An appliance control method, apparatus, appliance, and medium

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of appliance control technology, and discloses an appliance control method, device, appliance, and medium. The appliance includes a panel, a knob, and a sensing area. Multiple sensing components are sealed and installed inside the panel at positions relative to the projection of the sensing area. The knob is located in the sensing area, contains a dielectric material, and is rotatable relative to the panel. The sensing area is divided into multiple detection zones radiating outward from the center, each zone containing a sensing component, with the knob coinciding with the center of the sensing area. When the dielectric material moves closer to any zone as the knob rotates, the corresponding sensing component generates a sensing signal. The method includes: responding to the knob operation, acquiring the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each sensing component, and determining the operating direction of the knob operation and counting the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signals; determining the operating angle of the knob operation based on the number of sensing components; and controlling the appliance based on the operating direction and operating angle, which can significantly improve the intelligent control efficiency of the appliance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of appliance control technology, specifically to an appliance control method, device, appliance, and medium. Background Technology

[0002] In practical applications of appliances, especially smart home devices such as gas stoves, fans, dishwashers, and table lamps, knobs are the most frequently used operating components for users to adjust appliances (such as flame intensity, water temperature, airflow, water volume, and brightness). Currently, the knob control technology for appliances mainly includes mechanical knobs, magnetic knobs, and touch-sensitive knobs. However, mechanical knobs are directly connected to valves via a rotating shaft, which is prone to wear and jamming over time, and dirt can easily accumulate in the panel openings, making the appliance difficult to clean.

[0003] Based on this, non-contact or electronic knobs have been proposed, such as magnetic control knobs. These knobs have a magnetic induction module inside the panel and a magnet inside the detachable knob, detecting the rotation angle through magnetic induction. While this type of knob achieves no physical connection between the knob and the panel, facilitating cleaning, it requires the inclusion of a magnet, controller, and wireless power receiving module inside, resulting in a complex overall structure and higher cost. Furthermore, the knob itself still requires power to operate. Another example is touch-sensitive knobs, where the knob body is fixedly connected to the appliance, and a capacitive sensor on the knob surface collects the user's sliding or pressing touch signals. While this type of knob has a compact structure, it changes the user's traditional rotation operation habit, requiring the user to slide on a fixed knob surface, resulting in poor intuitiveness. Additionally, the sensing area is susceptible to oil and water stains, leading to false triggering and severely impacting the user experience. Moreover, none of the above solutions include an effective anti-accidental touch mechanism. If a user, especially a child, accidentally touches or turns the gas stove knob, it may cause accidental ignition or sudden changes in flame, posing a safety hazard.

[0004] In summary, there is an urgent need for a control scheme to prevent accidental touches, so as to achieve intelligent control of appliances and thereby improve the control level of appliances and the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a method, device, appliance, and medium for controlling an appliance, in order to solve the problem that the existing control schemes mentioned in the above-mentioned technical background ignore the accidental operation of the knob, which poses a safety hazard due to accidental knob operation, resulting in unexpected control of the appliance, and thus seriously affecting the efficiency of intelligent control of the appliance and the user experience.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a device control method applied to a device, the device including a panel, a knob, and a sensing area disposed on the surface of the panel; multiple sensing components are sealed and installed inside the panel at a projection position corresponding to the sensing area; the knob is located in the sensing area, the knob contains a dielectric material and is rotatable relative to the panel; the sensing area is divided into multiple detection areas radiating outward from the center, each detection area corresponding to a sensing component, the center of the knob coincides with the center of the sensing area; when the dielectric material moves closer to any detection area as the knob rotates, the sensing component in that detection area generates a sensing signal, the method comprising: In response to the detection of knob operation, the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each sensing component is acquired; The operating direction corresponding to the knob operation is determined based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal. The number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal is counted based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal, and the operating angle corresponding to the knob operation is determined based on the number of sensing components. The appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and angle; Before controlling the appliance based on the operating direction and angle, the process also includes: Obtain the corresponding operating direction and operating angle for each dielectric material; When the operating direction and operating angle are consistent for all dielectric materials, the knob operation is determined to be a valid operation, and the appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and operating angle.

[0007] The sensing area on the surface of the appliance panel of this invention adopts a partitioned detection architecture radiating outward from the center. Each detection area corresponds to an independent sensing component. By observing the timing of changes in the sensing signals, the operating direction of the knob can be accurately identified. By statistically analyzing the number of sensing components triggering the signals, the operating angle can be quantitatively calculated. The knob operation recognition logic is simple and stable, with strong anti-interference capabilities, effectively avoiding misidentification problems caused by oil stains and water stains. Furthermore, by adjusting the number of detection areas, different control precision requirements can be flexibly matched, accommodating various usage needs and improving the efficiency of intelligent appliance control and user experience to a certain extent. In addition, considering the actual scenario where the knob contains multiple dielectric materials, this invention uses a logic of independent calculation and cross-verification of the operating parameters corresponding to multiple sets of dielectric materials. The knob operation is only considered valid when the operating direction and operating angle corresponding to all dielectric materials are completely consistent. This effectively filters out various interference signals when identifying a single set of dielectric materials, thereby significantly improving the accuracy and anti-interference capability of operation recognition.

[0008] In one optional implementation, the appliance control method further includes: An error message will be displayed when the operating direction and operating angle for all dielectric materials are not completely consistent.

[0009] When the operating direction and operating angle corresponding to all dielectric materials are not completely consistent, the present invention will promptly inform the user that the current knob operation is in an abnormal state through an abnormal prompt, so that the user can quickly troubleshoot the abnormality. This not only avoids the safety hazards caused by abnormal operation, but also greatly improves the user experience.

[0010] In one alternative implementation, in response to detecting knob operation, acquiring the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each sensing component includes: In response to detecting that the sensing signal generated by the first sensing component is greater than a preset sensing signal threshold, the knob operation is triggered. The preset sensing signal threshold is used to characterize the sensing signal generated by the sensing component when the knob is not pressed. In response to the detection that the sensing signal generated by the second sensing component is not greater than a preset sensing signal threshold, the knob operation is determined to be over. The sequence of changes in the sensing signals of several adjacent sensing components between the start and end of the knob operation is determined as the sequence of sensing signal changes.

[0011] This invention sets a preset sensing signal threshold based on the sensing signal when the knob is not pressed. The knob operation is only triggered when the sensing signal exceeds the threshold, and the operation is considered to be over when the signal falls back to within the threshold. This not only ensures that only rotational operations in the pressed state are recognized, but also completely filters out false non-pressing sensing signals generated in kitchen scenarios such as oil stains, water splashes, metal foreign objects, accidental touches by children, and the placement / picking of the knob. It completely eliminates safety hazards such as mis-adjustment of firepower and accidental ignition under non-pressing operation, and is highly compatible with the high safety requirements of household appliances.

[0012] In one optional implementation, the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal is counted based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal, including: The number of sequentially adjacent sensing components between the start and end of the knob operation is defined as the number of sensing components.

[0013] This invention takes into account that the actual user's rotation of the physical knob is continuous and smooth, and the corresponding triggering sequence of the sensing components must be sequentially adjacent. The designed counting logic is completely in line with the user's traditional operating habits and accurately matches the user's true operating intention. By only counting consecutively adjacent sensing components, it can effectively filter out invalid signals caused by slight shaking, pauses, and small swings during the user's operation. It will not have the deviation problem of "the user only rotates slightly but it is mistakenly counted as a large adjustment", ensuring that the operation amplitude and power adjustment amount are completely corresponding, the operation feedback is accurate and controllable, and the user experience is greatly optimized. It is especially friendly to elderly users and other groups who are not familiar with the operation.

