Cooktop Touch Sensor Field with 70 mm Extension for Simplified Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance devices with touch-sensitive sensor fields face challenges in achieving a simplified structure with equivalent or higher operating comfort, often requiring complex arrangements and multiple components.
Innovation Solution
A hob device with a touch-sensitive sensor field featuring a linear extension of up to 70 mm between sensor elements, utilizing capacitive or other sensor elements, and a control unit that generates control signals based on detected touch positions and movement parameters to facilitate comfortable and flexible operation, including incremental or decremental adjustments of manipulated variables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the sensor field has a small linear extension between sensor elements, then the device structure is simplified and space is saved, but the operating comfort and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by increasing the linear extension of the sensor field to a maximum of 70 mm, which is a significant dimensional parameter change. This extended dimension provides sufficient space for multiple sensor elements to be arranged in a simplified linear or rectangular pattern, enabling both structural simplification and comfortable operation with adequate spacing between elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes dimensionality change by arranging sensor elements not only in one dimension but extending across multiple dimensions within the sensor field. The sensor field can have different extensions in different directions (e.g., first extension in x-direction, second extension in y-direction), allowing flexible arrangement of sensor elements that simplifies the overall structure while maintaining operating comfort through proper spacing.
2Ease of operation
If multiple sensor elements are arranged with large spacing, then operating comfort is improved, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the area parameter by setting the linear extension to a maximum of 70 mm, which is carefully chosen to provide sufficient spacing for comfortable operation while minimizing the overall area occupied. This parameter optimization ensures that sensor elements are spaced adequately for ease of operation without unnecessarily increasing the device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor field is segmented into discrete sensor elements arranged in a structured pattern across the extended dimension. This segmentation allows each sensor element to be independently positioned at optimal spacing intervals, providing operating comfort while confining the total area within the 70 mm linear extension constraint.
3Productivity
If the control unit provides repeated incrementation with large step sizes, then the adjustment speed is improved, but the precision of setting the manipulated variable is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the step size adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit can adjust the incrementation step size dynamically based on the current state of the manipulated variable. When approaching the target value, the step size automatically reduces, enabling both fast initial adjustment and precise final setting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between adjustment speed and setting precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses partial action by applying different incrementation strategies at different stages of the adjustment process. Large step sizes are used for the majority of the adjustment range to achieve fast productivity, while smaller step sizes are applied only when approaching the target value to ensure precision. This staged approach optimizes both adjustment speed and setting precision.
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 provides a cost-effective, space-saving, and user-friendly operation by determining movement parameters from touch sequences, allowing for intuitive control of appliance functions with adjustable step sizes and time intervals, enhancing ease of use and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The touch-sensitive sensor field is preferably equipped with capacitive sensor elements
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has an operating unit (26) comprising a touch-sensitive sensor field (42) i.e. function selection field (40), with capacitive sensor elements for detecting a contact position of an operator on the field. A control unit (30) produces a control signal based on the detected position. The sensor field has a linear extension of maximum of 70 mm between touch-sensitive parts of the sensor field. The control unit determines movement characteristics e.g. movement direction, movement speed and movement acceleration, in an operating mode from the sequence of the detected contact positions. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a household appliance device.