transmittance to conceal LED beads, then the appearance is improved when power is off, but less light is transmitted when power is on
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative ring is designed with spatially varying light transmittance: the time display area maintains higher transmittance for clear information display, while the light display area has lower transmittance to conceal LED beads. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of aesthetic appearance and sufficient light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate acts as an intermediary that compensates for the reduced light transmission in the light display area by efficiently redirecting and distributing light from the LED beads, ensuring adequate illumination while maintaining the concealing effect.
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 ensures the time display module and LED lights are visible when powered on without showing LED beads, maintaining a clean appearance and improving moisture protection, thus enhancing the washing machine's aesthetics and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent light-guide plate made of silica gel provided between the control panel and the LED light body. The plate made of silica gel could radiate lights produced by the illuminant, therefore lights produced by the LED point source could be uniformly diverge into an area source
Implementation Method 2
the piece in the lighting direction of the light source is the semitransparent component, accordingly, the cavity is provided with better dispersing light rays, the granular sensation of a common light belt source is removed, and the needed distributing effects and the halo effects of light and color are generated
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A washing machine door having a decorative ring comprises a time display module (4), a light strip (9), a control device, and a middle frame (5). The time display module (4), the light strip (9) consisting of LED beads, and the control device are installed on the middle frame (5). A mounting area is formed on the middle frame (5) to install therein the time display module (4). Also provided is a decorative ring (3) having a shape matching the middle frame (5). The decorative ring (3) comprises a film layer and a base (3-1). The base (3-1) comprises a time display area (3-1-1) corresponding to the time display module (4), and a remaining area serving as a light display area (3-1-2). The time display area (3-1-1) has transmittance exceeding that of the light display area (3-1-2) of the decorative ring (3). Also provided is a washing machine using the door and a laundry method. When the washing machine powers on, a user can observe the light on the time display module (4) and the light strip (9) without seeding the LED beads. When the washing machine is turned off, the time display module (4) and the light strip (9) are both in a hidden state.