[0014] In one optional implementation, the appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and operating angle, including: Determine the power adjustment value of the appliance based on the operating angle; When the operating direction is the first rotation direction, the operating power of the appliance is increased according to the adjustment value; When the operating direction is the second rotation direction, the operating power of the appliance is reduced according to the adjustment value. The first rotation direction is opposite to the second rotation direction.

[0015] This invention tightly binds two opposite rotation directions with the increase or decrease of operating power, with the first rotation direction corresponding to an increase in power and the second rotation direction corresponding to a decrease in power. It completely replicates the user's long-established intuitive operation of physical knobs, allowing users to seamlessly adapt without any learning. It can even enable blind operation during cooking, highly adapting to the needs of users in kitchen scenarios where their hands are occupied and they need to quickly adjust the heat, greatly improving the ease of operation and user experience.

[0016] In one optional implementation, the appliance control method further includes: When the current operating power of the appliance has reached the maximum operating power and the operating direction is the first rotation direction; or when the current operating power of the appliance has reached the minimum operating power and the operating direction is the second rotation direction, the current operating power remains unchanged, and / or the appliance is controlled to provide a prompt.

[0017] This invention addresses the core safety requirements of appliances by implementing dual boundary protection based on maximum and minimum operating power. Specifically, when the power has reached its upper limit, any further power increase is blocked; when the power has reached its lower limit, any further power reduction is blocked. This approach completely eliminates various safety risks associated with operating at excessive power from a control logic perspective, thereby significantly improving the safety of appliance use.

[0018] Secondly, the present invention provides an appliance control device applied to an appliance, the appliance including a panel, a knob, and a sensing area disposed on the surface of the panel; multiple sensing components are sealed and installed inside the panel at a projection position corresponding to the sensing area; the knob is located in the sensing area, the knob contains a dielectric material and is rotatable relative to the panel; the sensing area is divided into multiple detection areas radiating outward from the center, each detection area corresponding to a sensing component, the center of the knob coincides with the center of the sensing area; when the dielectric material moves closer to any detection area as the knob rotates, the sensing component in that detection area generates a sensing signal, the device comprising: The acquisition module is used to acquire the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each sensing component in response to the detection of knob operation; The determination module is used to determine the operating direction corresponding to the knob operation based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal. The statistics module is used to count the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal based on the order of changes in the sensing signal, and to determine the operating angle corresponding to the knob operation based on the number of sensing components. The control module is used to control the appliance based on the operating direction and operating angle. Before controlling the appliance based on the operating direction and angle, the process also includes: Obtain the corresponding operating direction and operating angle for each dielectric material; When the operating direction and operating angle are consistent for all dielectric materials, the knob operation is determined to be a valid operation, and the appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and operating angle.

[0019] The appliance control device of the present invention can accurately identify knob operation based on the timing of signal changes of the sensing component, and accurately adjust the appliance's firepower based on the operation direction and angle.

[0020] Thirdly, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising: Panel, knob, sensing area on the panel surface, and controller; Among them, multiple sensing components are sealed and installed at the projection position corresponding to the sensing area inside the panel; The knob is located in the sensing area, and the knob contains dielectric material and can rotate relative to the panel. The sensing area is divided into multiple detection areas radiating outward from the center. Each detection area is equipped with a corresponding sensing component. The center of the knob coincides with the center of the sensing area. When the dielectric material moves close to any detection area as the knob is rotated, the sensing component in that detection area will generate a sensing signal. The controller is located inside the panel and connected to each sensing component to execute the appliance control method of the first aspect or any corresponding embodiment described above.

[0021] The device of this invention features a rational overall structural layout, with the knob and sensing area coaxially aligned and centered. Combined with a radially distributed detection area, this ensures stable and reliable signal acquisition by the dielectric material and each sensing component during knob rotation. Each detection area is equipped with an independent sensing component, accurately capturing changes in capacitance caused by dielectric material movement, providing a stable and reliable signal foundation for subsequent operation identification. Furthermore, the controller integrates and executes the entire set of control logic, combining signal changes from the sensing components to accurately identify the knob's operating direction and angle, and accordingly intelligently adjusts the device's power. The entire device boasts a simple structure, a passive knob requiring no power supply, and no mechanical transmission structure, resulting in smooth and durable operation while balancing safety, adjustment accuracy, and user experience.

[0022] In one alternative implementation, the knob includes: Knob body, dielectric material, and elastic reset component; The knob body is located in the sensing area and can rotate relative to the panel; A dielectric material is located at the bottom of the knob body to trigger the sensing component to generate a sensing signal; An elastic reset element is located at the bottom of the knob body to keep the dielectric material away from the sensing component when the knob body is not pressed.

[0023] In one alternative implementation, the sensing area is a recessed structure, and the knob is at least partially embedded in the recessed structure. And / or, the knob contains at least two dielectric materials, which are symmetrically distributed around the center of the knob.

[0024] In one alternative implementation, the knob body is made of a non-metallic material; And / or, the dielectric material includes at least one of ferroelectric materials, ceramic materials, polymer materials and composite materials; And / or, the elastic reset element is a ring spring sleeved on the outer ring of the bottom of the knob; And / or, the sensing component is a capacitive sensor or a photoelectric sensor; And / or, appliances include gas stoves, water heaters, wall-hung boilers, floor-standing air conditioners, fans, tower fans, dishwashers, vegetable washers, smart bathroom fixtures, water purification equipment, table lamps, ceiling lights, ambient lights, and floor lamps.

[0025] Fourthly, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions for causing a computer to perform the appliance control method of the first aspect or any corresponding embodiment thereof. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the controller structure of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the knob structure; Figure 4 This is a top view of the sensing area; Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of a first embodiment of an appliance control method according to the present invention; Figure 6 This is a second flowchart illustrating the appliance control method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a structural block diagram of an appliance control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] This embodiment provides an apparatus. Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the device includes a panel 110, a knob 120, and a sensing area 130 disposed on the surface of the panel 110. Multiple sensing components are sealed and installed inside the panel 110 at projection positions corresponding to the sensing area 130. The knob 120 is located within the sensing area 130, and contains a dielectric material and is rotatable relative to the panel 110. The sensing area 130 is divided into multiple detection areas radiating outwards from the center, and each detection area corresponds to a sensing component. The center of the knob 120 coincides with the center of the sensing area 130. When the dielectric material rotates with the knob 120 and approaches any detection area, the sensing component in that detection area generates a sensing signal.

[0030] In this embodiment, the specific types of appliances and sensing components, as well as the installation position of the knob, are not limited and can be adapted to actual needs. For example, the appliance is a smart home device, specifically a heating appliance including gas stoves, water heaters, and wall-mounted boilers; an airflow regulating appliance including floor air conditioners, fans, and tower fans; a water flow regulating appliance including dishwashers, vegetable washers, smart bathroom fixtures, and water purifiers; and a lighting appliance including table lamps, ceiling lights, ambient lights, and floor lamps. The knob is used to adjust the appliance's heat, water temperature, airflow, water flow, brightness, etc. The sensing component is a capacitive sensor or a photoelectric sensor, which is only used as an example. In addition, the shape of the sensing area is not limited in this embodiment, such as circular or rectangular; wherein, it can be specified that moving the knob a certain distance in the positive direction increases the level, and moving the knob a certain distance in the negative direction decreases the level.

