Knob assembly, stove and smoke stove linkage system

Abstract

The application provides a knob assembly, a stove and a stove and chimney linkage system, which comprises a knob rotatably mounted on a connecting rod of a stove; the knob comprises a chargeable energy storage unit, a photovoltaic assembly and a communication unit; the chargeable energy storage unit is electrically connected with the photovoltaic assembly; the photovoltaic assembly is arranged on the inner side of the side wall of the knob around the corresponding rotation shaft and is arranged on the inner circumferential side wall of the knob; the communication unit is arranged on the corresponding communication circuit board, and the communication circuit board is vertically arranged in the interior of the knob and is vertically mounted in the interior of the knob. In this way, the space of the knob cavity can be fully utilized without changing the standard module size of different functional modules, so that the universality of the knob assembly is improved.

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 applications where cooktops and range hoods are intelligently linked, users expect the range hood to automatically start after ignition via a knob, improving cooking convenience and safety. Currently, some products integrate communication, sensing, and power supply units within the knob, achieving this linkage function without requiring modifications to the cooktop itself.

[0003] However, in existing technologies, these functional units are mostly standard parts with fixed dimensions. The internal space of conventional knob structures is limited, and the circuit board is usually a ring structure, which cannot accommodate all functional modules at the same time. If standard parts are directly mounted horizontally on the circuit board, it will lead to insufficient space, requiring the modules to be cut to size. Non-standard parts not only increase costs but also reduce maintainability and versatility. Utility Model Content

[0004] 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, which can make full use of the space of the knob cavity without changing the standard module size of different functional units, thereby improving the structural compatibility and manufacturing versatility of the knob assembly, reducing the cost of hardware customization, and achieving non-destructive adaptation and stable power supply to existing cooktops.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a knob assembly, including a knob rotatably mounted on a connecting rod of a stove; the knob includes a rechargeable energy storage unit, a photovoltaic module, and a communication unit; the rechargeable energy storage unit is electrically connected to the photovoltaic module.

[0006] The photovoltaic module is positioned on the inner side of the knob sidewall around the corresponding rotation axis.

[0007] The communication unit is mounted on a corresponding communication circuit board, which is vertically mounted inside the knob.

[0008] In an alternative implementation, the sidewalls of the knob are at least partially made of a transparent or translucent material to allow ambient light to reach the photovoltaic module.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the knob is further provided with a circular circuit board parallel to the knob's cover surface, and the communication circuit board is vertically mounted on the surface of the circular circuit board.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the knob assembly further includes a power conversion board, which is vertically mounted on the surface of a circular circuit board.

[0011] In an alternative implementation, a button battery is also mounted on the circular circuit board, which, together with the rechargeable energy storage unit, powers the knob.

[0012] In an optional implementation, a control unit and a sensing unit are also mounted on the circular circuit board, and the control unit obtains the operating status of the knob through the sensing unit.

[0013] In an optional implementation, the knob assembly further includes a reflective element, with the sensing unit disposed opposite to the reflective element to detect the operating status.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the reflective element is provided with a first reflective area and a second reflective area, the first reflective area and the second reflective area having different reflectivities, so as to correspond to the on state and the off state of the knob respectively.

[0015] Secondly, this application provides a cooktop, including a cooktop body, a connecting rod, and a knob assembly according to any of the aforementioned embodiments, wherein the knob assembly is rotatably mounted on the connecting rod.

[0016] Thirdly, this application provides a stove-range hood linkage system, including: a stove according to the aforementioned embodiments; and a range hood; the stove includes a knob assembly; the range hood is configured to receive the operating status sent by the knob assembly and respond accordingly.

[0017] This application provides a knob assembly, a cooktop, and a range hood linkage system. By adopting an internal structural layout that places photovoltaic modules on the inner side wall of the knob and vertically arranges a communication circuit board, it can efficiently collect ambient light energy through lateral light transmission to actively recharge the rechargeable energy storage unit. At the same time, it can make full use of the ample axial height space inside the knob to accommodate a large standard configuration communication module. This effectively solves the problem that the radial space of the knob is limited, making it impossible to horizontally install standard components and requiring customized miniaturization design. Furthermore, while ensuring that the knob can accurately identify the operating status using the sensing unit and achieve wireless linkage control, it improves the product's assembly versatility, production economy, and overall battery life.

