Knob assembly, stove and smoke stove linkage system

Abstract

The application provides a knob assembly, a stove and a stove-hood linkage system, comprising a knob body and at least one reflective patch; the knob body is rotatably coupled to a stove connecting rod, each reflective patch corresponds to a certain working gear of the stove, the corresponding reflective patch is attached to the position of the corresponding gear on the panel, and the reflectivity of different reflective patches is different; the inside of the knob body is provided with a containing cavity, the containing cavity is provided with a first communication module and a sensing module; the knob body is in communication connection with a hood through the first communication module; the sensing module is used for receiving a reflected signal from the reflective patch; the knob body is used for determining the current working gear of the stove through the reflected signal and sending it to the hood, so that the hood responds to the current working gear. In this way, the actual gear information of different stoves can be accurately identified, so as to realize the universality and precise linkage control of the knob assembly on different models of stoves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of smart home technology, and in particular to a knob assembly, a cooktop, and a range hood and cooktop linkage system. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, to simplify user operation, the kitchen appliance industry commonly adopts cooktop-range hood linkage technology, where the range hood automatically starts and extracts fumes after the cooktop is ignited. Current cooktop-range hood linkage methods primarily achieve communication between the Bluetooth module on the cooktop control board and the Bluetooth module on the range hood control board. However, in systems with cooktop-range hood linkage, there is a problem of not being able to accurately obtain the cooktop's real-time power setting information, especially between different cooktop models, where the distribution of power settings and corresponding combustion power are inconsistent, making it difficult to achieve universal and accurate power setting identification. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide a knob assembly, a cooktop, and a range hood and cooktop linkage system that can accurately identify the actual gear information of different cooktops, thereby achieving universality and precise linkage control of the knob assembly on different models of cooktops.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a knob assembly, including a knob body and at least one reflective patch; the knob body is rotatably coupled to a cooktop connecting rod, the reflective patch is attached to the cooktop panel opposite to the knob, each reflective patch corresponds to a certain working position of the cooktop, the corresponding reflective patch is attached to the position of the corresponding position on the panel, and different reflective patches have different reflectivities; the knob body has an internal receiving cavity, and a first communication module and a sensing module are disposed in the receiving cavity.

[0005] The knob body establishes a communication connection with the smoke machine through the first communication module.

[0006] The sensing module is used to receive reflected signals from the reflective patch.

[0007] The knob body is used to determine the current working level of the stove by reflecting signals, and sends the current working level to the range hood through the first communication module so that the range hood responds to the current working level.

[0008] In an optional implementation, the sensing module includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit; the knob body also includes a base plate with a transmitting hole for the transmitting unit to pass through and a receiving hole for the receiving unit to pass through.

[0009] In an optional implementation, the reflective patch is a set of physically separated discrete patches; the surface of the reflective patch is coated with a reflective material that reflects the light signal emitted by the emitting unit.

[0010] In an optional implementation, the knob body also includes a control module.

[0011] The control module is used to acquire the reflectivity value of the reflected signal and match the reflectivity value with the reflectivity-working level mapping relationship to determine the current working level.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the knob body includes a knob housing and a base plate, which are fastened together to form a receiving cavity; the knob body also includes a connecting rod interface for coupling with a stove connecting rod.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the connecting rod interface includes a resilient snap-fit ​​structure for securing the knob body to the cooktop connecting rod.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, a power supply module for supplying power to the first communication module and the sensing module is also provided inside the cavity.

[0015] In an optional implementation, the power supply module is a button battery, and a battery holder for installing the button battery is provided inside the housing cavity.

[0016] Secondly, this application provides a stove, including: a stove body, an operation panel disposed on the stove body, a stove connecting rod disposed on the stove body, and a knob assembly of any of the aforementioned embodiments; the knob assembly includes a knob body and at least one reflective patch.

[0017] The knob body is coupled to the stove connecting rod, and the reflective patch is attached to the control panel.