[0031] It should be explained that capacitive sensors are more resistant to oil and moisture interference, making them more suitable for the complex working conditions of a kitchen; photoelectric sensors have higher recognition accuracy and can be flexibly selected according to product positioning and cost requirements, further expanding the hardware adaptability of the entire solution.

[0032] In this embodiment, the device also includes a controller, which is disposed inside the panel and connected to each sensing component. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the controller structure of the above-mentioned device provided in an optional embodiment of the present invention. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the controller includes one or more processors 210, memory 220, and interfaces for connecting the components, including high-speed interfaces and low-speed interfaces. The components communicate with each other via different buses and can be mounted on a common motherboard or otherwise as required. The processors can process instructions executed within the controller, including instructions stored in or on memory to display graphical information of a GUI on external input / output devices (such as display devices coupled to the interfaces). In some alternative implementations, multiple processors and / or multiple buses can be used with multiple memories and multiple memory modules, if desired. Similarly, multiple controllers can be connected, each providing some of the necessary operations (e.g., as a server array, a group of blade servers, or a multiprocessor system). Figure 2 Take a processor 210 as an example.

[0033] Processor 210 may be a central processing unit, a network processor, or a combination thereof. Processor 210 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The programmable logic device may be a complex programmable logic device (CAMP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a general-purpose array logic (GDA), or any combination thereof.

[0034] The memory 220 stores instructions executable by at least one processor 210 to cause the at least one processor 210 to perform the method shown in the above embodiments.

[0035] The memory 220 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the controller. Furthermore, the memory 220 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some alternative embodiments, the memory 220 may optionally include memory remotely located relative to the processor 210, and these remote memories may be connected to the controller via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, corporate intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0036] The memory 220 may include volatile memory, such as random access memory; the memory may also include non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, hard disk or solid-state drive; the memory 220 may also include a combination of the above types of memory.

[0037] The controller also includes an input device 230 and an output device 240. The processor 210, memory 220, input device 230, and output device 240 can be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 2 Taking the example of a connection between China and Israel via a bus.

[0038] Input device 230 can receive input digital or character information, and generate signal inputs related to user settings and function control of the thermal power unit's operation control unit, such as a touch screen, keypad, mouse, trackpad, touchpad, indicator, one or more mouse buttons, trackball, joystick, etc. Output device 240 may include display devices, auxiliary lighting devices (e.g., LEDs), and haptic feedback devices (e.g., vibration motors). The aforementioned display devices include, but are not limited to, liquid crystal displays, light-emitting diodes, displays, and plasma displays. In some alternative embodiments, the display device may be a touch screen.

[0039] It should be noted that the appliance control method described below is integrated into the controller of the appliance in this embodiment. This allows the appliance to rotate a knob, causing the dielectric material to pass sequentially through multiple fixed-position sensing components below the panel. The rotation direction and angle are identified based on the sequence and quantity of changes in the sensing signals, thereby achieving precise control of the appliance. Furthermore, the appliance control method in this embodiment can also be widely applied to smart home systems, artificial intelligence systems in the manufacturing field, and intelligent sensing and control devices. Specifically, through the precise identification of the knob operation direction and angle, intelligent adjustment of appliance operation is achieved, providing beneficial effects such as preventing accidental touches, anti-interference, high adjustment accuracy, and improved intelligent control efficiency.

[0040] In summary, the overall structure of the device in this embodiment is rationally laid out. The knob and sensing area are coaxially aligned, and the radially distributed detection areas ensure stable correspondence between the dielectric material and each sensing component during knob rotation, resulting in continuous and reliable signal acquisition. Each detection area is equipped with an independent sensing component, which can accurately capture the capacitance changes caused by the movement of the dielectric material, providing a stable and reliable signal foundation for subsequent operation recognition. Furthermore, the controller integrates and executes the entire set of control logic, combining the signal changes of the sensing components to accurately identify the knob's operation direction and angle, and accordingly completes intelligent power control of the device. The overall structure is simple, the passive knob requires no power supply, there is no mechanical transmission structure, the operation is smooth and durable, and it balances safety, adjustment accuracy, and user experience.

[0041] In this embodiment, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the knob structure. Figure 3 It is known that the knob includes: a knob body 310, a dielectric material 320, and an elastic reset member 330; wherein, the knob body 310 is located in the sensing area and can rotate relative to the panel; the dielectric material 320 is disposed at the bottom position inside the knob body 310 and is used to trigger the sensing component to generate a sensing signal; the elastic reset member 330 is disposed at the bottom position outside the knob body 310 and is used to move the dielectric material 320 away from the sensing component when the knob body 310 is not pressed.

[0042] It should be noted that individual dielectric materials are highly susceptible to uncontrollable random errors in actual use. These errors can include: pressing tilt error (where the user's hand deviates when pressing the knob, causing the distance between the individual dielectric material and the panel to fluctuate, resulting in premature / delayed triggering of the sensing signal, amplitude distortion, and timing recognition errors); local environmental interference (where oil or water stains on the panel cover the sensing path of a single dielectric material, causing abnormal signal changes and misjudgments); processing and assembly errors (where misalignment occurs during assembly of a single dielectric material, resulting in uneven sensing distance during rotation, disordered triggering timing, and angle calculation deviations); and random electromagnetic interference (where electromagnetic noise in the home appliance environment causes random jumps in the sensing signal of a single dielectric material, triggering invalid operations). These errors can directly lead to incorrect recognition of rotation direction / angle, and consequently, false triggering of adjustments. Therefore, this embodiment uses multiple dielectric materials (each dielectric material is symmetrically distributed with the knob center as the center of symmetry) to eliminate the random errors of individual dielectric materials. Specifically, when the knob is rotated, multiple dielectric materials will simultaneously generate multiple sets of independent and theoretically identical timing sequences of sensing signals. The controller only needs to perform consistency verification. That is, only when the rotation direction and operation angle determined by multiple sets of signals are completely matched can the current rotation operation be recognized as a valid operation. If a certain set of signals is abnormal, invalid data will be directly rejected and no adjustment will be performed, which can significantly improve the reliability and anti-interference of operation recognition.

