Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/0409—Arrangements for homogeneous illumination of the display surface, e.g. using a layer having a non-uniform transparency
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/20—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts
  • G09F13/22—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts electroluminescent

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a display element via a light display in an electrical device, in particular a household appliance such as a refrigerator or freezer.
• Light-emitting diodes have long been used for small-format LEDs. In recent years, very bright light emitting diodes in all colors of the spectrum have come on the market increasingly.
• Object of the present invention is to provide a display element with a light emitting diode, which is simple and compact and easy to read from a wide range of angles.
• At least two light-scattering elements are arranged in the beam path between the light emitting diode and the backlit display panel.
• the first of these serves to fan out the collimated beam of the light emitting diode so that it illuminates the second light scattering element on a large area.
• the display element is clearly visible to any viewer whose display panel and illuminated second diffusing element are in line.
• At least one of the light-scattering elements, the second lying in the beam path is preferably a ground glass. This can be realized in a simple manner as a coating layer applied on the display itself.
• the light-scattering element adjacent to the light-emitting diode is preferably a lens.
• a cylindrical lens is used to illuminate a display panel having a cavum / width ratio different from one. A panel that is wider than tall is a good place to label short texts or single words.
• the beam path can be surrounded by the light-scattering elements of reflective side surfaces to avoid light losses to the sides.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a water dispenser for installation in a refrigeration device, which is equipped with display elements according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a view of the refrigerator with built-in water dispenser.
• FIG. 3 shows a horizontal section through display elements of the water dispenser according to a first embodiment
• FIG. 4 shows a section analogous to FIG. 3 according to a second embodiment
• Fig. 5 shows a section analogous to FIG. 3 according to a third embodiment.
• FIG. 1 shows a plastic housing provided for installation in a refrigeration appliance door with a substantially cuboid base body 1, which is provided to be mounted inside the door, embedded in an insulation material layer, and a flat parallelepiped projection 2, which is provided, to project in the assembled state by a cut into the outer wall of the door window. Pins 3 of the projection 2 serve to anchor at the edges of the window.
• An outlet for water and / or ice which is not visible in the figure, opens into a central niche 4 to fill a container placed there. Above the niche 4 is a plurality of control buttons 5. Over this light wells 6 are visible, which each belong to display elements which indicate a related to the operation of the control buttons 5 state of the water dispenser or an icemaker.
• a transparent plastic cover 7, which is offset in the figure conceals the light shafts 6 and has a plurality of openings 8, through which the control buttons 5 are accessible.
• Fig. 2 shows by way of illustration the water dispenser mounted in the door 9 of a refrigerator.
• An attached frame 13 surrounds the projection 2 and conceals edges of a cut into the front of the door 9 solid.
• Fig. 3 shows a horizontal partial section through the water dispenser of Fig. 1 in a horizontal, extending through the display elements level.
• Each display element comprises a mounted on a board 10 LED 1 1 and a front, held in a socket of the body 1 diverging lens 12. Since the light wells 6, as shown in Fig. 1, are wider than high, the lenses 12 are cylindrical or astigmatic, d. H. it has a shorter focal length in a horizontal sectional plane than in a vertical sectional plane.
• the diverging lenses 12 each close one end of the light wells 6, the other end is covered by the aperture 7.
• the light-emitting diodes 1 1 facing inside the aperture 7 is formed as a ground glass, z. B. by sandblasting, by a glued scattering foil, applied scattering lacquer or the like.
• Aperture 7 attached. Due to the action of the diverging lens 12, the lettering is uniformly illuminated over its entire surface, and due to the ground glass at the
• the frame 13 is also visible in section, which is clamped and held on the one hand between a side edge of the projection 2 and one of the pin 3 and on the other hand rests against the front of the outer wall 14 of the door and so the edge of the door concealed window through which the projection 2 extends.
• the light shafts 6 are replaced by integral with the diverging lenses 12 crystal-clear plastic body 15, the light at their side walls 16 by total reflection to the diaphragm 7.
• each display element on a light shaft 6, but the diverging lenses 12 are replaced by a second ground glass 17, which also fanning the light beam of the LEDs 1 1 striking them.
• this walls are here preferably mirrored or at least white colored.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=37588907

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (42)

• 2005
  • 2005-11-30 DE DE102005057166A patent/DE102005057166A1/de not_active Ceased
• 2006
  • 2006-10-24 CN CNA2006800447894A patent/CN101317116A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-10-24 EP EP06807501A patent/EP1958015A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-10-24 RU RU2008121418/28A patent/RU2008121418A/ru unknown
  • 2006-10-24 US US12/085,818 patent/US20090303695A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-10-24 WO PCT/EP2006/067705 patent/WO2007062935A1/de active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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