[0018] 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. The objectives and other advantages of this application are realized and obtained through the structures particularly pointed out in the description, claims and drawings.

[0019] 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

[0020] 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.

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the knob assembly provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a circular circuit board provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the knob assembly provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a rechargeable energy storage unit and an energy conversion board provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the sensing unit provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a reflective element 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.

[0022] Icons: 1-Knob; 2-Reflector; 31-Rechargeable energy storage unit; 32-Photovoltaic module; 33-Power conversion board; 4-Button battery; 5-Circular circuit board; 61-Communication unit; 62-Communication circuit board; 7-Base plate; 8-Connecting rod; 9-Stove; 10-Knob housing; 11-Sensing unit; 12-Light-transmitting hole; 13-First reflective area; 14-Second reflective area; 15-Range hood; 16-Communication module. Detailed Implementation

[0023] 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.

[0024] To help those skilled in the art better understand this application, a brief introduction to its application scenarios and design concepts is provided.

[0025] The annular space inside existing knob assemblies has a very limited radial width. Standard electronic modules commonly used in industry (such as standard Bluetooth communication modules and power conversion modules) typically have fixed dimensions. These standard modules are often quite large, making it difficult to fit them directly into the narrow internal space of a knob. To accommodate this horizontal layout, manufacturers often have to specially miniaturize the modules or redevelop non-standard sized circuit boards, which not only increases the difficulty of research and development but also significantly increases the manufacturing cost of the product.

[0026] Based on this, this application provides a knob assembly, a cooktop, and a range hood and cooktop linkage system, in which the communication unit (and its matching circuit board) is designed to be vertically installed inside the knob. This vertical structure makes full use of the ample axial height space inside the knob, avoiding the limitation of radial width. This allows the knob assembly to directly accommodate larger standard configuration modules (such as standard Bluetooth boards) without requiring customized modifications to the module dimensions, thereby reducing production costs and improving assembly versatility. Simultaneously, in conjunction with the internal vertical circuit structure, photovoltaic modules are placed on the inner circumferential sidewall of the knob. This layout is spatially coordinated with the vertically installed circuit board, resulting in a compact structure and effectively collecting ambient light transmitted through the knob's sidewall, providing a continuous supply of clean energy to the knob assembly.

[0027] To facilitate understanding of this embodiment, the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0028] This application provides a knob assembly, see embodiments thereof. Figure 1 The knob assembly described in this application embodiment includes a knob 1 rotatably mounted on a connecting rod 8 of the stove 9. (See reference...) Figure 2 and Figure 3 The knob 1 includes a rechargeable energy storage unit 31, a photovoltaic module 32, and a communication unit 61; the rechargeable energy storage unit 31 is electrically connected to the photovoltaic module 32.

[0029] The photovoltaic module 32 is arranged on the inner side of the side wall of the knob 1 around the corresponding rotation axis.

[0030] The communication unit 61 is disposed on the corresponding communication circuit board 62, which is vertically disposed inside the knob 1.

[0031] Here, the knob 1 component can be widely adapted to different brands and models of stoves 9 on the market. The mechanical interface and external contour of the knob 1 body have been specially designed for universal use.

[0032] Firstly, regarding the physical connection with the cooktop 9, the connection interface at the bottom of the knob 1 is designed as a universally compatible structure. Considering that the connecting rod 8 of existing open-flame cooktops 9 typically follows common industry standards (e.g., standard shaft diameters and cross-sectional shapes, such as D-type shafts or double-cut-edge shafts), the connection interface in this embodiment adopts a structure compatible with these standards, such as a socket with a built-in elastic metal plate or an adaptive snap-fit. The knob 1 assembly can be used as a plug-and-play independent accessory; users do not need to disassemble or modify the cooktop 9 body in any way. They can simply pull out the original mechanical knob of the cooktop 9 and directly insert the knob 1 of this application to complete the installation and upgrade.

[0033] In order to accommodate a powerful communication and control module while maintaining the ergonomic and general standards of the knob's appearance (i.e., not making the knob too large due to the internal integration of electronic components, thus affecting its installation on different cooktop panels), this embodiment adopts a vertical circuit layout.