[0043] In this embodiment, the knob contains at least two dielectric materials, which are symmetrically distributed around the center of the knob. It should be noted that symmetrical distribution in this embodiment refers to rotational symmetry around the 360° circumference of the knob's central axis of rotation. This ensures that all dielectric materials have completely consistent motion trajectories, sensing distances, and force states during knob rotation and pressing, eliminating random errors from the structural source. Specifically, the centers of the rotation trajectories of all dielectric materials completely coincide with the center of the knob and the center of the sensing area; the radial distances from all dielectric materials to the center of the knob are completely equal, and the circumferential angles between adjacent dielectric materials are completely consistent; the bottom sensing surfaces of all dielectric materials are on the same horizontal plane, and their axial heights to the bottom of the knob are completely consistent, resulting in uniform and unbiased gaps with the panel after pressing; furthermore, the material, size, shape, and dielectric constant of all dielectric materials are completely consistent to ensure complete synchronization of the amplitude and triggering timing of the sensing signal. For example, for two identical dielectric materials, they are symmetrically distributed at 180° to each other with the center of the knob as the center, and the line connecting them passes through the center of the knob; the central axis of the two dielectric materials makes a strict 180° angle with the center of the knob, with the angle tolerance controlled within ±0.5°; and the radial distances from the two dielectric materials to the center of the knob are exactly equal; for three identical dielectric materials, they are symmetrically distributed at 120° with the center of the knob as the center, and the central axis of the two adjacent dielectric materials makes a strict 120° angle with the center of the knob, with the tolerance within ±0.5°. Specifically, the knob contains at least two dielectric materials symmetrically distributed around its center. These dielectric materials move synchronously during knob rotation, ensuring balanced and unbiased sensing signal sampling. The symmetrical layout compensates for sensing errors caused by slight tilting or shaking of the knob. Combined with multiple sets of sensing parameter consistency verification logic, this further improves the accuracy of operation direction and angle recognition, enhancing the overall anti-interference capability of the device. Simultaneously, the symmetrical structure ensures uniform force distribution on the knob, and the elastic reset component enables smooth pressing and rebound, resulting in more stable and reliable overall operation.

[0044] To further clarify, the specific types of the knob body, dielectric material, and elastic reset component in this embodiment are not limited. For example, the knob body may be made of non-metallic material; the elastic reset component may be a ring spring sleeved on the outer ring of the bottom of the knob; and the dielectric material may include at least one of ferroelectric materials, ceramic materials, polymer materials, and composite materials.

[0045] It should be explained that the knob body is made of non-metallic material, which effectively avoids electromagnetic interference from metallic materials, ensuring that the signal acquisition of the sensing component is not affected by the body itself, and improving the stability and accuracy of sensing detection. At the same time, the non-metallic material is resistant to oil stains, corrosion, and aging, making it suitable for the high temperature, humidity, and oil-prone environment of the kitchen. It is also lightweight, making rotation smoother. The dielectric material has a wide range of selection options, allowing for flexible material selection based on sensing sensitivity, panel thickness, and operating conditions, balancing sensing performance and production costs, and improving the flexibility of the solution design and the versatility of materials. The elastic reset component uses a ring spring fitted around the bottom outer ring of the knob. The overall layout is compact and the force is evenly distributed. The pressing, compression, and rebound reset actions are smooth and stable, maintaining a stable distance between the dielectric material and the sensing component. This results in minimal fatigue deformation and a long service life over long-term use, and the outer ring structure does not interfere with the sensing detection of the internal dielectric material.

[0046] In summary, this embodiment of the invention features a compact and reasonable structural layout by incorporating dielectric material inside the knob body and setting an elastic reset component at the bottom. The elastic reset component maintains a distance between the dielectric material and the sensing component when the knob is not subjected to external pressure, physically preventing false sensing signals in a static state and further enhancing the overall anti-accidental touch performance. Furthermore, when the knob is pressed, the elastic reset component contracts under pressure, bringing the dielectric material closer to the sensing area to stably trigger the sensing signal. Upon release, the elastic reset component automatically springs back to its original position, moving the dielectric material away from the sensing component, thus realizing a press-activated and release-locked operation mechanism. This mechanism is compatible with subsequent signal detection and control logic, ensuring stable and reliable sensing signal acquisition. Simultaneously, the dielectric material is embedded in the bottom of the knob body, ensuring a uniform sensing distance during rotation, improving the accuracy of operation direction and angle recognition. The entire knob is a passive structure, eliminating mechanical transmission structures and shaft wear issues, resulting in a simple and durable structure, convenient assembly, and compatibility with sealed panel installation structures. It is also less prone to oil and dirt accumulation, facilitating daily cleaning and maintenance.

[0047] In this embodiment, Figure 4 This is a top view of the sensing area. (By...) Figure 4 It is understood that the sensing area includes multiple detection areas 410 and a sensing component 420 disposed in each detection area.

[0048] It should be noted that, Figure 4The circular sensing area is only for illustrative purposes. Further subdivision of the circular sensing area creates sector-shaped detection areas. Each capacitive sensor is installed in its respective sector recognition area to detect changes in dielectric constant caused by the proximity of the knob's ferroelectric material. Note: The number of sector detection areas (also called the number of sectors) and the number of sensing components can be adjusted according to actual needs. For example, to achieve sufficiently high precision in controlling the gas stove's speed adjustment, more sectors should be set. This allows for fine-tuning of the combustion output even with small angles. The more sectors, the more subtle the twists and turns, enabling precise speed adjustments. For instance, with 1000 sectors and 4 sectors, a slight 1° twist will detect 3 changes in capacitance in the former case and 0 changes in capacitance in the latter.

[0049] Note: In this embodiment, the number of sensors is adjusted only according to the adjustment accuracy requirements. For example, in scenarios such as fine dimming and precise temperature control, more sensors are used to improve resolution. In ordinary airflow adjustment scenarios, fewer sensors are used to reduce costs, and this is unrelated to the dielectric material. The number of dielectric materials is adjusted only according to the anti-interference requirements. For example, in high-oil and high-humidity scenarios such as kitchens and bathrooms, more dielectric materials are used to improve fault tolerance. In low-interference scenarios such as bedroom lamps, two dielectric materials are sufficient, and this is unrelated to the number of sensors.

[0050] To further explain, the circular sensing area has a recessed structure. After the knob is inserted into the sensing area, it is lifted up by a spring in the middle. When the user does not press the knob, the ferroelectric material (i.e., the dielectric material inside the knob) is far away from the capacitance sensor, and the capacitance is almost unaffected. At this time, turning the knob will not affect combustion. Only when the user presses the knob down to the full position can the capacitance sensor's capacitance be affected by the ferroelectric material. At this time, turning the knob can affect combustion.

[0051] Furthermore, the sensing component is a sealed capacitive sensor array (i.e., a pair of capacitive sensors in each detection area), embedded in the sensing area below the countertop. A ring spring is fitted around the bottom of the outermost ring of the knob to support it, while a dielectric material, such as a ferroelectric material, is fixed to the bottom of the inner ring of the knob, with the two not interfering with each other. Moreover, if the knob is placed on a horizontal surface such as a stovetop, it can be placed directly on the sensing area without the need for a central rod. If the knob is vertically mounted on a water heater, a central rod is required to prevent it from falling (note: the central rod is based on the structure of a typical gas stove knob; the knob is mounted on the rod, not suspended in the air; and in this embodiment, only the capacitive sensors in the sensing area need power; the knob itself only contains ferroelectric material and requires no additional power, offering advantages of simplicity and low power consumption).

[0052] In this embodiment, the sensing area has a recessed structure, and the knob is at least partially embedded in the recessed structure. This provides good limiting and guiding for the knob, effectively preventing it from becoming eccentric, offset, or slipping during placement and rotation. It ensures that the knob and the sensing area are always coaxially aligned, guaranteeing a stable and uniform sensing distance between the dielectric material and the sensing component, and improving the stability of the sensing signal acquisition. At the same time, the embedded structure reduces the accumulation of kitchen oil and dust around the knob, optimizing the cleanliness of the panel and making the overall appearance more regular, thus improving the product's appearance and texture.

[0053] According to embodiments of the present invention, based on the apparatus mentioned in the above embodiments, an apparatus control method embodiment is also provided, applied to the apparatus. It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowcharts of the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions, and although a logical order is shown in the flowcharts, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be executed in a different order than that shown here.

