Dishwasher Door Touchscreen for Programmable Stop-Time Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers lack an intuitive and accessible user interface for controlling wash cycles and providing usage guidance, making it difficult for users to efficiently operate the appliance and optimize its performance.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher with a touchscreen panel mounted on the door, allowing users to select wash cycles, set start and stop times, and receive usage guidance, including loading tips and maintenance information, via a user-friendly interface that remains accessible even when the door is closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touchscreen panel is mounted on the door, then user interface accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touchscreen panel is positioned on the top surface of the door, extending beyond the front surface to create a multi-dimensional interface. This allows the control panel to be accessed from above rather than only from the front, improving accessibility while integrating seamlessly into the door structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The door serves multiple functions: it provides physical access to the washing chamber, structural support, and now houses the touchscreen control interface. By integrating the control panel into the door assembly, the patent eliminates the need for a separate control panel structure, reducing overall device complexity while improving user accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the touchscreen panel extends beyond the countertop, then user accessibility is improved, but the panel becomes obscured when the door is closed
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel's visibility is dynamically managed based on door position. When the door is open, the full touchscreen interface is accessible. When the door is closed, the system provides alternative interaction methods or displays essential information through other means, allowing the panel to extend beyond the countertop for accessibility while managing the obscuration issue through dynamic behavior changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher includes a tub having a door that provides access to the tub. The door has a handle which extends a top surface of the door beyond a front surface of the door. A touchscreen panel is mounted to the top surface of a door to provide a user interface. The user interface includes a carrousel of icons via which a user may select a wash cycle. The user interface further includes a programmed delay interface via which a user may specify a desired start time and/or stop time for the wash cycle. The user interface may further provide the user with usage guidance to aid the user in the usage of the dishwasher.