A household appliance with automatic fan control and the control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances with integrated exhaust hoods struggle to efficiently control fan operation, leading to faulty situations during cooking processes with no odor but intense steam output, and malfunctions occur independently of heat load in sensorless products.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance with a control unit that evaluates temperature, power transfer, and odor values to automatically adjust the fan's operational level, using an air reference value calculated from these factors to ensure efficient ventilation and energy savings, even in situations with no detectable odor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only an odor sensor is used to control fan operation, then the system is simple, but it fails to detect thermal load in cooking processes with no odor but intense steam output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing approaches (odor sensor, temperature sensor, and power transfer detection) into a unified control system. The control unit integrates signals from all three sources to make fan operation decisions, ensuring reliable detection of both odor-based and steam-based cooking processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to handle multiple cooking scenarios universally by accepting inputs from different sensor types and adapting fan operation accordingly. It can detect both odor-generated cooking processes and steam-generated cooking processes through power transfer analysis, making the system versatile across different cooking methods.
2Device complexity
If sensorless products use automatic operation according to cooker power level, then the system is simple, but malfunctions occur completely independent of the heat load released during the cooking process
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors power transfer to the cooking vessel and uses this feedback to adjust fan operation in real-time. The control unit receives power level information and dynamically controls fan speed and operation duration based on actual energy consumption, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to varying cooking conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from simple power level switching to continuous power transfer measurement. By calculating actual power transfer based on voltage and current measurements, the system achieves more precise control over fan operation that accurately reflects the real-time thermal load being applied to the cooking vessel.
3Productivity
If the fan operates at high speed continuously, then ventilation effectiveness is high, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan operates dynamically with variable speed control rather than at a fixed high speed. The control unit adjusts fan rotation speed in real-time based on detected cooking conditions, using higher speeds when odor or thermal load requires intensive ventilation and lower speeds or idle state when cooking is complete or no cooking is occurring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic monitoring of cooking conditions with corresponding periodic adjustment of fan operation. The control unit continuously evaluates sensor inputs and modifies fan operation in periodic cycles, maintaining high ventilation effectiveness during cooking while allowing energy-saving idle periods when cooking is complete.
4Ease of operation
If the fan operates based on user-selected levels, then the user has control, but the system does not automatically adapt to actual cooking conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting cooking conditions through multiple sensors and autonomously controlling fan operation without requiring user intervention. The control unit independently evaluates odor sensor data, temperature sensor data, and power transfer measurements to determine appropriate fan speeds and operation duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic control system uses continuous feedback from multiple sensors to adjust fan operation in real-time. The control unit receives ongoing information about cooking conditions and automatically modifies fan performance accordingly, creating a self-regulating system that adapts to changing cooking requirements without user input.
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 effectively cleans ambient air by adjusting fan speed based on thermal and odor loads, preventing pollution and optimizing energy use, even after cooking is completed.
Implementation Method 1
an odor sensor (6) which is disposed on the air suction duct (5)
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor (23) which is provided under each cooking zone (22)
Implementation Method 3
a fan (4) which is disposed in the body (2) so as to be positioned under the cooker surface (21)... creates a vertical air flow
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a cooker surface (21) which is disposed on the body (2); at least one cooking zone (22) which is provided on the cooker surface (21) and which is suitable for placing a cooking vessel thereon; at least one temperature sensor (23) which provides the measurement of the temperature of the cooking zone (22); a control unit (3) which provides the determination of the power transferred to the cooking vessel placed on the cooking zone (22) during the cooking process; a fan (4) which is disposed in the body (2) so as to be positioned under the cooker surface (21); an air suction duct (5) which has an air inlet opening (51) arranged on the cooker surface (21) and which enables the air sucked through the air inlet opening (51) to be discharged to the outside environment by operating the fan (4); and a odor sensor (6) which is disposed on the air suction duct (5).