Laundry Appliance Window Cover Light Guide for Fewer LEDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems for laundry care appliances require a large number of light sources to illuminate three-dimensional structures on window covers, which is inefficient and may lead to scattering losses and reduced visibility of inscriptions or symbols.
Innovation Solution
A light guide body is integrated into the appliance's frame, directing light from a single or few light-emitting sources, such as LEDs, onto the edge surface of the window cover or laundry deflector, minimizing the number of required light sources and reducing scattering losses through strategic placement and reflective coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If many light sources are arranged around the window covering to illuminate the three-dimensional structure, then the structure becomes visible, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide body is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the window covering. This light guide body directs and concentrates light from a single or few sources onto the three-dimensional structure, achieving effective illumination without requiring multiple light sources distributed around the window covering.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide body is integrated into the frame structure, merging the lighting function with the existing structural component. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device while maintaining the illumination function.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are distributed around the window cover, then illumination coverage is achieved, but scattering losses increase and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide body concentrates light delivery to the specific local area where the three-dimensional structure is located on the window covering. This localized light delivery improves illumination efficiency at the target area while reducing unnecessary light scattering in other regions, thereby decreasing energy losses.
3Device complexity
If a single light source is used with a light guide body, then the number of components is reduced, but the illumination uniformity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide body extends inwards from the front surface of the laundry care appliance, creating a three-dimensional light delivery path. This spatial arrangement allows the light to be directed precisely onto the three-dimensional structure, achieving uniform illumination of the inscription or symbol while using only a single light source.
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 solution allows for efficient illumination of inscriptions or logos with fewer light sources, enhancing visibility and attention with controlled, colored light, while maintaining structural integrity and avoiding soiling or damage from laundry operations.
Implementation Method 1
one of the components, which is located at least almost in line with the front surface of the laundry care appliance and is provided with the structure, has a light guide body that extends inwards from the line, the light entry surface of which is the edge surface reaches up to the other component and is guided into the radiation range of the light-emitting body
Implementation Method 2
minimizing the number of required light sources and reducing scattering losses through strategic placement and reflective coatings
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
To illuminate a structure 5 with informational content on components 3, 20 of a filling opening in a laundry appliance, particularly a washing machine or a washer/dryer, components 3, 20, which are made of a transparent or translucent material, have a pot-shaped laundry deflector 20 and a window cover 3 lying at least approximately flush with the front face 1 of the laundry appliance. Components 3, 20 bear lettering 4, 16 and/or a symbol to be illuminated. Light-emitting elements 6, 17 are arranged opposite lateral edge faces 10, 15 of at least one of the components 3, 20, the light beams 9, 19 emitted by said elements being directed onto the edge faces 10, 15. The lettering 4, 16 or the symbol consists of a three-dimensional structure 5 in the material with an at least microscopically small extension into the material. To specify a structural illumination in which a lower number of light sources is adequate, one of the components 3, which is located at least approximately flush with the front face 1 of the laundry appliance and which is provided with the structure 5, 16, has a light-conducting element 13 extending inwards away from the flush line, the light inlet area 15 of which element extends as an edge face to the other component 20 and is guided into the radiation range of the light-emitting element 17.