Cooking appliance and control method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cooking appliances with sealed cooking spaces face challenges in rapidly detecting cooling fan failures, leading to overheating and potential electronic component failure due to inadequate cooling.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a temperature measuring part in the electronic component space to monitor the cool air passage temperature, allowing for rapid determination of cooling fan failure and immediate cessation of cooking operations when excessive temperatures are detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling fan is installed in the electronic component space to cool electronic components, then the cooling capability is improved, but the detection speed of cooling fan failure is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capabilityVSAvoiddetection speed of cooling fan failure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A temperature measuring part is installed in advance in the cool air passage to continuously monitor the temperature of cooling air. This preliminary measurement setup enables immediate detection of cooling fan failure when temperature abnormalities occur, without requiring additional detection time after failure occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature measuring part provides continuous feedback on the temperature of cool air in the cooling passage. When the cooling fan fails, the temperature feedback immediately reflects this abnormality, enabling rapid detection and response to the failure condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the cooling fan operates continuously to prevent overheating, then the reliability of electronic components is improved, but the complexity of the cooling system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of electronic componentsVSAvoidcomplexity of cooling system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature measuring part continuously monitors the cool air passage temperature and automatically triggers cooking operation cessation when abnormal temperature is detected. This self-monitoring and self-protection mechanism prevents electronic component overheating without requiring complex external control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature measurement and protection mechanism is installed in advance in the cool air passage. When cooling fan failure occurs, the system automatically detects and responds by stopping cooking operations before electronic components are damaged, maintaining reliability without adding complex control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the temperature measuring part is installed in the cool air passage to enable rapid failure detection, then the detection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precision of cooling fan failureVSAvoidcomplexity of temperature monitoring system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature measuring function is extracted as a separate, dedicated component installed specifically in the cool air passage. This focused measurement approach provides precise detection of cooling fan failure without requiring a complex comprehensive monitoring system for the entire appliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature measuring part is strategically positioned in the cool air passage where it can directly detect temperature abnormalities indicating cooling fan failure. This localized measurement provides high detection precision for the specific function of monitoring cooling air temperature without unnecessary system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Prevents electronic component failure by quickly identifying cooling fan malfunctions and stopping cooking operations to maintain safe temperatures, thereby ensuring the longevity of the appliance's components.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling fan configured to generate a flow of cool air passing through the electronic component space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a temperature measuring part installed in the supporter and supported by the supporter; the temperature measuring part measures a temperature in the cool air passage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3869105B1Cooking appliance and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3869105B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3869105B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3869105B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance and a control method thereof. The cooking appliance and control method thereof are characterized in that a temperature measuring part is installed in a supporter configured to support a circuit board, a cool air passage is formed between a cavity and the circuit board, and the temperature measuring part measures a temperature in the cool air passage.