TORRANCE, CA - August 26, 1997 - As we approach the end of the millennium,
sleek, modern, even futuristic appliance designs are becoming more and
more the standard. One effect of this trend is to cause design engineers
to search for components which will complement their concept of the finished
appliance.
"For our Touch Top cooktop, we were looking for something that would
give us a very graphic indication of increasing heat," says Bob Lewis,
Director of Product Development for DACOR, a California manufacturer of
modernistic cooktops, ovens and ventilation systems. "LEDtronics®’ bar-graph
LEDs (light emitting diodes) provide a sleek, slender ribbon of red light
which was perfect for our design objectives, but offered other important
attributes as well."
According to Lewis, the temperature indicator needed to comply with space
constraints and stand up to heat produced by the elements without requiring
significant insulation. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs are far less susceptible
to heat, and because they have a significantly longer life span, it’s
likely the indicator will last the life of the appliance. LEDtronics®’ compact
10-LED bar graph also fit in nicely with the sleek, angular nature of
the product design.
"To meet DACOR’s requirements, we re-designed our standard
polycarbonate housing for the bar-graph LED to shield each side so there
would be no light bleed-through from one cell to another. We also created
a special alignment jig to be used in manufacturing which would yield
a perfectly straight line of light, and worked with them on aspects like
the specific color, angle of illumination and, of course, cost," says
Pervaiz Lodhie, president of LEDtronics®. "Many of these kinds
of design projects require some custom engineering and prototyping, but
when you’re determined to provide the best possible solution, you
do whatever it takes."
The DACOR Touch Top is popular among both architects and kitchen designers.
Its sleek design, one smooth piece of glass with a beveled perimeter,
interfaces with the countertop. With the touch command center, there is
no separate control panel or protruding knobs to disturb the smooth symmetry
of the glass.
"We’re aiming this product at a very specific, high-end niches," says
Lewis. "LEDtronics® worked closely with us to meet our needs
and help us realize our vision of what the Touch Top could be."
For more information on LEDs for appliance design applications, contact
LEDtronics toll free at 1-800-579-4875, telephone 310-534-1505, fax at
310-534-1424,
click here to email us or
mail at LEDtronics Inc., 23105 Kashiwa Court, Torrance, CA 90505. Visit
our website at www.LEDtronics.com.