Capacitive Cooktop Wipe Protection with Automatic Timeout Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooktops with capacitive operating elements face disruptions and safety issues due to liquid spills, as the 'wipe protection' function either requires manual deactivation or has an inappropriate timeout, potentially hindering operation or causing errors during cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A method and cooktop configuration that automatically activates and deactivates the wipe protection function based on sensor signals from capacitive sensor elements, with a customizable waiting period, ensuring safe and convenient operation by blocking or ignoring sensor signals during liquid detection and automatically deactivating when no activity is detected for a predetermined time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wipe protection function is manually deactivated by the operator, then the operator can resume normal operation, but this requires additional manual intervention and may not deactivate in time if wiping is still ongoing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating safetyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wipe protection function automatically deactivates itself after detecting that the wiping operation has ceased (no sensor signals for a predetermined period), eliminating the need for manual deactivation by the operator. The system monitors sensor element activity and self-manages the protection state based on detected operational patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors sensor element signals to detect whether wiping operations are ongoing. Based on this feedback, the control means automatically adjusts the protection state - maintaining activation during detected wiping activity and deactivating when no activity is detected for the predetermined period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the wipe protection function remains active for a long timeout period, then it provides continuous protection during wiping, but it hinders subsequent operation and may cause errors if wiping is already complete

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection durationVSAvoidoperation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The timeout period is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on actual sensor element activity. The protection function remains active only as long as wiping activity is detected, and automatically deactivates after a short predetermined period once activity ceases, optimizing both protection duration and operational responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system detects sensor element signals in advance to determine when wiping operations are complete, and proactively deactivates the protection function before the operator would need to resume normal operation, preventing unnecessary delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If sensor signals are blocked during wipe protection, then false operations from liquid are prevented, but legitimate operations during the protection period are also ignored

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefalse operation preventionVSAvoidoperation responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor blocking is applied periodically only during the wipe protection active state, which itself is activated only during detected wiping operations. This periodic application ensures false operations are blocked when needed while allowing normal operations to pass through when the protection function is inactive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system preemptively blocks sensor signals when wiping activity is detected, preventing potential false operations from liquid before they can occur. The blocking is automatically removed when wiping ceases, restoring normal operation responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

Enhances user safety and convenience by automatically managing the wipe protection function, preventing false activations and ensuring timely deactivation, thus allowing safe and uninterrupted operation of the cooktop during cleaning and normal use.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor element means advantageously have capacitive sensor elements for the operating elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS20240019128A1Method for operating a cooktop and cooktop configured to carry out this method

Publication Date: 2024.01.18 E G O ELEKTRO GERAETEBAU GMBH

AI summary

A cooktop with an operating means with operating elements with capacitive sensor elements has a control means which is configured to provide a wipe protection function which is activatable and deactivatable by an operator. Said function ensures that, after the activation thereof, sensor signals from the sensor element means are not converted into operating commands by the operating means. The wipe protection function is only automatically deactivated again by the operating means if, after the activation thereof, a predetermined waiting period of 0 sec to 20 sec has elapsed since the last detection of an operation on at least one of the sensor element means or since the last receipt of a sensor signal from at least one of the sensor element means without renewed detection of operation or receipt of a sensor signal.