Control panel and electric cooking appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric cooking appliances have a limited display area on their operation panels due to the space reserved for control buttons, making them inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
An operation panel design with a substantially flat display panel and an inclined control panel that approximates the cylindrical or arc-shaped outer shell of the appliance, increasing the display area without enlarging the panel's dimensions, featuring a rear installation panel, electric circuit board, button panel, and decorative film for secure and aesthetically pleasing assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a conventional operation panel with push buttons is used, then the control function is provided, but the display area is relatively small
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is designed with an inclined surface that extends along the cylindrical outer shell, transforming the traditional flat 2D layout into a 3D curved surface. This dimensional change allows the display area to expand along the curvature of the shell while maintaining ergonomic accessibility for control operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel is configured to approximate the cylindrical or arc-shaped outer shell of the appliance, using curved geometry to maximize the display area within the available space. The curved surface allows for larger information display while maintaining a compact overall form factor that fits the appliance body.
2Area of stationary object
If the operation panel dimensions are increased to provide larger display area, then the display area is improved, but the appliance size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By configuring the control panel to follow the curved outer shell of the appliance, the design utilizes the existing three-dimensional space more efficiently. The curved surface allows the display area to expand without increasing the appliance's footprint, as the display wraps around the cylindrical form rather than extending linearly.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel is integrated into the outer shell structure, with the display area nested within the curved surface of the appliance body. This nesting approach allows the display to utilize the internal volume and surface area of the existing appliance form without requiring additional external space.
3Area of stationary object
If the control panel is made flat to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the display area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is divided into multiple components including a display unit, control keys, and positioning members that can be manufactured separately using standard flat manufacturing processes. These segmented components are then assembled onto the curved surface, combining the simplicity of flat manufacturing with the space efficiency of curved geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
Positioning members and fixing posts serve as intermediaries between the flat-manufactured control panel components and the curved outer shell. These intermediary elements enable the assembly of conventionally manufactured parts onto the curved surface without requiring complex curved manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation panel and an electric cooking appliance are described herein. The electric cooking appliance comprises a substantially arc-shaped outer shell and an operation panel disposed on the outer shell, the operation panel comprising a substantially flat display panel and a control panel coupled to at least one side of the display panel. The control panel is inclinedly disposed relative to the display panel such that an overall shape of the operation panel at least partially approximates that of the arc-shaped shell. The control panel comprises at least one control key disposed thereon for operating the electric cooking appliance. Such a design provides an increased area of the display panel thereby providing a bigger displaying area without substantially enlarging the dimensions of the operation panel.