[0054] This embodiment provides an appliance control method, applied to an appliance. Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of a first embodiment of the appliance control method according to the present invention, as shown below. Figure 5 As shown, the process includes the following steps: Step S501: In response to detecting knob operation, acquire the sequence of changes in sensing signals generated by each sensing component.

[0055] It should be noted that the knob operation in this embodiment includes pressing and rotating the knob. Since the sensing area is a ring of multiple capacitive sensing components arranged in a radial fan shape at the projection position inside the panel, after the knob is pressed, the elastic reset component is compressed, and the dielectric material is close to the panel. When the knob is pressed and the user rotates the knob, the knob drives the internal dielectric material to rotate in a circle, and the dielectric material will sweep across different sensing components in turn. Each time it passes through a component, the capacitance value of that component will suddenly increase, generating a signal jump. The controller can determine the sequence of sensing signal changes by recording the order in which each sensing component is triggered by the sudden change.

[0056] Step S502: Determine the operation direction corresponding to the knob operation based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal.

[0057] In this embodiment, the sensing components are arranged in a circle around the perimeter and have a pre-defined numbering order. When the dielectric material rotates, different sensing components will be triggered in sequence. The controller will calculate the operating direction of the knob, such as clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, based on the order in which the components are triggered.

[0058] Step S503: Based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal, count the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal, and determine the operating angle corresponding to the knob operation based on the number of sensing components.

[0059] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the number of sensing components is the total number of sequentially adjacent sensing components that are swept by the dielectric material and trigger signal changes within the effective range from the start of the press-triggered operation to the end of the release operation. Since all sensing components are evenly arranged in a circle with the center as the center, the entire 360° circumference is evenly divided, and each sensing component corresponds to a fixed central angle, the knob rotation angle = the number of consecutively triggered sensing components × the fixed central angle corresponding to a single component. Finally, the operating angle is calculated by counting the number of consecutively triggered components, and then used for subsequent heating control of the appliance (i.e., determining how much the heat is increased / decreased).

[0060] For example, the sensing area is divided into 100 sectors, numbered 1 to 100 in a clockwise direction. The knob contains two symmetrical dielectric materials. When the user presses the knob to the desired position, the dielectric materials approach the sensing components corresponding to sectors numbered 50 and 51 (assuming each material covers a different sector). If the rotation is slightly clockwise, the dielectric materials sequentially pass through sectors 50→51→52→53... and another group sequentially passes through sectors 51→52→53→54... The controller records the activation sequence as 50, 51, 52, 53... and 51, 52, 53, 54... (both groups are clockwise increments), indicating a clockwise rotation. If the rotation is counter-clockwise, the numbering sequence is decremental. Finally, the controller determines the rotation direction based on the increment or decrement of the address code and calculates the operating angle (e.g., number of sectors × angle of a single sector) based on the sequence length (e.g., number of sectors × angle of a single sector).

[0061] Step S504: Based on the operating direction and operating angle, the appliance is controlled accordingly.

[0062] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the operating direction determines the trend of power increase or decrease, and the operating angle determines the magnitude of power adjustment. The firepower of the appliance is precisely matched and adjusted based on the operating direction and operating angle. For example, rotating the button clockwise increases the operating power, and rotating it counterclockwise decreases the operating power; the larger the rotation angle, the greater the power adjustment magnitude; at the same time, the power boundary is detected, and when the maximum / minimum power is reached, no further adjustment is made and a prompt can be issued.

[0063] Furthermore, the specific type of operating power in this embodiment can be adaptively adjusted based on the actual type of appliance. For example, for heating appliances, such as gas stoves, the operating power represents the heating power, which is adjusted by a knob to control the amount of gas flame in the gas stove; for airflow regulating appliances, such as fans, the operating power represents the driving power of the fan motor, which is adjusted by a knob to control the amount of airflow in the fan; for water flow regulating appliances, such as dishwashers, the operating power represents the driving power of the water pump motor, which is adjusted by a knob to control the amount of water flow in the dishwasher; and for lighting appliances, such as table lamps, the operating power represents the lighting driving power, which is adjusted by a knob to adjust the brightness of the table lamp. The appliance control method provided in this embodiment determines the rotation direction by acquiring the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by multiple sensing components due to knob rotation, and determines the rotation angle by statistically analyzing the number of sensing components that generate signal changes. This achieves accurate identification of the knob's rotation direction and angle, enabling fine adjustment of operating power based on the rotation angle. Simultaneously, there is no mechanical contact between the knob and the sensing components; non-contact detection is achieved through changes in the sensing signals between the dielectric material and the sensing components, avoiding mechanical wear. The sensing components are sealed inside the panel, facilitating cleaning and providing waterproof and oil-proof protection. It retains the user's traditional rotation operation habits and has strong anti-interference capabilities, meeting diverse user adjustment needs and greatly improving appliance control efficiency and user experience.

[0064] This embodiment provides an appliance control method, applied to an appliance. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a second type of appliance control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the process includes the following steps: Step S601: In response to detecting knob operation, acquire the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each sensing component.

[0065] Specifically, step S601 includes: Step S6011: In response to detecting that the sensing signal generated by the first sensing component is greater than a preset sensing signal threshold, the knob operation is triggered. The preset sensing signal threshold is used to characterize the sensing signal generated by the sensing component when the knob is not pressed.

[0066] It should be noted that the preset sensing signal threshold is the basic signal value of the sensing component when the knob is not pressed and is suspended in the air (the specific data can be determined based on actual needs); once the sensing signal exceeds this threshold, it means that the knob has been pressed close to the panel, and only then can it be determined that the knob operation has been officially triggered (or the knob has been pressed to the correct position).

[0067] In one specific embodiment, under standard conditions, the sensing component in the sensing area identifies a capacitance of C0. Only when the knob is pressed and the identified capacitance exceeds a threshold C' (i.e., a preset sensing signal threshold) is it determined that the press is complete. If the identified capacitance is less than the threshold C' after pressing the knob, it is determined that the press is incomplete, i.e., a false press. Furthermore, the determination of the threshold C' is related to the press sensitivity. If to better avoid false presses, the threshold C' is set larger, requiring a greater degree of pressure to be detected; if only to better detect slight presses, C' is set smaller, requiring only a slight degree of pressure to be detected.

[0068] Step S6012: In response to detecting that the sensing signal generated by the second sensing component is not greater than a preset sensing signal threshold, determine that the knob operation has ended.

[0069] Step S6013: Determine the sequence of changes in the sensing signals of several adjacent sensing components between the start and end of the knob operation as the sequence of sensing signal changes.

[0070] In this embodiment, the counting range is strictly limited to the effective interval from the start of the knob operation to the end of the operation, and to the sequentially adjacent sensing components. This effectively filters out three types of invalid counts: first, interference signal counts within the non-operational interval before and after pressing; second, false trigger counts of non-adjacent sensing components caused by oil, water stains, or metal foreign objects; and third, discontinuous signal counts caused by slight swings or accidental touches during user operation. This step completely avoids the problems of over-counting, under-counting, and miscounting, ensuring that the counted number of sensing components perfectly matches the actual rotation amplitude of the user. Whether it is subsequent graded adjustment of the appliance's heating or stepless fine adjustment, accurate angle quantification and power correspondence can be achieved, completely solving the pain points of angle recognition deviation and insufficient adjustment accuracy in traditional solutions.

