Cooking device controller with operating mode switch and timer

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances with time-delayed start features incur additional costs and quality risks due to the need for door switches to ensure safety during unattended operations, particularly when temperature-critical modes are activated.

Innovation Solution

A cooking appliance control system that prevents the delayed start of temperature-critical operating modes, allowing only non-temperature-critical modes to be initiated with a time delay, thereby eliminating the need for a door switch and reducing safety risks, while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a door switch is installed to ensure safety during time-delayed operation, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments operating modes into temperature-critical and non-temperature-critical categories. The control system applies different safety rules to each segment: time-delayed operation is prohibited for temperature-critical modes but permitted for non-temperature-critical modes. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining safety through selective restriction rather than requiring a door switch for all operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a door switch to enable time-delayed operation (positive approach), the patent inverts the approach by using the operating mode classification to prohibit time-delayed operation for temperature-critical modes. The safety mechanism is inverted from physical monitoring to logical restriction based on mode classification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a door switch is installed to ensure safety during time-delayed operation, then safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments operating modes into temperature-critical and non-temperature-critical categories. The control system applies different safety rules to each segment: time-delayed operation is prohibited for temperature-critical modes but permitted for non-temperature-critical modes. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining safety through selective restriction rather than requiring a door switch for all operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the expensive door switch with a software-based control mechanism that uses the existing operating mode information. This software solution is significantly cheaper than hardware door switches while achieving the same safety objective for temperature-critical operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If time-delayed start is allowed for all operating modes, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential unnoticed ignition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidunnoticed ignition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments operating modes into temperature-critical and non-temperature-critical categories. The control system applies different safety rules to each segment: time-delayed operation is prohibited for temperature-critical modes but permitted for non-temperature-critical modes. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining safety through selective restriction rather than requiring a door switch for all operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically determines whether time-delayed operation is permitted based on the selected operating mode, without requiring user intervention or additional safety checks. The system self-regulates safety by leveraging the operating mode classification already present in the control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3816517B1Cooking device controller with operating mode switch and timer

Publication Date: 2024.07.24 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

Figure 1~2

AI summary

Cooking appliance control (11, 15) comprising an operating mode switch (11) configured for setting several operating modes of a cooking appliance (1) and a timer (15) configured for setting a time-delayed start of an operating sequence under at least one of the operating modes selectable by the operating mode switch (11), wherein the cooking appliance control (11, 15) is configured to prevent a time-delayed start of an operating sequence that includes at least one temperature-critical operating mode selectable on the cooking appliance (11) due to the operating mode.