[0018] Thirdly, this application provides a stove-range hood linkage system, including: a stove according to the aforementioned embodiments; and a range hood; the range hood includes a second communication module, and the range hood communicates with the knob assembly of the stove through the second communication module; the range hood is configured to adjust its own operating state according to the current operating level of the stove received.

[0019] This application provides a knob assembly, a cooktop, and a cooktop-range hood linkage system. By employing a knob body in conjunction with a set of physically separate discrete reflective patches with different reflectivities, the system allows users to flexibly attach the reflective patches to corresponding positions on the control panel according to the non-standard power settings of different cooktops. Utilizing the unique reflectivity of different patches as physical identifiers for power settings, the system achieves accurate identification and differentiation of specific power settings on the cooktop. The determined precise power setting information is then sent to the cooktop via a communication module, enabling the cooktop to automatically adjust its operating status according to the actual power level of the cooktop. This adapts to non-standard cooktops, improving the universal compatibility, installation flexibility, and intelligent control level of the cooktop-range hood linkage system.

[0020] Other features and advantages of this application will be set forth in the following description and will be apparent in part from the description or may be learned by practicing the application.

[0021] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application or 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 this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the knob assembly provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the knob provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the base plate of the knob body provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the sensing module provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a reflective patch provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the range hood and stove linkage system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Icons: 1-Knob body; 2-Reflective patch; 3-Sensing module; 31-Transmitting unit; 32-Receiving unit; 4-Cooktop; 5-Cooktop connecting rod; 6-Knob housing; 7-Base plate; 71-Transmitting hole; 72-Receiving hole; 8-Circuit board; 9-Connection interface; 10-First communication module; 11-Power supply module; 12-Range hood; 13-Second communication module. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] To help those skilled in the art better understand this application, a brief introduction to its application scenarios and design concepts is provided.

[0027] In existing cooktop and range hood linkage technologies, to automatically adjust the range hood's suction power based on the cooktop's heat output, it's typically necessary to detect the rotation angle of the control knob. However, with numerous cooktop brands on the market, the travel and heat adjustment logic of the gas regulating valves used in different cooktops are not standardized. For example, some cooktops reach maximum heat output when rotated 90 degrees, while others may reach maximum heat output at other angles.

[0028] This inconsistency in valve body standards leads to a significant technical problem: if a fixed-shape ring-shaped sticker is used, the preset firepower value corresponding to the rotation angle (reflectivity) detected by the knob often does not match the actual firepower of the cooktop. This causes the range hood to fail to accurately respond to the cooktop's actual operating conditions; for example, when the cooktop is actually at high fire, the range hood may misjudge it as medium fire, thus affecting smoke extraction efficiency and user experience.

[0029] Based on this, this application provides a knob assembly, cooktop, and cooktop-range hood linkage system, employing a set of physically separate, independent gear position patches. Users can flexibly attach patches representing different gear positions to corresponding positions on the control panel according to the actual gear position distribution of their cooktop. Each discrete patch in this application is designed with a different reflectivity, serving as a unique physical identifier for the gear position. The knob assembly determines the current operating gear position by recognizing the unique reflectivity of the patch, without relying on fixed rotation angle logic. This allows the knob assembly of this application to perfectly adapt to various non-standard stroke cooktops, improving the product's versatility and flexibility.

[0030] To facilitate understanding of this embodiment, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0031] This application provides a knob assembly, see embodiments thereof. Figure 1 The knob assembly includes a knob body 1 and at least one reflective patch 2. The knob body 1 is rotatably coupled to the stove connecting rod 5. The reflective patch 2 is attached to the panel of the stove 4 opposite to the knob. Each reflective patch 2 corresponds to a certain working position of the stove 4. The corresponding reflective patch 2 is attached to the position of the corresponding position on the panel, and the reflectivity of different reflective patches 2 is different. The knob body 1 has a receiving cavity inside, and a first communication module 10 and a sensing module 3 are arranged in the receiving cavity.

[0032] The knob body 1 establishes a communication connection with the smoke machine through the first communication module 10.

[0033] The sensing module 3 is used to receive reflected signals from the reflective patch 2.

