A household appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual interface systems for household appliances lack effective user identification and personalized interface management, allowing unauthorized access and failing to provide tailored control configurations for different users.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance equipped with a projector, sensor, and control unit, along with a user-specific accessory for gesture recognition, enables user identification and customized interface placement based on predetermined physical features, restricting access and configuring interfaces according to user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a virtual interface system is implemented without user identification, then the system is simpler and easier to operate, but unauthorized users can access and control the appliance
Solution Approach 1:
An accessory with predetermined physical features serves as an intermediary between the user and the virtual interface system. The accessory contains encoded user identification information that the sensor detects, enabling secure user authentication without complicating the overall system architecture. The control unit processes the accessory's features to identify the user and load their personalized interface configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single virtual interface is provided for all users, then the device is simpler to manage, but different users cannot have personalized control configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual interface system implements local quality by providing different interface configurations tailored to each user's preferences and requirements. The control unit stores multiple interface configurations and selectively displays the appropriate one based on the identified user's accessory features, allowing each user to have a customized control experience without requiring separate physical control panels for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
User-specific interface configurations are prepared in advance and stored in the control unit's memory. When a user presents their accessory, the system quickly retrieves and displays the pre-configured interface, eliminating the need for real-time configuration adjustments and providing immediate personalized access.
3Reliability
If user identification through accessories is implemented, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the system requires additional components and setup
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses optical copying and pattern recognition to detect the predetermined physical features on the accessory. The sensor captures an image of the accessory's unique features and the control unit processes this visual information to identify the user, eliminating the need for complex physical contact or manual verification processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents unauthorized access and provides personalized control interfaces for different users, enhancing security and usability by recognizing users through accessories and adapting the virtual interface to their preferences and operational permissions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one projector for reflecting on a surface one or more images representative of one or more control interfaces
Implementation Method 2
a sensor enabling detecting motions within the area of said image
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) controlled by means of a virtual interface reflected on a surface, capable of identifying a user and providing separate interfaces to different users, characterized by the control unit (4) configured to detect at least one of the physical features such as shape, size, color, pattern or texture, of at least one accessory (5) suitable to be used for identifying the users.