[0071] In this embodiment of the invention, a preset sensing signal threshold is set based on the sensing signal when the knob is not pressed. The knob operation is triggered only when the sensing signal exceeds the threshold, and the operation is determined to be over when the signal falls back to within the threshold. This not only ensures that only rotational operations in the pressed state are recognized, but also completely filters out false non-pressing sensing signals generated in kitchen scenarios such as oil stains, water splashes, metal foreign objects approaching, children accidentally touching, and the process of placing / picking up the knob. It completely eliminates safety hazards such as mis-adjustment of firepower and accidental ignition under non-pressing operation, and is highly compatible with the high safety requirements of household appliances.

[0072] Step S602: Determine the operating direction corresponding to the knob operation based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal. For details, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 5 Step S502 of the illustrated embodiment will not be described again here.

[0073] Step S603: Based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal, count the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal, and determine the operating angle corresponding to the knob operation based on the number of sensing components.

[0074] Specifically, the step S603 above, which counts the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal based on the order of changes in the sensing signal, includes: Step a1: Determine the number of sequentially adjacent sensing components between the start of the knob operation and the end of the knob operation as the number of sensing components.

[0075] In this embodiment of the invention, considering that the actual user's rotation of the physical knob is continuous and smooth, the corresponding triggering sequence of the sensing components must be sequentially adjacent. The designed counting logic is completely in line with the user's traditional operating habits and accurately matches the user's true operating intention. By only counting consecutively adjacent sensing components, it can effectively filter out invalid signals caused by slight shaking, pauses, and small swings during the user's operation. It will not cause the deviation problem of "the user only rotates slightly, but it is mistakenly counted as a large adjustment", ensuring that the operation amplitude and power adjustment amount are completely corresponding, the operation feedback is accurate and controllable, and the user experience is greatly optimized. It is especially friendly to elderly users and other groups who are not familiar with the operation.

[0076] Step S604: Control the appliance accordingly based on the operating direction and operating angle.

[0077] It should be noted that when multiple dielectric materials are used inside the knob and the knob is actually operated, interference signals may exist when a single dielectric material is identified. These interferences include false signals caused by partial obstruction from oil or water stains in a kitchen setting, sensing deviations due to the proximity of external metal objects, and sampling errors in a single set of data caused by slight tilting or eccentric placement of the knob. Therefore, it is necessary to perform consistency verification on the operating parameters corresponding to multiple dielectric materials to ensure the accuracy of operation recognition. Thus, before controlling the appliance based on the operating direction and angle, the appliance control method of this embodiment further includes: Step b1: Obtain the corresponding operating direction and operating angle for each dielectric material.

[0078] In this embodiment, the specific methods for obtaining the operation direction and operation angle are described above and will not be repeated here.

[0079] Step b2: When the operating direction and operating angle are consistent for all dielectric materials, the knob operation is determined to be a valid operation, and the appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and operating angle.

[0080] In this embodiment, considering the actual scenario where the knob contains multiple dielectric materials, the operation parameters corresponding to multiple sets of dielectric materials are independently calculated and cross-verified. Only when the operation direction and angle corresponding to all dielectric materials are completely consistent is the knob operation considered valid. This effectively filters out various interference signals during single-set dielectric material identification, thereby significantly improving the accuracy and anti-interference capability of operation recognition. Furthermore, this verification logic forms a dual anti-accidental touch barrier, effectively eliminating abnormal triggers caused by non-subjective operations, including: accidental touches by children, accidental pressure of foreign objects on the sensing area, and false single-set sensing signals caused by unintentional user touches. The operating power adjustment operation is only executed when multiple sets of dielectric materials rotate synchronously and generate valid signals with completely consistent directions and angles. This eliminates safety hazards such as abnormal power fluctuations and accidental ignition caused by accidental triggering from the control logic level, highly adapting to the high safety requirements of household kitchen appliances.

[0081] Step b3: When the operating direction and operating angle corresponding to all dielectric materials are not completely consistent, an abnormal prompt will be issued.

[0082] In this embodiment, when the operating directions and operating angles corresponding to all dielectric materials are not completely consistent, the user is promptly informed of the abnormal state of the current knob operation through an abnormal prompt, so that the user can quickly troubleshoot the abnormality. This not only avoids the safety hazards caused by abnormal operation, but also greatly improves the user experience.

[0083] In this embodiment, step S604 includes: Step S6041: Determine the power adjustment value of the appliance based on the operating angle.

[0084] In this embodiment, a mapping relationship between rotation angle and power adjustment amount can be preset, wherein the larger the operation angle, the greater the power adjustment range; then the controller matches and calculates the corresponding power increase or decrease value according to the calculated knob operation angle, so as to provide a basis for subsequent firepower adjustment.

[0085] Step S6042: When the operating direction is the first rotation direction, increase the operating power of the appliance according to the adjustment value.

[0086] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the first rotation direction is the heating direction set by the gas stove, such as clockwise rotation corresponding to increased firepower; or the first rotation direction is the airflow adjustment direction set by the fan, such as clockwise rotation corresponding to increased airflow; or the first rotation direction is the water flow adjustment direction set by the dishwasher, such as clockwise rotation corresponding to increased water flow; or the first rotation direction is the brightness adjustment direction set by the table lamp, such as clockwise rotation corresponding to increased lighting brightness.

[0087] Step S6043: When the operating direction is the second rotation direction, reduce the operating power of the appliance according to the adjustment value. The first rotation direction is opposite to the second rotation direction.

[0088] In this embodiment, if the second rotation direction is the heat reduction direction set by the gas stove, then counterclockwise rotation corresponds to a reduction in firepower. Note that the specific details of the second rotation direction can be adjusted adaptively according to the actual appliance type.

[0089] In this embodiment of the invention, by strongly linking two opposite rotation directions with the increase or decrease of operating power, with the first rotation direction corresponding to an increase in power and the second rotation direction corresponding to a decrease in power, the intuitive operation of physical knobs formed by users over a long period of time is completely replicated. Users can seamlessly adapt without any learning, and can even achieve blind operation during the cooking process. It is highly adapted to the needs of users in kitchen scenarios where their hands are occupied and they need to quickly adjust the heat, greatly improving the convenience of operation and the user experience.

[0090] In practical applications, appliances have power limitations. Exceeding the power limit can easily lead to various safety risks, such as: excessive adjustment of a gas stove to its minimum heat setting causing flameout and gas leaks; excessive adjustment to its maximum heat setting causing dry burning, overflowing pots, and cookware damage; and excessive operation of heating appliances such as water heaters and wall-mounted boilers can easily lead to overheating burns and pipe damage, seriously affecting the user's safe use of the appliances. Therefore, the appliance control method in this embodiment also includes: Step c1: When the current operating power of the appliance has reached the maximum operating power and the operating direction is the first rotation direction; or when the current operating power of the appliance has reached the minimum operating power and the operating direction is the second rotation direction, keep the current operating power unchanged and / or control the appliance to provide a prompt.

[0091] In this embodiment, if the operating power has reached its maximum value and the rotation continues to increase the power, or if the power has dropped to its minimum value and the rotation continues to decrease the power, both are invalid over-limit operations. At this time, the control device should maintain the current power and not change, and the user should be notified by sound and light that the power adjustment limit has been reached.