[0034] The knob body 1 is used to determine the current working position of the stove 4 by reflecting a signal, and sends the current working position to the range hood through the first communication module 10 so that the range hood responds to the current working position.

[0035] Here, the knob body 1 is designed as a replaceable, universal accessory for mounting on the cooktop connecting rod 5 of the cooktop 4. Specifically, refer to... Figure 2 The knob body 1 typically comprises a knob housing 6 and a base plate 7. The knob housing 6 and the base plate 7 are connected by snaps, threads, or fasteners, together forming a closed internal cavity that protects the internal electronic components and prevents oil contamination. (Refer to...) Figure 3 A connection interface 9 is located at the center of the bottom of the knob body 1. The shape of the connection interface 9 matches the cross-sectional shape of the valve stem of the stove 4. Common forms include D-shaped holes, circular holes with elastic clips, or spline holes. Through this mechanical coupling structure, the knob body 1 can be securely fitted onto the stove connecting rod 5. When the user rotates the knob housing 6, the valve stem rotates synchronously, thereby adjusting the gas flow.

[0036] The reflective patch 2 is a group of physically separate and independent discrete patches. These patches can be round, square, or other shaped thin sheets. In actual installation, the user attaches the corresponding reflective patch 2 to the control panel of their stove 4 according to the actual fire level position (e.g., ignition position, maximum fire level, minimum fire level) marked on the panel.

[0037] To differentiate between different power levels, each of the reflective patches 2 possesses unique optical reflective properties. Specifically, different reflective patches 2 are coated with materials of varying reflectivity, or have different grayscale levels, color depths, or surface texture densities. For example, the patch corresponding to the maximum firepower has extremely high infrared reflectivity, while the patch corresponding to the minimum firepower has medium infrared reflectivity. This difference in optical properties constitutes the physical identification of each patch.

[0038] Reference Figure 4 A circuit board 8 is fixed horizontally or vertically within the cavity. The first communication module 10 and the sensing module 3 are integrated or soldered onto the circuit board 8 and electrically connected. In addition, a power supply module 11 is provided on the circuit board 8 to supply power to the above modules.

[0039] The first communication module 10 preferably uses a low-power Bluetooth chip or a microcontroller with integrated radio frequency functions. The first communication module 10 is responsible for establishing a wireless communication link with external tobacco machine equipment.

[0040] Here, when the knob body 1 is in the working state, the emitting unit 31 of the sensing module 3 emits an infrared detection beam downwards. When the knob is rotated, causing the sensing module 3 to move directly above a certain reflective patch 2, the beam shines on the patch surface and is reflected. The infrared receiver receives the reflected light signal and converts it into an electrical signal. Since different patches have different reflectivities, the received signal strength is also different. The control circuit inside the knob body 1 (usually integrated in the communication module chip or existing as an independent MCU) reads the signal strength and compares it with the pre-stored value to identify which specific reflective patch 2 the knob is currently resting on, thereby determining the current working level of the stove 4 (such as high or low heat). After determining the level, the control circuit encodes the level information through the first communication module 10 and sends it to the range hood via a wireless signal. After receiving the signal, the range hood can perform the corresponding airflow adjustment action.

[0041] In one embodiment, the sensing module 3 includes a transmitting unit 31 and a receiving unit 32; the knob body 1 also includes a base plate 7, on which a transmitting hole 71 for the transmitting unit 31 to pass through and a receiving hole 72 for the receiving unit 32 to pass through are provided.

[0042] Here, refer to Figure 5 The sensing module 3 includes a transmitting unit 31 and a receiving unit 32. The transmitting unit 31 preferably employs an infrared light-emitting diode or other optical emitting device to emit a detection beam towards the outside of the knob assembly. The receiving unit 32 preferably employs a phototransistor, photodiode, or integrated infrared receiver to receive reflected light signals and convert them into electrical signals. The transmitting unit 31 and the receiving unit 32 are fixed to the circuit board 8 inside the knob using soldering or surface mounting technology, and are electrically connected to the control circuitry on the circuit board 8.

