Touch-Control Cooker Interface With Guided Key Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating cookers face issues with user operability, as light-emitting operating bodies can be inadvertently activated, leading to erroneous operations, and the priority of multiple operable functions is not clearly indicated, causing confusion and potential misuse.
Innovation Solution
The heating cooker features an optically-transparent top plate with electrostatic touch keys and a light emission control unit that illuminates only the necessary keys, using a light-blocking conductive coating and alternating current signals to differentiate operable from inoperable keys, and employs distinct light colors to indicate priority and visibility through the top plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all operating bodies are always visible, then users can easily identify their positions, but users may inadvertently operate inoperable keys leading to erroneous operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by lighting up only the operable keys before user operation. The control unit determines which keys are operable in the current state and illuminates only those keys, preventing users from inadvertently pressing inoperable keys while ensuring operable keys are clearly visible and guide users through the correct operation sequence.
2Loss of information
If multiple operable functions are indicated simultaneously, then users have full information available, but users cannot recognize which operation takes highest priority causing confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by using different lighting patterns for different keys based on their operational priority and state. The control unit selectively illuminates keys with different intensities or patterns - for example, continuously lighting the highest priority operable key while using different lighting for other operable keys, allowing users to easily distinguish priority while still knowing all available functions.
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
This design enhances user-friendly operation by preventing inadvertent activation and clearly indicating the next necessary steps, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving the overall usability of the appliance.
Implementation Method 1
an operation detecting unit for applying an alternating current signal to the electrode and detecting a capacitance change of the electrode with respect to the ground caused by a contact with a portion of the top plate facing the electrode
Implementation Method 2
an operation unit light-emitting element for irradiating the electrode with light from the direction opposite to the top plate; and a light emission control unit for controlling light emission by causing the operation unit light-emitting element to be lit so that the shape of the electrode is visible through the top plate
Data Source
AI summary
Operability of a heating cooker having a heating unit in a top plate is improved. After power-on, a light emission control unit causes the operation unit light-emitting element of an operable operation inhibition releasing key to be lit so that only the key is displayed and the other keys are less visible. Thus, the heating cooker is changed into a lock state. When the operation inhibition releasing key is operated in the lock state, at least one electrostatic touch key other than the operation inhibition releasing key is made operable and the operation unit light-emitting element is lit. Alternatively, in the above structure, the operation unit light-emitting element of the operable operation unit is lit in a first light-emission color, and the operation unit light-emitting elements of the inoperable operation units are lit in a second light-emission color different from the first light-emission color. Thus effective operation can be guided.