Appliance Door Knock Detection with Heat-Insulated Sensor Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home appliances with see-through doors face challenges in detecting knock inputs due to high-temperature heat, limited sensor installation positions, and difficulty in distinguishing between knock signals and other vibrations, leading to potential malfunctions and reduced knock detection performance.
Innovation Solution
A home appliance design featuring a detection module with a first sensor for door opening/closing detection and a second sensor for vibration input detection, positioned close to the door, and a second front panel made of low thermal conductivity material to block heat and improve knock detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sensor is installed on the door to detect knock inputs, then knock detection function is enabled, but sensor accuracy deteriorates due to high-temperature heat affecting the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat insulating member as an intermediary between the door and the sensor. This mediator blocks the transmission of high-temperature heat from the door to the sensor, thereby protecting the sensor from thermal damage while maintaining its knock detection functionality. The heat insulating member acts as a buffer that allows the sensor to operate in a thermally protected zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensor from the high-temperature environment by positioning it behind the heat insulating member, separate from the door surface that directly experiences high temperatures. This spatial separation removes the sensor from the harmful thermal zone while maintaining its ability to detect knock inputs through the door structure.
2Reliability
If the sensor is positioned far from the door to avoid heat, then sensor protection is improved, but knock detection precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating member serves as a mediator that allows close positioning of the sensor to the door while preventing heat transmission. This intermediary enables the sensor to maintain optimal proximity for detecting knock vibrations without being exposed to damaging temperatures, thus preserving both protection and detection precision.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor is positioned close to the door, then knock detection precision is improved, but sensor malfunction risk increases due to heat exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating member acts as a protective intermediary that allows the sensor to be positioned close to the door for optimal knock detection while blocking harmful heat transmission. This mediator enables the sensor to operate in a thermally protected zone adjacent to the door, maintaining detection precision without thermal damage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operation switches are provided for lighting control, then lighting control functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor serves multiple functions: it detects both door opening/closing events and knock inputs by analyzing vibration patterns. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate operation switches for lighting control, reducing device complexity while maintaining versatile lighting control capabilities through different detection modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the sensor's vibration detection capability to automatically distinguish between door opening events and knock inputs, enabling self-service lighting control without requiring manual operation switches. The sensor itself provides the control input by detecting different vibration patterns corresponding to different user intentions.
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
Enhances knock detection performance by reducing the influence of heat and improving sensor accuracy, allowing effective detection even in high-temperature environments and reducing the risk of sensor malfunction.
Implementation Method 1
a second front panel made of low thermal conductivity material to block heat
Implementation Method 2
a first sensor configured to detect opening or closing of the door
Implementation Method 3
a second sensor configured to detect a vibration input to the door
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is an appliance. The present disclosure includes a detection main body portion configured to receive a force generated due to movement of a door as an input, a first sensor configured to detect opening and closing of the door, and a second sensor configured to detect a vibration input to the door, wherein both the first sensor and the second sensor detect the force input to the detection main body portion.