[0043] Reference Figure 3 The knob body 1 includes a base plate 7. The base plate 7, serving as a closure for the knob housing 6, is located at the bottom of the knob assembly. Corresponding to the position of the sensing module 3, the base plate 7 has through-hole structures, namely an emission hole 71 and a receiving hole 72. The position of the emission hole 71 is perpendicular to the mounting position of the emission unit 31 on the circuit board 8, allowing the detection beam emitted by the emission unit 31 to pass through the emission hole 71 and be projected onto the outside of the knob. The position of the receiving hole 72 is perpendicular to the mounting position of the receiving unit 32 on the circuit board 8, allowing light reflected back from the outside to pass through the receiving hole 72 and be projected onto the photosensitive surface of the receiving unit 32.

[0044] To prevent light emitted from the transmitting unit 31 from directly entering the receiving unit 32 without external reflection (i.e., to prevent internal optical crosstalk), the transmitting aperture 71 and the receiving aperture 72 are spaced apart on the base plate 7. The solid portion of the base plate 7 between the two apertures serves as physical isolation and optical path shielding. Furthermore, in an extended embodiment, transparent or semi-transparent lenses, filters, or dust covers can be installed at the transmitting aperture 71 and the receiving aperture 72, ensuring unobstructed light paths while preventing dust and fumes from entering the knob and contaminating the circuit board 8.

[0045] In one embodiment, the reflective patch 2 is a set of physically separated discrete patches; the surface of the reflective patch 2 is coated with a reflective material that reflects the light signal emitted by the reflecting unit 31.

[0046] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 6 The reflective patch 2 is a group of physically separated discrete patches. The reflective patch 2 contains multiple independent small units, each of which can be a thin sheet structure in the form of a circle, square, or other geometric shapes. This discrete and separate design allows users to attach them to different positions on the cooktop panel 4 according to their actual needs. The patches are not connected to each other and are separated by the inherent surface of the cooktop panel 4.

[0047] The functional surface of the reflective patch 2 (i.e., the side facing the knob) is coated with a reflective material. This reflective material has the characteristic of reflecting the light signal emitted by the emitting unit 31. For example, when the emitting unit 31 emits infrared light, the reflective material is selected from coatings with high reflectivity to infrared light, such as ink containing metal particles or a specially made infrared reflective film.

[0048] To differentiate between different speed settings, each of the discrete patches in this set has a surface reflective material with different optical properties. Specific implementation methods include, but are not limited to: using coatings with different gray levels (such as dark gray, light gray, and silver-white), using reflective dot distributions of different densities, or using materials with different light signal absorption rates. Through this differentiated material configuration, when the light beam emitted by the transmitting unit 31 shines on different discrete patches, the intensity of the reflected light varies. After receiving these light signals of varying intensity, the receiving unit 32 can identify which specific patch corresponds to the current knob based on the characteristic values ​​of the signal intensity, thereby determining the speed setting of the stove 4. This discrete identification structure based on material properties effectively solves the adaptation problem for non-standard stroke stoves 4.

[0049] In one embodiment, the knob body 1 further includes a control module.

[0050] The control module is used to acquire the reflectivity value of the reflected signal and match the reflectivity value with the reflectivity-working level mapping relationship to determine the current working level.

[0051] Here, the knob body 1 integrates a control module, which is typically implemented using a microcontroller or a processing unit integrated into a communication chip. The control module is electrically connected to the sensing module 3 and is used to receive analog electrical signals or partially digitized signals output by the sensing module 3.

[0052] First, the control module acquires the reflectivity value of the reflected signal and converts the analog light intensity received by the sensing module 3 into a digital quantity.

[0053] Next, the control module executes matching logic, comparing the real-time reflectivity value with the reflectivity-working-level mapping relationship pre-stored in the internal memory. The reflectivity-working-level mapping relationship is a lookup table that records the correspondence between specific reflectivity value ranges and specific four stove settings (such as high, low, etc.). When the real-time reflectivity value falls within a preset range, the control module determines that the current knob is in the working level corresponding to that range. Through this hardware and software combination, the control module can accurately identify the custom settings represented by the discrete patches.