[0092] This invention addresses the core safety requirements of appliances by implementing dual boundary protection based on maximum and minimum operating power. Specifically, when the power has reached its upper limit, any further power increase is blocked; when the power has reached its lower limit, any further power reduction is blocked. This approach completely eliminates various safety risks associated with operating at excessive power from a control logic perspective, thereby significantly improving the safety of appliance use.

[0093] In one specific embodiment, the appliance is a gas stove, and the sensing component is a capacitive sensor; the relevant structures of the detachable knobs on the gas stove panel, the sensing area (also called the capacitive sensing recognition area, or circular recognition area) on the panel surface, and the corresponding capacitive sensors arranged inside the panel can all be referred to the foregoing description. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the current home appliance industry, gas stoves are a very common kitchen appliance. Their control knobs are generally implemented through mechanical structures. This embodiment provides a new induction knob to achieve efficient heating control of the gas stove.

[0094] In this embodiment, the circular area of ​​the gas stove's capacitive sensing recognition is divided into many sectors; on the left and right sides of each sector, there is a pair of capacitive sensors; the gas stove knob is a detachable knob that can be separated from the stove surface, and a ferroelectric material is provided inside the knob: when the knob is placed in the recognition area, according to C=εr×ε0×S / d, where C represents capacitance; εr represents the relative permittivity of the dielectric material, the specific value of which can be determined based on the corresponding material handbook and industry-related standard database; ε0 represents the vacuum permittivity, the specific value of which includes the internationally recommended precise value, namely 8.8541878128(13)×10 - ¹² Farads per meter, with the number 13 in parentheses representing the relative standard uncertainty, indicating the measurement accuracy boundary and commonly used engineering approximations, such as 8.854 × 10⁻⁶. - ¹² Farads per meter; For a pair of capacitive sensors within any sector, S represents the area directly opposite the two capacitive sensors, and d represents the distance between the two capacitive sensors. Note: Once the pairs of capacitive sensors within the capacitive sensing recognition area are deployed, the ratio of S / d can be understood as a fixed value. At this time, the relative permittivity εr of the dielectric material of a certain sector capacitive sensor increases, and the capacitance C also increases.

[0095] If the knob is turned clockwise by a certain angle, the corresponding sector-shaped capacitor sensor will sequentially detect an increase in capacitance. At this time, the controller will increase combustion accordingly based on the clockwise turning angle θ fed back by the capacitor sensor. Similarly, if the knob is turned counterclockwise by a certain angle, the corresponding sector-shaped capacitor sensor will sequentially detect an increase in capacitance. At this time, the controller will decrease combustion accordingly based on the counterclockwise turning angle θ fed back by the capacitor sensor.

[0096] It should be noted that each sector in this embodiment has a unique identification code, such as from 1 to 100. If the ferroelectric material is located in sector 50, when a person presses the knob and rotates it clockwise, the capacitance of sectors 50 to 60 changes, and the corresponding increase in capacitance is performed. If a person presses the knob and rotates it counterclockwise, the capacitance of sectors 60 to 50 changes, and the corresponding decrease in capacitance is performed.

[0097] Note: In this embodiment, the θ values ​​of different numbers of ferroelectric materials are calculated independently, similar to the operation process described above, to obtain θ1, θ2, θ3, etc. When the rotation angle and direction of each θ are consistent, the operation is determined to be correct, and the corresponding increase / decrease operation is performed to avoid errors caused by a single θ.

[0098] Furthermore, in this embodiment, turning θ clockwise increases the corresponding firepower level; turning θ counterclockwise decreases the corresponding firepower level. Note: Whether increasing or decreasing the firepower level, it is determined by the direction of θ; the magnitude of the change in firepower is determined by the size of θ, and has no necessary relationship with the location of the ferroelectric material, only related to the direction and size of θ (that is, in this embodiment, the control of combustion changes in the gas stove is only related to the direction and angle of rotation of the knob, and is unrelated to the initial position of the knob).

[0099] In this embodiment, to prevent the gas stove from burning abnormally due to accidental rotation of the knob, a spring is installed under the knob. When the knob is not pressed down, the ferroelectric material is far away from the capacitance sensor, and the capacitance is hardly affected. At this time, rotating the knob will not affect the combustion. Only when the knob is pressed down can the capacitance sensor be affected by the ferroelectric material. At this time, rotating the knob can affect the combustion.

[0100] This embodiment also provides an appliance control device for implementing the above embodiments and preferred embodiments; details already described will not be repeated. As used below, the term "module" can refer to a combination of software and / or hardware that implements a predetermined function. Although the devices described in the following embodiments are preferably implemented in software, hardware implementations, or a combination of software and hardware, are also possible and contemplated.

[0101] This embodiment provides an appliance control device, applied to appliances, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the device includes: The acquisition module 701 is used to acquire the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each sensing component in response to the detection of knob operation.

[0102] The determining module 702 is used to determine the operating direction corresponding to the knob operation based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal.

[0103] The statistics module 703 is used to count the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal, and to determine the operating angle corresponding to the knob operation based on the number of sensing components.

[0104] The control module 704 is used to control the appliance based on the operating direction and operating angle.

[0105] In some alternative implementations, the acquisition module 701 includes: The first acquisition submodule is used to trigger knob operation in response to the detection that the sensing signal generated by the first sensing component is greater than a preset sensing signal threshold. The preset sensing signal threshold is used to characterize the sensing signal generated by the sensing component when the knob is not pressed.

[0106] The second acquisition submodule is used to determine the end of the knob operation in response to the detection that the sensing signal generated by the second sensing component is not greater than a preset sensing signal threshold.

[0107] The third acquisition submodule is used to determine the sequence of changes in the sensing signals of several adjacent sensing components between the start of the knob operation and the end of the knob operation as the sequence of sensing signal changes.

[0108] In some optional implementations, the statistics module 703 includes a statistics submodule, used to determine the number of a plurality of sequentially adjacent sensing components between the triggering of the knob operation and the end of the knob operation as the number of sensing components.

[0109] In some alternative implementations, the control module 704 includes: The first control submodule is used to determine the power adjustment value of the appliance based on the operating angle.

[0110] The second control submodule is used to increase the operating power of the appliance according to the adjustment value when the operating direction is the first rotation direction.

[0111] The third control submodule is used to reduce the operating power of the appliance according to the adjustment value when the operating direction is the second rotation direction. The first rotation direction is opposite to the second rotation direction.

[0112] In some alternative embodiments, the apparatus further includes: The verification module is used to obtain the corresponding operating direction and operating angle for each dielectric material; when the operating direction and operating angle for all dielectric materials are consistent, the knob operation is determined to be a valid operation, and the device is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and operating angle; when the operating direction and operating angle for all dielectric materials are not completely consistent, an abnormal prompt is given.

[0113] The prompting module is used to keep the current operating power unchanged and / or control the appliance to provide a prompt when the current operating power of the appliance has reached the maximum operating power and the operating direction is the first rotation direction; or when the current operating power of the appliance has reached the minimum operating power and the operating direction is the second rotation direction.

[0114] The appliance control device provided in this embodiment of the invention can execute the appliance control method provided in any embodiment of the invention, and has the corresponding functional modules and beneficial effects for executing the method. Further functional descriptions of the various modules and units described above are the same as in the corresponding embodiments described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0115] The appliance control device in this embodiment of the invention can accurately identify knob operations based on the timing of signal changes in the sensing components, and accurately adjust the appliance's firepower based on the operating direction and angle.

