Cooking Appliance Dual Control Panel Design to Prevent Misoperation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances lack effective separation of control panels for functions between cover-closed and cover-open states, leading to potential cooking failures and product damage due to user misoperation.

Innovation Solution

The control panel is divided into a first control panel for the cover-open state and a second control panel for the cover-closed state, with the first control panel being covered by the pot cover assembly in the closed state, allowing only the second control panel to be manipulated in the closed state and the first control panel in the open state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single control panel is used for both cover-closed and cover-open cooking functions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential user misoperation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol panel structureVSAvoidcooking function execution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control panel is divided into two separate control panels: a first control panel for cover-closed cooking functions and a second control panel for cover-open cooking functions. This segmentation prevents user misoperation by ensuring that only the appropriate control panel is accessible for each cooking state, thereby resolving the contradiction between device complexity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the first control panel is always accessible, then the ease of operation for cover-open functions is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential misoperation in cover-closed state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover-open function controlVSAvoidcooking function execution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The accessibility of the first control panel is made dynamic through the cover assembly's movement. When the cover is closed, the first control panel is covered and inaccessible; when the cover is open, the first control panel becomes accessible. This dynamic accessibility ensures ease of operation for cover-open functions while preventing misoperation in cover-closed state, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If control panels are separated into two distinct panels, then the reliability is improved by preventing misoperation, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking function executionVSAvoidcontrol panel structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second control panels are integrated into a unified control assembly that moves together with the cover assembly. This merging approach allows the system to provide separate control panels for different cooking states (improving reliability) while maintaining a compact, integrated structure that minimizes overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If the cover assembly covers the first control panel in cover-closed state, then the reliability is improved by preventing misoperation, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking function executionVSAvoidcontrol panel accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover assembly's movement dynamically controls the accessibility of the first control panel. In cover-closed state, the first control panel is covered to prevent misoperation (improving reliability). In cover-open state, the first control panel becomes accessible for operation (maintaining ease of operation). This dynamic accessibility resolution resolves the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3527113B1Cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES MFG CO LTD
  • EP3527113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3527113B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3527113B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provide a cooking appliance, comprising a pot body assembly (2) and a pot cover assembly (1), wherein the pot cover assembly can cover the pot body assembly in an openable and closable manner, and the cooking appliance comprises a cover-closed state and a cover-open state, wherein the cooking appliance further comprises a first control panel (3) working in the cover-open state and a second control panel (4) working in the cover-closed state, wherein the cover assembly (1) covers the first control panel (3) in the cover-closed state.