[0054] In one embodiment, the knob body 1 includes a knob housing 6 and a base plate 7, which are fastened together to form a receiving cavity; the knob body 1 also includes a connecting rod interface for coupling with the stove connecting rod 5.

[0055] Here, refer to Figure 2 The knob body 1 mainly consists of two parts: a knob housing 6 and a base plate 7. The knob housing 6 is typically a cylindrical or truncated conical cover for the user to hold and rotate. The base plate 7 acts as a closure, fastening to the bottom of the knob housing 6 using snaps, screws, or ultrasonic welding. After fastening, the two form a closed cavity inside, providing physical space for installing electronic components such as the circuit board 8, battery, and sensors, and also serving to prevent oil and water damage.

[0056] In order to achieve a physical connection with stove 4, refer to Figure 3 The knob body 1 is also provided with a connection interface 9. The connection interface 9 is usually located at the center of the base plate 7, or it is formed by a columnar structure extending from the inside of the knob housing 6. The shape and size of the connection interface 9 are designed to match the cooktop connecting rod 5 on the cooktop 4, so as to ensure that the knob body 1 can be fitted onto the connecting rod and drive the connecting rod to rotate synchronously.

[0057] In one embodiment, the connecting rod interface includes an elastic snap-fit ​​structure for fixing the knob body 1 to the stove connecting rod 5.

[0058] Here, to accommodate cooktop connecting rods 5 of different diameters or tolerances and to ensure stable installation, the connecting rod interface is designed with an elastic snap-fit ​​structure. This elastic snap-fit ​​structure can be a metal spring sheet mounted on the inner wall of the interface, or a one-piece molded plastic elastic arm or rib. When the knob body 1 is fitted onto the connecting rod, the elastic snap-fit ​​structure deforms to generate clamping force, fixing the knob body 1 to the connecting rod and preventing the knob from easily falling off during rotation or removal. In addition to the elastic snap-fit, the connecting rod interface may also include a guide groove or a D-shaped cut surface to accommodate the shape of the connecting rod for positioning and transmission.

[0059] In one embodiment, a power supply module 11 for supplying power to the first communication module 10 and the sensing module 3 is also provided inside the cavity.

[0060] Here, in order to enable the knob assembly to operate as a standalone wireless accessory without the need for an external power cord, a power supply module 11 is also provided inside the housing. The power supply module 11 provides the necessary voltage and current to the first communication module 10, the sensing module 3, and the control module via conductive lines on the circuit board 8. The design of the power supply module 11 must consider the limited space inside the knob and the ease of replacement for the user.

[0061] In one embodiment, the power supply module 11 is a button battery, and a battery holder for installing the button battery is provided in the receiving cavity.

[0062] Here, the power supply module 11 preferably uses a button cell battery, such as a lithium manganese battery. This type of battery is small and has a stable voltage (typically 3V), making it ideal for applications like knobs where size is critical. To secure the battery and establish electrical connections, a battery holder is soldered or mounted on the circuit board 8 within the housing. The battery holder typically includes a positive contact spring and a negative contact. The user simply inserts the button cell battery into the battery holder to complete the installation.

[0063] Based on the above embodiments, this application provides a stove, including: a stove body, an operation panel disposed on the stove body, a stove connecting rod disposed on the stove body, and a knob assembly of any of the above; the knob assembly includes a knob body and at least one reflective patch.

[0064] The knob body is coupled to the stove connecting rod, and the reflective patch is attached to the control panel.

[0065] Here, the cooktop itself can be a gas stove, integrated cooktop, induction cooktop, or ceramic cooktop, or other kitchen cooking equipment. The cooktop itself contains components for generating a heat source, such as a gas burner and its gas supply system, or an induction coil.

[0066] The control panel is located on the upper surface of the cooktop, serving as the physical interface for user interaction and a protective cover for internal components. The control panel is typically made of tempered glass, stainless steel, ceramic, or other heat-resistant and easy-to-clean materials. It usually displays brand logos, heat level indicators, and other information.

