Appliance having sensor module to detect vibrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing appliances with opaque doors make it difficult to check contents without opening them, leading to energy loss, water leakage, and increased complexity due to multiple manipulation switches, which can cause confusion and operational errors, especially in high-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
A sensor module is integrated into the appliance to detect vibrations caused by a knock on the door, allowing light activation without manual switches, and is designed to maintain acoustic wave homogeneity and minimize interference from vibrations and high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple manipulation switches are added to control lighting, then lighting control functionality is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance performs lighting control automatically by detecting knock vibrations through the sensor module, eliminating the need for manual manipulation switches. The system serves itself by autonomously determining when lighting is needed based on vibration detection, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining lighting control functionality.
2Device complexity
If manipulation switches are reduced in size or spaced closer together, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of user input deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical manipulation switches with a vibration-based detection system. The sensor module detects knock vibrations through the door structure, substituting the mechanical switch system with an acoustic/vibration sensing mechanism. This eliminates the need for closely spaced or small-sized switches while maintaining precise detection of user intent through vibration pattern recognition.
3Ease of operation
If sensor is installed on the door to detect knock vibrations, then ease of operation is improved, but the sensor is affected by high-temperature heat from the appliance interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the door structure itself as an intermediary medium to transmit knock vibrations from the exterior to the sensor. By positioning the sensor on the door rather than inside the high-temperature appliance interior, the door acts as a thermal barrier and vibration transmission medium simultaneously, protecting the sensor from heat while maintaining vibration detection capability.
4Measurement precision
If the sensor detects all vibrations, then measurement precision of knock input is improved, but false detection of other vibrations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor module is designed to detect vibrations exceeding a predetermined threshold level. By setting this threshold, the system performs partial detection - it ignores minor vibrations below the threshold while detecting significant knock vibrations. This selective detection approach maintains sensitivity to genuine knock inputs while filtering out false detections from minor vibrations, achieving a balance between measurement precision and reliability.
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 sensor module accurately distinguishes knock inputs from other vibrations, reducing operational errors and maintaining appliance functionality even in high-temperature conditions, while simplifying user interaction and reducing switch complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor module to detect vibrations caused by a knock on the door
Data Source
AI summary
In an appliance, an input switch receives a knock input at the front of a main body, and a transmitting member connecting to the input switch transfers vibrations cause by the knock to a sensor disposed at the rear of the main body. Thus, even an appliance such as an oven and the like that makes it difficult to attach a sensor to a door due to high-temperature heat effectively senses a knock input.