[0116] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The methods described above according to embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or firmware, or implemented as computer code that can be recorded on a storage medium, or implemented as computer code downloaded via a network and originally stored on a remote storage medium or a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and then stored on a local storage medium. Thus, the methods described herein can be processed by software stored on a storage medium using a general-purpose computer, a dedicated processor, or programmable or dedicated hardware. The storage medium can be a magnetic disk, optical disk, read-only memory, random access memory, flash memory, hard disk, or solid-state drive, etc.; further, the storage medium can also include combinations of the above types of memory. It is understood that computers, processors, microprocessor controllers, or programmable hardware include storage components capable of storing or receiving software or computer code. When the software or computer code is accessed and executed by the computer, processor, or hardware, the appliance control method shown in the above embodiments is implemented.

[0117] It should be noted that the appliance control method provided in this embodiment is not only applicable to smart home devices such as gas stoves, water heaters, fans, dishwashers, and table lamps, but can also be integrated into emerging smart hardware such as ground control terminals for intelligent unmanned aerial vehicles, wearable smart devices, and financial electronic application products, serving as a core control module for human-computer interaction. Furthermore, by combining artificial intelligence with optimized operating systems or middleware, more advanced intelligent control functions such as user operation habit learning and adaptive power adjustment can be achieved, helping to improve the overall intelligent control efficiency of appliances and further enhancing the technological value and industrial adaptability of this embodiment in strategic emerging industries.

[0118] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an appliance, applied to an appliance comprising a panel, a knob, and a sensing area disposed on the surface of the panel; a plurality of sensing components are sealed and installed inside the panel at a projection position corresponding to the sensing area; the knob is located in the sensing area; the knob has a dielectric material disposed inside and is rotatable relative to the panel; characterized in that, The sensing area is divided into multiple detection areas radiating outward from the center, and a sensing component is provided in each detection area. The center of the knob coincides with the center of the sensing area. When the dielectric material moves closer to any detection area as the knob rotates, the sensing component in that detection area generates a sensing signal, the method comprising: In response to the detection of knob operation, the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each of the sensing components is acquired; The operating direction corresponding to the knob operation is determined based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal. The number of sensing components that generate the changes in the sensing signals is counted based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signals, and the operating angle corresponding to the knob operation is determined based on the number of sensing components. The appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and the operating angle; Before controlling the appliance based on the operating direction and the operating angle, the method further includes: Obtain the corresponding operating direction and operating angle for each dielectric material; When the operating direction and operating angle corresponding to all dielectric materials are consistent, the knob operation is determined to be a valid operation, and the appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and the operating angle.

2. The appliance control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: An error message will be displayed when the operating direction and operating angle for all dielectric materials are not completely consistent.

3. The appliance control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of acquiring the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each of the sensing components in response to the detection of knob operation includes: In response to detecting that the sensing signal generated by the first sensing component is greater than a preset sensing signal threshold, the knob operation is triggered. The preset sensing signal threshold is used to characterize the sensing signal generated by the sensing component when the knob is not pressed. In response to the detection that the sensing signal generated by the second sensing component is not greater than the preset sensing signal threshold, it is determined that the knob operation has ended; The sequence of changes in the sensing signals of several adjacent sensing components between the triggering of the knob operation and the end of the knob operation is determined as the sequence of sensing signal changes.

4. The appliance control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method of counting the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal includes: The number of sequentially adjacent sensing components between the triggering of the knob operation and the end of the knob operation is defined as the number of sensing components.

5. The appliance control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The control of the appliance based on the operating direction and the operating angle includes: Based on the operating angle, determine the power adjustment value of the appliance; When the operating direction is the first rotation direction, the operating power of the appliance is increased according to the adjustment value; When the operating direction is the second rotation direction, the operating power of the appliance is reduced according to the adjustment value, wherein the first rotation direction is opposite to the second rotation direction.

6. The appliance control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the current operating power of the appliance has reached the maximum operating power and the operating direction is the first rotation direction; or when the current operating power of the appliance has reached the minimum operating power and the operating direction is the second rotation direction, the current operating power is kept unchanged, and / or the appliance is controlled to provide a prompt.

7. An appliance control device, applied to an appliance, the appliance comprising a panel, a knob, and a sensing area disposed on the surface of the panel; a plurality of sensing components are sealed and installed inside the panel at a projection position corresponding to the sensing area, the knob is located in the sensing area, and the knob is provided with a dielectric material and is rotatable relative to the panel; characterized in that, The sensing area is divided into multiple detection areas radiating outward from the center, and a sensing component is provided in each detection area. The center of the knob coincides with the center of the sensing area. When the dielectric material moves closer to any detection area as the knob rotates, the sensing component in that detection area generates a sensing signal. The device includes: The acquisition module is used to acquire the sequence of changes in the sensing signals generated by each of the sensing components in response to the detection of knob operation; The determining module is used to determine the operation direction corresponding to the knob operation based on the sequence of changes in the sensing signal; The statistics module is used to count the number of sensing components that generate changes in the sensing signal based on the order of changes in the sensing signal, and to determine the operating angle corresponding to the knob operation based on the number of sensing components. The control module is used to control the appliance accordingly based on the operating direction and the operating angle; Before controlling the appliance based on the operating direction and the operating angle, the method further includes: Obtain the corresponding operating direction and operating angle for each dielectric material; When the operating direction and operating angle corresponding to all dielectric materials are consistent, the knob operation is determined to be a valid operation, and the appliance is controlled accordingly based on the operating direction and the operating angle.

8. An appliance, characterized in that, The apparatus includes: Panel, knob, sensing area on the panel surface, and controller; Multiple sensing components are sealed and installed inside the panel at the projection position corresponding to the sensing area; The knob is located in the sensing area, and the knob is provided with dielectric material and can rotate relative to the panel; The sensing area is divided into multiple detection areas radiating outward from the center. Each detection area is equipped with a corresponding sensing component. The center of the knob coincides with the center of the sensing area. When the dielectric material moves closer to any detection area as the knob rotates, the sensing component in that detection area will generate a sensing signal. The controller is disposed inside the panel and connected to each of the sensing components, for performing the appliance control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. The appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that, The knob includes: Knob body, dielectric material, and elastic reset component; The knob body is located in the sensing area and can rotate relative to the panel; The dielectric material is disposed at the bottom of the knob body and is used to trigger the sensing component to generate a sensing signal. The elastic reset member is located at the bottom of the knob body and is used to move the dielectric material away from the sensing component when the knob body is not pressed.

10. The appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that, The sensing area has a recessed structure, and the knob is at least partially embedded in the recessed structure; And / or, the knob contains at least two dielectric materials, each of which is symmetrically distributed about the center of the knob.

11. The appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that, The knob body is made of non-metallic material; And / or, the dielectric material includes at least one of ferroelectric materials, ceramic materials, polymer materials, and composite materials; And / or, the elastic reset element is a ring spring sleeved on the outer ring of the bottom of the knob; And / or, the sensing component is a capacitive sensor or a photoelectric sensor; And / or, the appliances include gas stoves, water heaters, wall-hung boilers, floor-standing air conditioners, fans, tower fans, dishwashers, vegetable washers, smart bathroom fixtures, water purification equipment, table lamps, ceiling lights, ambient lights, and floor lamps.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions for causing the computer to perform the appliance control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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