Home Appliance Voice Recognition Triggered by User Actions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home appliances require users to utter a trigger command before initiating voice recognition, which can be inconvenient and inefficient, as they do not automatically switch to voice recognition mode upon detecting user actions that indicate an intention to give voice commands.

Innovation Solution

A home appliance system that detects user actions, such as opening or closing a door, to automatically initiate voice recognition mode without requiring a specific trigger command, and outputs audio signals to inform the user of the mode activation, allowing for immediate voice command input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the home appliance requires a trigger command to initiate voice recognition, then the voice recognition function can be activated, but the user convenience deteriorates due to the additional step required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidoperation steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of user actions (door opening/closing, appliance interaction) before the user issues a voice command. When such actions are detected, the system proactively activates voice recognition mode in advance, eliminating the need for users to utter a trigger command first. This preliminary detection and automatic activation resolves the contradiction by simplifying user operation while maintaining controlled system activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the home appliance operates in voice recognition mode continuously, then voice commands can be received immediately, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The voice recognition mode operates dynamically rather than continuously. The system transitions between standby state and active voice recognition mode based on detected user actions. During standby, power consumption is minimized; when user actions are detected, the system dynamically switches to active mode to receive voice commands, then returns to standby. This dynamic operation resolves the contradiction between fast response and low power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic monitoring of user actions at specific intervals (when door opens/closes, when appliance is interacted with) rather than continuous operation. Voice recognition is activated periodically based on these triggered events, allowing the system to maintain low power consumption during non-active periods while being ready to respond when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the home appliance activates voice recognition upon user action detection, then user convenience improves, but the risk of false activation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidactivation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different detection criteria and thresholds for different types of user actions. Specific actions (door opening/closing, direct appliance interaction) are designated as high-confidence triggers for voice recognition activation, while other movements or environmental changes are ignored. This localized quality control resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable activation only for intended user actions while filtering out false triggers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3866134B1Home appliance and method for controlling thereof
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3866134B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3866134B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3866134B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A home appliance is provided. The home appliance includes a sensor, a microphone, a speaker, and a processor. The processor is configured to, based on one of a first event wherein a user action is detected through the sensor or a second event wherein a trigger command for initiating a voice recognition mode is input through the microphone occurring, operate in the voice recognition mode, and control the speaker to output an audio signal corresponding to the event occurred, and the audio signal is an audio signal set differently for each of the first event and the second event.