[0067] The cooktop connecting rod is mounted on the cooktop body and protrudes upwards through the control panel. It is typically an extension of the cooktop flow control valve (valve body) or power adjustment potentiometer. The connecting rod can rotate around its axis, and the rotation angle adjusts the gas flow or electrical power, thereby controlling the cooktop's heat output. The cross-sectional shape of the connecting rod is usually designed to be non-circular (such as D-type or double-cut-edge type) or splined to facilitate torque transmission.

[0068] The knob assembly includes a knob body and at least one reflective patch.

[0069] The knob body, as a manually operated component, is rotatably coupled to the cooktop connecting rod. Specifically, the connection interface at the bottom of the knob body is sleeved on the top of the cooktop connecting rod. Through this mechanical cooperation, when the user rotates the knob body, the cooktop connecting rod rotates synchronously, achieving physical adjustment of the cooktop's heat. The knob body integrates the aforementioned control module, communication module, and sensing module, transforming the traditional mechanical operating component into a node with intelligent sensing capabilities.

[0070] The reflective patches are attached to the control panel and are designed as at least one physically independent, discrete unit. These reflective patches are arranged on the panel surface around the connecting rod.

[0071] The specific placement of the reflective patch corresponds to the actual firepower settings on the cooktop. Because different cooktop models have different valve travel designs (for example, some have a maximum firepower of 90 degrees, while others have 45 degrees), users should attach the reflective patch representing the specific setting to the corresponding rotation angle on the control panel, based on the cooktop's actual characteristics.

[0072] Once the knob body is in place, its bottom covers the reflective patch. The sensor module probe inside the knob body faces vertically towards the control panel. When the knob body is rotated to a specific position with the connecting rod, the sensor module aligns precisely with the reflective patch attached to that position.

[0073] This application provides a cooktop that utilizes a sensing module within a knob assembly to detect the specific reflectivity of a discrete reflective patch below, thereby identifying the cooktop's current physical setting. Subsequently, the knob assembly wirelessly transmits a signal to trigger the linkage of external devices. This design eliminates the need for complex internal circuit modifications; by simply using external structural components, it can accommodate various non-standard stroke valves, achieving intelligent cooktop-range hood linkage functionality.

[0074] Based on the above embodiments, this application provides a range hood and stove linkage system, referring to... Figure 7 The stove-range hood linkage system provided in this application includes: the aforementioned stove 4; and a range hood 12; the range hood 12 includes a second communication module 13, and the range hood 12 communicates with the knob assembly of the stove 4 through the second communication module 13; the range hood 12 is configured to adjust its own operating status according to the current working position of the stove 4 received.

[0075] Here, the cooktop 4 serves as the active control unit of the system, including the cooktop 4 body, an operation panel mounted on the body, and a cooktop connecting rod. A knob assembly is installed on the cooktop connecting rod. The knob assembly includes a knob body and at least one reflective patch attached to the operation panel.

[0076] The reflective patches are a set of physically separate discrete patches. These patches are individually affixed to the control panel, and their positions correspond to specific power levels on the cooktop (e.g., ignition, maximum power, minimum power). Each reflective patch has unique optical reflective properties (such as different reflectivities) as a physical identifier for that specific power level.

[0077] The range hood 12, as the controlled response end of the system, includes the range hood 12 body and the built-in second communication module 13. The second communication module 13 is matched with the first communication module inside the knob assembly (e.g., both are Bluetooth modules), and the two establish a wireless link for data transmission.

[0078] The system adapts to and links with the four speed settings of non-standard stoves by recognizing discrete physical identifiers.

[0079] When the user operates the stove 4 and rotates the knob to a specific setting, such as the stir-fry setting, the sensing module inside the knob moves to the reflective patch corresponding to that setting. The sensing module emits a detection signal and receives the signal reflected back from the patch.

[0080] Because the reflective patch has a specific reflectivity, the control module inside the knob body analyzes the intensity of the received reflected signal and matches it with the pre-stored reflectivity-gear mapping relationship, thereby accurately identifying that the stove 4 is currently in the high-heat setting.

