Cooking Hob Acceleration Sensor for Gesture Control and Boil Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances, such as cooking hobs, lack advanced functionality in controlling operating processes beyond conventional user interfaces, particularly in detecting and responding to user gestures and cooking conditions like boiling, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential misuse.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an acceleration detection and measuring means, such as an acceleration sensor, connected to a control unit and user interface, to recognize gestures, detect item placement, and evaluate vibrations from boiling fluids, enabling enhanced control processes and communication through wireless connections for improved user interaction and cooking management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional user interfaces are used for controlling operating processes, then the device structure remains simple, but the functionality and user interaction capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
An acceleration detection means is introduced as an intermediary component between the user and the control unit. This mediator detects user gestures (knocking, hammering, typing) and converts them into control signals, enabling advanced functionality without requiring a completely redesigned user interface system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual input methods with gesture-based control detected through acceleration sensing. Users can control the appliance through gestures like knocking or hammering on the housing, substituting conventional buttons, switches, or touch interfaces with motion-based interaction.
2Ease of operation
If acceleration detection means is added to detect gestures and cooking conditions, then the control functionality is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration detection means serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects user gestures for control input, monitors cooking conditions (boiling detection through vibration analysis), and can trigger various operating processes. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing diverse capabilities through a single sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically processes acceleration data to detect cooking states and user gestures without requiring manual intervention. The control unit autonomously evaluates the acceleration signals, determines the appropriate cooking condition or user intent, and initiates the corresponding operating process, making the system self-serve and reducing the need for additional user input mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If acceleration sensor is used to detect cooking conditions like boiling, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes mechanical vibration generated during cooking processes (such as boiling-induced vibrations) as the detection mechanism. The acceleration sensor captures these natural vibrations, and the control unit analyzes the vibration patterns to determine cooking conditions. This approach leverages the physical phenomenon itself rather than requiring additional sensing mechanisms, improving measurement precision while limiting complexity growth.
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 solution allows for intuitive gesture control, precise detection of cooking conditions, and efficient energy management, reducing the need for traditional input methods and enhancing user experience by providing advanced control features like boil detection and pot recognition.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration detection and/or measuring means for a detection of an acceleration of a section or a reference point of a wall or a panel of the household appliance
Implementation Method 2
During the placing of the item, usually a shock or vibration, even thought it might be only a soft shock, is caused to the storage or to the work surface, which shock or vibration may be detectable and/or measurable
Implementation Method 3
When heating up fluid, for example liquid food, in a container or cooking vessel, cavitation occurs starting when passing over a certain temperature that depends on the atmospheric pressure. Cavitation is a phenomenon in which rapid changes of pressure in a liquid lead to the formation of small vapour-filled cavities
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1), in particular to a cooking hob, which comprises or is connected to an acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11) and a control unit (23) for controlling operating processes. The acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11), which may be an acceleration sensor and particularly a gravity sensor, is adapted for a detection of an acceleration of a section or a reference point of a wall or a panel (3) of the household appliance (1). The household appliance (1) may comprise a user interface (9) for providing information to a user, particularly status information, and/or for receiving input, particularly of control commands or data input, from the user. The acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11) is connected to the control unit (23) and/or, if applicable, to the user interface (9) for an exchange of data, and forms a trigger element for the control unit (23) and/or, if applicable, for the user interface (9). Further, the acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11) is adapted to provide a trigger signal for a control of a function and/or an operating process in the household appliance (1). Further, the present invention also relates to a method for controlling a household appliance (1), in particular a cooking hob. According to the invention, a function and/or an operating process in or of the household appliance (1) is triggered by an acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11), particularly by an acceleration sensor, more particularly by a gravity sensor, as a result of a detection of an acceleration of a section or a reference point of a wall or a panel (3) of the household appliance (1).