[0034] Specifically, due to the varying spacing and panel layouts of different cooktops, the outer diameter of the knobs is strictly limited. If a traditional horizontal layout is used, accommodating a standard-sized communication unit 61 (such as a standard Bluetooth module) often requires increasing the knob diameter or customizing a non-standard miniaturized module, which reduces product versatility and increases cost. This embodiment, however, by vertically arranging the communication circuit board 62 and the power conversion board 33, fully utilizes the vertical height space inside the knob 1, successfully distributing standard-specification electronic modules evenly within the standard-sized knob housing 10. This further ensures that the knob assembly can physically adapt to the operating panel space of most cooktops, thus possessing versatility.

[0035] Reference Figure 3 The knob 1 mainly consists of a knob housing 10 and a base plate 7. The knob housing 10 and the base plate 7 are fixedly connected by means of snaps, threads or adhesives, thereby forming a closed internal cavity between the two for installing internal electronic components.

[0036] In one embodiment, the sidewall of the knob 1 is at least partially made of a transparent or translucent material to allow ambient light to reach the photovoltaic module 32.

[0037] Here, in order to collect lateral ambient light, the sidewalls of the knob housing 10 are at least partially made of a transparent or translucent material, such as transparent polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass. This design allows external ambient light to penetrate the sidewalls and enter the housing cavity, while the top of the knob 1 can be designed to be opaque for aesthetic purposes or transparent to increase the light-receiving area, depending on design requirements.

[0038] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3Inside the receiving cavity, a photovoltaic module 32 and a rechargeable energy storage unit 31 are disposed. The photovoltaic module 32 is mainly used to collect light energy and convert it into electrical energy. Based on the sidewall light-receiving structure of this embodiment, the photovoltaic module 32 is specifically disposed around the corresponding rotation axis on the inner side of the knob 1 sidewall. Specifically, the photovoltaic module 32 can be a flexible photovoltaic film, which is bent and attached to the inner surface of the transparent sidewall, with the photosensitive surface facing outward, so as to directly receive light penetrating the sidewall. The rechargeable energy storage unit 31 (such as a rechargeable lithium battery or supercapacitor) is disposed inside the receiving cavity and electrically connected to the photovoltaic module 32, for storing the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic module 32 and powering the load inside the knob 1.

[0039] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 3 Inside the knob 1, there is a circular circuit board 5 parallel to the cover surface of the knob 1, and the communication circuit board 62 is vertically mounted on the surface of the circular circuit board 5.

[0040] Here, a circular circuit board 5, parallel to the cover surface of the knob housing 10, is disposed inside the knob 1. The circular circuit board 5 is typically mounted horizontally near the base plate 7. A communication circuit board 62 is vertically mounted on the surface of this circular circuit board 5. A communication unit 61 (e.g., a standard Bluetooth module, ZigBee module, or Wi-Fi module) is disposed on this communication circuit board 62. By vertically arranging the communication circuit board 62, a larger, non-miniaturized standard configuration communication module 16 can be accommodated, avoiding the problem of standard modules not being able to be placed horizontally due to the diameter limitation of the knob 1, thereby reducing costs and improving assembly versatility.

[0041] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The knob 1 assembly also includes a power conversion board 33, which is vertically mounted on the surface of the circular circuit board 5.

[0042] Here, the power conversion board 33 is also vertically mounted on the surface of the circular circuit board 5, preferably parallel to or at an angle to the communication circuit board 62. (Refer to...) Figure 4 The power conversion board 33 integrates a power management circuit for processing the electrical energy input from the photovoltaic module 32 and managing the charging and discharging of the energy storage unit. The communication circuit board 62 and the power conversion board 33 can be mechanically fixed and electrically connected to the bottom circular circuit board 5 through pins, board-to-board connectors, or soldering.

[0043] In one embodiment, a button battery 4 is also installed on the circular circuit board 5, and the button battery 4 and the rechargeable energy storage unit 31 together power the knob 1.

[0044] Here, the button battery 4 serves as an auxiliary or backup power source, forming a hybrid power supply system together with the rechargeable energy storage unit 31. When ambient light is insufficient or the energy storage unit is depleted, the button battery 4 can seamlessly take over the power supply task, ensuring the continuity of the knob 1's function.