[0081] Subsequently, the knob assembly sends a control command containing stir-fry mode information to the range hood 12 via the first communication module.

[0082] After receiving the instruction, the second communication module 13 of the range hood 12 transmits it to the main controller of the range hood 12. According to the preset logic, the range hood 12 automatically adjusts the fan motor to the corresponding high speed state to provide maximum smoke extraction capacity.

[0083] Similarly, when the user rotates the knob to the reflective patch position corresponding to the stewing setting, the knob assembly recognizes the unique reflectivity of that position and sends a low-heat command to the range hood 12. The range hood 12 then automatically reduces its speed to a silent or low-speed mode. When the user rotates the knob back to the off position (usually without a patch or with a specific off indicator patch), the system recognizes the off state, and the range hood 12 performs a delayed shutdown or immediate shutdown operation.

[0084] This application provides a range hood and cooktop linkage system where the linkage between the range hood and cooktop no longer relies on rigid rotation angle logic, but rather on user-defined, discrete patches. This means that regardless of the cooktop's valve travel design, as long as the user places the patch representing the corresponding heat output in the correct position, the system can accurately identify and achieve a perfect match between airflow and heat output, greatly improving the versatility and user experience of the range hood and cooktop linkage system.

[0085] The computer program product provided in this application includes a computer-readable storage medium storing program code. The instructions included in the program code can be used to execute the methods described in the preceding method embodiments. For specific implementation details, please refer to the method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0086] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working process of the system and apparatus described above can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0087] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0088] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0089] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0090] Finally, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely specific implementations of this application, used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. The protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any person skilled in the art can still modify or easily conceive of changes to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Such modifications, changes, or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be covered within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A knob assembly, characterized in that, The device includes a knob body and at least one reflective patch; the knob body is rotatably coupled to a cooktop connecting rod, and the reflective patch is attached to the cooktop panel opposite the knob. Each reflective patch corresponds to a specific working position of the cooktop, and the corresponding reflective patch is attached to the panel at the corresponding position. Different reflective patches have different reflectivities. The knob body has an internal cavity containing a first communication module and a sensing module. The knob body establishes a communication connection with the smoke machine through the first communication module; The sensing module is used to receive reflected signals from the reflective patch; The knob body is used to determine the current working level of the stove through the reflected signal, and send the current working level to the range hood through the first communication module so that the range hood responds to the current working level.

2. The knob assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing module includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit; the knob body also includes a base plate, on which a transmitting hole for the transmitting unit to pass through and a receiving hole for the receiving unit to pass through are provided.

3. The knob assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The reflective patch is a set of physically separated discrete patches; the surface of the reflective patch is coated with a reflective material that reflects the light signal emitted by the transmitting unit.

4. The knob assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The knob body also includes a control module; The control module is used to obtain the reflectivity value of the reflected signal and match the reflectivity value with the reflectivity-working level mapping relationship to determine the current working level.

5. The knob assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The knob body includes a knob housing and a base plate, which are fastened together to form the receiving cavity; the knob body also includes a connecting rod interface for coupling with the stove connecting rod.

6. The knob assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connecting rod interface includes an elastic buckle structure for fixing the knob body to the stove connecting rod.

7. The knob assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cavity is also equipped with a power supply module for supplying power to the first communication module and the sensing module.

8. The knob assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The power supply module is a button battery, and the receiving cavity is provided with a battery holder for installing the button battery.

9. A stove, characterized in that, include: The stove body, the control panel disposed on the stove body, the stove connecting rod disposed on the stove body, and the knob assembly according to any one of claims 1-8; the knob assembly includes a knob body and at least one reflective patch; The knob body is coupled to the stove connecting rod, and the reflective patch is attached to the control panel.

10. A range hood and stove linkage system, characterized in that, include: The cooktop of claim 9; and the range hood; the range hood includes a second communication module, the range hood communicating with the knob assembly of the cooktop via the second communication module; the range hood is configured to adjust its operating state according to the current operating setting of the cooktop received.

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