Household Appliance Sensor PCB Frame Gas Flow Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliances, such as kitchen hoods and ovens, do not effectively inform users about the cooking progress of food items, limiting user interaction and the ability to adjust cooking parameters accordingly.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance equipped with sensors to detect physical quantities in the gas flow, such as VOC, PM, humidity, and temperature, which processes these signals to generate a cooking index displayed to the user, allowing for automatic notification of cooking completion and potential overcooking prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If sensors are introduced in the gas flow to detect physical quantities, then the household appliance can adjust its functioning parameters, but the user is not informed about the cooking progress status

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic adjustment of appliance parametersVSAvoidcooking progress information to user
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by introducing a display unit that communicates cooking progress information to the user based on sensor data. The control unit processes signals from multiple sensors (VOC, humidity, temperature) and generates an index that is displayed to the user, creating a closed-loop information feedback system that resolves the contradiction between automated control and user information awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are used to detect physical quantities in the gas flow, then the cooking degree can be determined, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking degree detection accuracyVSAvoidnumber of sensors and processing components
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensor measurements (VOC, humidity, temperature) into a single integrated cooking degree index through the control unit's processing algorithm. This consolidation approach maintains high measurement precision by utilizing multiple parameters while reducing device complexity by presenting a unified index value to the user rather than requiring separate displays for each sensor parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes signals from various sensors, determines cooking degree based on multiple parameters, generates the cooking index, and controls appliance operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive cooking monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 appliance provides users with real-time cooking progress information, enabling timely adjustments and preventing overcooking, thus enhancing user experience and appliance functionality.

Implementation Method 1

sensors able to detect physical quantities of a sucked gas flow generated while cooking a food item... VOC, humidity and/or temperature sensors to assess the presence of smells, humidity and temperature in the gas flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVOC detection:

Implementation Method 2

VOC, humidity and/or temperature sensors to assess the presence of smells, humidity and temperature in the gas flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHumidity detection:

Implementation Method 3

VOC, humidity and/or temperature sensors to assess the presence of smells, humidity and temperature in the gas flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Implementation Method 4

Such detected quantities are duly processed so as to consequently adjust the functioning rationale of the household appliance based on a program duly installed in a portion of memory of the control unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal processing:

Data Source

PatentEP3969818B1Household appliance
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 ELICA SPA
  • EP3969818B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3969818B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2f

AI summary

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising an electric motor, a fan which is mechanically connected with said electric motor to channel a gas flow (2) along a predefined path (3), the gas being generated by a food item (4) being cooked, a plurality of transducers (5) to detect physical quantities present in said gas flow (2), each transducer being configured to generate a signal (S) corresponding to a physical quantity, said plurality of sensors being selected at least from the group comprising VOC and PM sensors, a PCB whereon at least part of said plurality of sensors (5) is arranged. The characteristic of the household appliance is that the PCB is supported by a frame which is positioned in the predefined path (3) along which gases are channeled.