Appliance Conversational State Control for Natural Voice Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional appliances struggle with natural conversational control, often requiring clunky wake words and leading to erratic responses due to the inability to accurately interpret user interactions, resulting in user frustration and unintended task performance.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method using a microphone and camera to analyze sound and visual cues, entering a conversational state based on a conversational state trigger, and applying response criteria to determine and execute responsive actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional wake words are used to initiate appliance control, then the appliance can respond to user commands, but the interaction becomes clunky and requires user training and behavior changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of interactionVSAvoidinteraction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wake-word triggering system with an acoustic field-based conversational detection system. Instead of requiring specific keyword triggers, the system uses microphone arrays and signal processing to detect conversational acoustic fields and determine user intent through natural language processing, enabling more natural interactions without rigid wake-word constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on detected conversational state. When a conversational field is detected, the appliance transitions from a passive wake-word listening state to an active conversational processing state, modifying its response criteria and listening behavior to accommodate natural dialogue patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the appliance uses wake words to initiate listening, then it can process commands, but it responds erratically and performs unintended tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse accuracyVSAvoidinteraction consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback loops where the appliance continuously monitors acoustic fields, analyzes conversational context, and adjusts its response behavior based on detected user intent. The microphone arrays provide spatial and temporal feedback about sound sources, allowing the system to distinguish between intended commands and background noise, reducing erratic responses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of acoustic fields and conversational context before executing commands. By detecting and analyzing the conversational state in advance, the appliance can determine whether a response is appropriate and what action is intended, preventing unintended task execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the appliance requires direct interaction with user interface panels, then control is precise, but the user cannot interact when hands are occupied or not directly in front of the appliance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction flexibilityVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces direct physical interaction with user interface panels with acoustic field-based communication. Microphone arrays detect sound sources and conversational patterns, allowing users to control the appliance through natural speech from various positions and conditions, including when hands are occupied or the user is not directly facing the appliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic field detection system provides universal interaction capability across multiple user scenarios. The same microphone array and processing system handles both direct frontal interactions and remote or hands-free interactions, making the appliance adaptable to diverse user situations without requiring separate control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260038496A1Conversational control of an appliance

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A method of operating an appliance includes obtaining a sound signal using a microphone, analyzing the sound signal to identify a voice input, obtaining an image of a user using a camera, identifying, based at least in part on the voice input and the image of the user, the presence of a conversational state trigger, entering a conversational state of operation, wherein the conversational state of operation analyzes the voice input using a conversational state response criteria, determining that a responsive action to the voice input is needed using the conversational state response criteria, and implementing the responsive action.