Control panel and microwave oven
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moisture infiltration into the control panel of Over-The-Range microwave ovens can cause malfunction of the input unit due to vapor generated during cooking, which rises and affects the microwave oven's operation.
Innovation Solution
A tunnel structure is integrated into the control panel's design, allowing moisture to be discharged to the outside through recessed tunnels along the outer peripheral surfaces of the input unit, including discharge holes that incline towards the rear surface for effective moisture removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control panel is installed on the front surface of the machine room in an OTR microwave oven, then the convenience and efficiency in cooking foods is enhanced, but moisture generated from the cooker below infiltrates into the control panel causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful moisture from the control panel environment by providing discharge holes that allow moisture to escape. The tunnel structure removes the harmful element (moisture) from the control panel interior, preventing malfunction while maintaining the convenient OTR installation position.
Solution Approach 2:
The tunnel structure acts as an intermediary element between the control panel interior and exterior. It provides a controlled pathway for moisture discharge, mediating between the need to maintain control panel functionality and the need to allow moisture escape from the OTR installation environment.
2Reliability
If the control panel is sealed to prevent moisture infiltration, then reliability is improved, but moisture accumulates inside causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is designed with porous characteristics through the tunnel structure and discharge holes. This allows the panel to be selectively permeable - preventing harmful moisture infiltration from the front while allowing moisture accumulation inside to escape through the tunnels and discharge holes to the rear environment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If discharge holes are provided on the front surface of the control panel, then moisture discharge is improved, but the external appearance and input unit functionality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge holes are positioned asymmetrically on the rear surface of the control panel rather than the front surface. This asymmetric placement allows moisture discharge functionality while maintaining the aesthetic appearance and input unit functionality on the front surface. The tunnel structure connects the asymmetric rear discharge holes to the front interior space.
Data Source
AI summary
A control panel having a tunnel structure of discharging infiltrated moisture, and a microwave oven having the same. The microwave oven includes a cabinet provided with a cooking compartment in which food is heated by microwaves and a machine room divided from the cooking compartment and in which machine parts are installed, a door coupled to a front side of the cooking compartment so as to open and close, and a control panel coupled to a front side of the machine room and provided to allow a function to be selected, wherein the control panel is provided at an inside thereof with at least one tunnel allowing moisture infiltrated into the control panel to pass therethrough so that the moisture is discharged to the outside. The tunnel is formed along an outer peripheral surface of the input unit, thereby preventing device malfunction due to moisture infiltrated into the control panel.