Capacitive Touch Switching Element for Domestic Appliance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switching elements for domestic appliance control devices are limited in user interaction, allowing communication only through two steps, making it difficult for novice users to engage with the device in more advanced ways.
Innovation Solution
A switching element featuring a capacitive touch sensor ring segment that detects the user's hand and triggers an alert mode before parameter selection, incorporating a rotatable push button with a sensor antenna and a stator element with a peripheral groove, allowing for enhanced user interaction through a capacitive touch interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional push button with peripheral disc is used, then the device structure is simple, but the user interaction capability is limited to two steps only
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor antenna detects the user's hand in advance before the user actually presses the push button, triggering an alert mode that prepares the control device for upcoming interaction. This preliminary detection expands user interaction beyond the traditional two-step process by adding a preparatory phase that recognizes user intent before physical contact occurs.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor antenna is added to detect user hand, then the user interaction is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor antenna acts as an intermediary element between the user and the control device. It detects the user's hand presence and translates this physical proximity into an electrical signal that triggers the alert mode, thereby mediating the interaction and enhancing ease of operation without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the existing push button structure.
3Loss of time
If the sensor antenna detects hand in advance, then the alert mode can be triggered earlier, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive touch sensor is segmented into a ring structure with multiple sensor antennas positioned around the push button. This segmentation allows each antenna to independently detect hand presence from different angular positions, enabling early detection of user intent while maintaining a modular design that simplifies manufacturing and assembly compared to a fully integrated sensor system.
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
Enables advanced user interaction by triggering an alert mode before parameter selection, facilitating easier communication with the control device and enhancing user experience, particularly for novice users.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor antenna formed as a ring segment and forming a part of a capacitive touch sensor, wherein the sensor antenna detects the hand of a user
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a switching element (10) for a control device, in particular of a domestic appliance. The switching element (10) comprises a rotatable and shiftable rim element (14) being rotatable around and shiftable along the same axis. The switching element (10) comprises a stator element (20). The rim element (14) is rotatably and shiftably coupled to the stator element (20). The switching element (10) comprises a micro switch (16) including a stationary part and a movable part (30). The stationary part of the micro switch (16) is coupled to the stator element (20), while the movable part (30) of the micro switch (16) is rotatable around and shiftable along the same axis and coupled to the rim element (14). The micro switch (16) includes an encoder for indicating a rotation left or right and a shifting of the movable part (30) of said micro switch (16). The switching element (10) comprises at least one sensor antenna (18) forming a part of a capacitive touch sensor.