Household appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic appliance control panels lack comfort and efficiency in input parameter management, often requiring multiple sensor elements for a limited number of commands, leading to complexity and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A domestic appliance operating device with an operating unit featuring multiple overlapping operating elements and sensor elements, where each overlapping area triggers respective sensor elements, allowing for efficient signal transmission and evaluation, and a touch-sensitive design using conductive coatings for enhanced user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor elements are used to detect multiple operating positions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor elements into a single sensor element that detects operating positions across multiple operating elements. This single sensor element evaluates different operating positions (first, second, third positions) by detecting which operating element is pressed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through intelligent signal evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensor element serves multiple functions by detecting operating positions for multiple different operating elements. It universally detects first, second, and third operating positions across different operating elements, eliminating the need for dedicated sensor elements for each operating position and reducing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple operating elements are arranged in a row, then ease of operation is improved, but the area occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges operating elements in an overlapping configuration rather than a simple linear row, utilizing vertical and diagonal spatial dimensions. The operating elements overlap with each other at defined angles, allowing multiple operating elements to be compactly arranged while maintaining accessibility and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating elements are nested in an overlapping arrangement where each operating element partially overlaps with adjacent elements. This nesting-like configuration allows multiple operating elements to share spatial space efficiently, reducing the total area occupied while preserving individual element accessibility through the overlapping design.
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
The solution achieves a high level of comfort and efficiency by enabling a large number of commands with a small number of sensor elements, resulting in an inexpensive and compact device with reduced susceptibility to errors and improved actuation precision.
Implementation Method 1
a touch-sensitive design using conductive coatings for enhanced user interaction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance control device (10), in particular a cooktop control device, with at least one control unit (12) comprising at least three control elements (14, 16, 18) for inputting at least one characteristic parameter and at least three sensor elements (20, 22, 24) assigned to each of the control elements (14, 16, 18). To provide a generic device with improved user-friendliness, it is proposed that the first and second control elements (14, 16) form a first superposition area (26) and the second and third control elements (16, 18) form a second superposition area (28), each of the superposition areas (26, 28) being provided for triggering respective sensor elements (20, 22, 24) assigned to the control elements (14, 16, 18) forming the superposition area (26, 28).