[0045] In one embodiment, a control unit and a sensing unit 11 are also installed on the circular circuit board 5. The control unit obtains the operating status of the knob 1 through the sensing unit 11.

[0046] Here, the control unit is electrically connected to the communication unit 61, the sensing unit 11, and the power system. The sensing unit 11 is used to detect the operating status of the knob 1. In a preferred embodiment, refer to... Figure 5 The sensing unit 11 includes an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver, which are mounted on the bottom surface of the circular circuit board 5, facing vertically downwards. The base plate 7 of the knob 1 has a light-transmitting hole 12 at the corresponding position.

[0047] In one embodiment, the knob 1 assembly further includes a reflective element 2, and the sensing unit 11 is disposed opposite to the reflective element 2 to detect the operating status.

[0048] Here, the reflective element 2 is located on the control panel of the stove 9, directly below the knob 1, opposite to the sensing unit 11 inside the knob 1. The reflective element 2 is typically a ring-shaped sticker with areas of different optical properties (e.g., areas with different reflectivities). When the knob 1 is rotated, the sensing unit 11 moves accordingly and scans the reflective element 2 below. By detecting changes in the reflected signal, the control unit can identify the current rotation position or state of the knob 1 (e.g., on, off, or a specific gear), and send this state to an external device via the vertically mounted communication unit 61.

[0049] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 6 The reflective element 2 is provided with a first reflective area 13 and a second reflective area 14. The first reflective area 13 and the second reflective area 14 have different reflectivities, so as to correspond to the open and closed states of the knob 1, respectively.

[0050] Here, the reflective element 2 is disposed on the control panel of the first device (such as the stove 9) and located directly below the knob 1 assembly. The reflective element 2 is physically divided into at least two regions with significant optical differences: The first reflective area 13 corresponds to the off state (e.g., the power off position) of the first device. The surface of this area is coated with a light-absorbing material or has a low reflectivity texture, making it extremely weak in reflecting detection signals (such as infrared light).

[0051] The second reflective area 14 corresponds to the on state of the first device (e.g., ignition and operating position). The surface of this area is coated with a highly reflective material, which has a strong reflective ability for detection signals.

[0052] When the control unit is in operation (e.g., in normal operation mode, or at the moment of being woken up from sleep mode), the control unit sends a drive signal to the transmitter (such as an infrared emitter) in the sensing unit 11. The transmitter then emits a detection beam towards the reflector 2 directly below.

[0053] The detection beam is reflected after it hits the surface of the reflective element 2. The receiving end (such as an infrared receiver tube) in the sensing unit 11 receives the reflected light signal.

[0054] If knob 1 is in the off position, the probe beam shines on the first reflection area 13, and the reflected light intensity is extremely weak. The receiver outputs a low-level or low-voltage signal (i.e., the first state signal).

[0055] If knob 1 is in the open position, the detection beam shines on the second reflection area 14, and the reflected light intensity is strong. The receiver outputs a high-level or high-voltage signal (i.e., the second state signal).

[0056] The control unit reads the electrical signal output by the receiver (i.e., the real-time detection signal). To avoid invalid communication and save power, the control unit compares the current real-time detection signal with the historical detection signals stored in the memory.

[0057] If both are the same (e.g., both remain in the off state), the control unit determines that the state has not changed, does not trigger subsequent actions, and may control the system into sleep mode to save power.

[0058] If the two are different (for example, from low level to high level), the control unit determines that the operating state of the knob 1 component has switched (from off to on).

[0059] Once the status is confirmed to have changed, the control unit generates a corresponding target control signal (such as an activation command) and activates the communication unit 61, which sends the signal to the external device (range hood 15) via a wireless link, thereby achieving linkage between the range hood and the stove.

[0060] Based on the above embodiments, this application provides a stove, including a stove body, a connecting rod, and a knob assembly as described in the previous embodiments, wherein the knob assembly is rotatably mounted on the connecting rod.

[0061] Here, the cooktop itself is the basic equipment for realizing the cooking and heating functions. In specific application scenarios, the cooktop can be a gas stove, integrated cooktop, induction cooktop, or ceramic cooktop, among other kitchen appliances. A control panel is located on top of the cooktop, serving as the user interface and protecting the internal components. The control panel can be made of tempered glass, stainless steel, ceramic, or other heat-resistant and easy-to-clean materials. The surface of the control panel is usually printed with heat indicator icons or brand logos.

[0062] The connecting rod is mounted on the cooktop body and protrudes upwards through the control panel. It is an extension of the cooktop's internal adjustment mechanism. For gas cooktops, the connecting rod is typically the valve stem of the gas flow regulating valve (valve body). For electric cooktops, the connecting rod is typically the rotating shaft of the power adjustment potentiometer. The connecting rod can rotate around its axis, and the rotation angle adjusts the gas flow rate or heating power.

[0063] To facilitate torque transmission and prevent slippage, the top cross-section of the connecting rod is usually designed to be non-circular, such as a D-shaped structure, a double-cut edge structure, or a structure with splines.

[0064] The knob assembly, serving as a manually operated interface, is rotatably mounted on the connecting rod. Specifically, the knob body within the assembly has a connection interface at its bottom. During installation, the connection interface is fitted onto the top of the connecting rod. The connection interface may contain a flexible metal plate, self-adaptive clips, or fastening screws to eliminate gaps between the knob and the connecting rod, ensuring the knob can reliably drive the connecting rod to rotate synchronously, thereby achieving physical adjustment of the firepower.

[0065] The knob assembly features a unique structure with side-wall lighting and a vertical internal layout. When installed on the cooktop, the transparent or semi-transparent sidewalls of the knob's casing are exposed to the kitchen environment. This allows side lighting and diffused light from the kitchen to penetrate the sidewalls and illuminate the photovoltaic modules attached to the inner circumference of the knob. The photovoltaic modules convert light energy into electrical energy, which is stored in a rechargeable energy storage unit inside the knob. This enables the cooktop knob to generate its own electricity, eliminating the need for users to connect an external power cord to the cooktop or frequently disassemble the knob to replace batteries.

[0066] Meanwhile, because the knob uses a vertically mounted communication circuit board, it can accommodate a more powerful and standard-sized communication module while maintaining standard appearance dimensions (without obstructing other markings on the cooktop panel or interfering with adjacent knobs).

[0067] To enable intelligent linkage functions, the cooktop also includes a reflective element on the control panel. The reflective element is located directly below the knob assembly and is covered by the knob body, thus not affecting the overall aesthetics of the cooktop. The reflective element can be a ring-shaped sticker, coating, or inlay, with its central hole fitted around the outer periphery of the connecting rod.

[0068] The upper surface of the reflective element (i.e., the side facing the inside of the knob) is provided with areas of different optical properties. Specifically, the reflective element is divided into a first reflective area and a second reflective area. The first reflective area corresponds to the off state of the cooktop (i.e., the flame-off position), and this area has a low reflectivity (e.g., using a black light-absorbing material). The second reflective area corresponds to the on state of the cooktop (i.e., the ignition and operating position), and this area has a high reflectivity (e.g., using a white reflective material).

[0069] Once the knob assembly is installed, the sensing unit (infrared transmitter and receiver unit) on the vertical circuit board inside the knob or on the bottom bracket faces vertically towards the reflective element on the control panel. When the user rotates the knob to adjust the heat, the sensing unit moves accordingly, scanning the reflective element below. By detecting a step change in the intensity of the reflected signal, the knob assembly can accurately identify whether the cooktop is currently on or off. Subsequently, the knob assembly sends this status signal to an external device (such as a range hood) via an internally vertically mounted communication module, thus enabling the cooktop to wirelessly and intelligently interact with external devices.

[0070] 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 stove 9 in the aforementioned embodiments; and the range hood 15; the stove 9 includes a knob assembly; the range hood 15 is configured to receive the operating status sent by the knob assembly and respond accordingly.

[0071] Here, the cooktop 9 and the range hood 15 establish a connection through wireless communication to achieve intelligent collaborative work.

[0072] The knob assembly integrates a vertically positioned communication circuit board, on which a standard-configuration communication unit (such as a standard-sized Bluetooth module) is mounted. This vertical layout utilizes the axial space inside the knob, allowing it to accommodate a more powerful and compatible standard communication module, thereby ensuring the stability and range of wireless signal transmission.

[0073] Meanwhile, the knob assembly also features self-powered operation. The sidewalls of its knob housing are designed to be transparent or semi-transparent, while photovoltaic modules are attached to the inner sidewalls. These photovoltaic modules collect ambient light from the side and store it in an internal rechargeable energy storage unit, providing ample energy support for the high-frequency data transmission of the communication unit and ensuring the stove's long-term online capability as a command transmitter.

[0074] In addition, the control panel of the stove is equipped with reflective elements (such as ring stickers) with areas of different reflectivity (such as a high-reflectivity on-hook area and a low-reflectivity off area). The sensing unit inside the knob faces vertically downwards and detects the reflected signals from the reflective elements in real time to determine the on / off status of the stove.

[0075] The range hood, as the responding end, includes the range hood body and the communication module integrated within the range hood body.

[0076] The main body of a range hood typically includes a housing, motor, impeller, lighting, and main control board. The main control board is the control center of the range hood and usually contains a microcontroller.

[0077] The communication module of the range hood is matched with the communication unit in the knob assembly. For example, if the knob uses Bluetooth communication, the range hood is also equipped with a corresponding Bluetooth receiver module. The communication module can be a separate circuit board connected to the main control board of the range hood via a ribbon cable, or it can be directly integrated into the PCB of the main control board. The communication module interacts with the main control board through communication interfaces such as UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter), I2C, or SPI.

[0078] When the user operates the stove and rotates the knob to ignite it, the sensing unit inside the knob detects that the reflective element below has switched from a low-reflection zone to a high-reflection zone. Based on this, the control unit inside the knob determines that the stove has entered the on state.

[0079] Subsequently, the control unit drives the vertically mounted communication unit to operate. The communication unit transmits a data packet containing the activation command via wireless signal. Due to the use of a vertically mounted standard communication unit, the wireless signal has good penetration and coverage, and can be stably transmitted to the range hood installed above the stove.

[0080] The range hood's communication module receives the wireless signal and demodulates it into control commands, which are then transmitted to the main control board. After parsing the commands, the main control board controls the motor drive circuit to start the motor, causing the range hood to automatically begin exhausting smoke.

[0081] When the user turns off the stove, the knob returns to the zero position, and the sensing unit detects a low-reflection signal. The knob assembly then sends a shutdown command. Upon receiving this command, the range hood executes a shutdown or delayed shutdown operation according to preset logic.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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 scope of protection 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, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features, within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application. 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 scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A knob assembly, characterized in that, The device includes a knob that is rotatably mounted on a connecting rod of the cooktop; the knob includes a rechargeable energy storage unit, a photovoltaic module, and a communication unit; the rechargeable energy storage unit is electrically connected to the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module is arranged around the corresponding rotation axis on the inner side of the knob sidewall; The communication unit is mounted on a corresponding communication circuit board, which is vertically mounted inside the knob.

2. The knob assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sidewalls of the knob are at least partially made of a transparent or translucent material to allow ambient light to reach the photovoltaic module.

3. The knob assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The knob also has a circular circuit board inside, parallel to the knob's cover surface, and the communication circuit board is vertically mounted on the surface of the circular circuit board.

4. The knob assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The knob assembly also includes a power conversion board, which is vertically mounted on the surface of the circular circuit board.

5. The knob assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, A button battery is also installed on the circular circuit board, and the button battery and the rechargeable energy storage unit together power the knob.

6. The knob assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The circular circuit board is also equipped with a control unit and a sensing unit. The control unit obtains the operating status of the knob through the sensing unit.

7. The knob assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The knob assembly also includes a reflective element, and the sensing unit is disposed opposite to the reflective element to detect the operating status.

8. The knob assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The reflective element is provided with a first reflective area and a second reflective area, the first reflective area and the second reflective area have different reflectivities, so as to correspond to the on state and the off state of the knob respectively.

9. A stove, characterized in that, The appliance includes a cooktop body, a connecting rod, and a knob assembly as described in any one of claims 1-8, the knob assembly being rotatably mounted on the connecting rod.

10. A range hood and stove linkage system, characterized in that, include: The cooktop of claim 9; and the range hood; the cooktop includes a knob assembly; the range hood is configured to receive and respond to an operating status sent by the knob assembly.

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