Dual-Axis Rotary Knob for Intuitive Appliance Menu Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance operating devices lack ease of use and flexibility in navigating menus and selecting parameters, leading to a suboptimal user experience.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance operating device with a rotatably mounted actuating element about two axes, allowing additional degrees of freedom, a display unit, and a control unit with memory for menu management, enabling intuitive selection of menu levels and parameters through rotary movements, and a tiltable design for precise operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single-axis rotary actuating element is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of operation and flexibility in navigating menus is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is extended from single-axis rotation to dual-axis rotation, adding a second degree of freedom. The first axis enables rotary movement for selecting menu items, while the second axis enables tilting movement for navigating between menu levels. This dimensional extension allows operators to intuitively interact with multi-level menus without increasing the fundamental simplicity of the rotary mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element transitions from a static single-function rotary dial to a dynamic multi-functional interface. By enabling movement along two independent axes, the actuating element can dynamically adapt its function: rotating about the first axis for horizontal menu selection, tilting about the second axis for vertical menu level navigation, and pressing for confirmation. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between operational ease and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple menu levels are implemented, then the functionality is enhanced, but the difficulty of navigating the menu increases
Solution Approach 1:
The menu navigation system utilizes two independent rotational dimensions to represent the hierarchical menu structure. The first axis handles horizontal navigation within a menu level, while the second axis handles vertical navigation between menu levels. This two-dimensional navigation approach makes multi-level menu exploration intuitive and systematic, resolving the contradiction between enhanced functionality and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit provides visual feedback through the display unit, showing the current menu level and available options. As the actuating element tilts or rotates, the display updates in real-time to reflect the selected menu level and items, guiding the operator through the multi-level menu structure. This feedback mechanism reduces navigation difficulty while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the actuating element is highly visible, then the operating area is large, but the aesthetic design and cleanliness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element features differentiated surface properties: the upper pressing area has a larger effective diameter for easy operation, while the lower visible area has a smaller diameter that remains substantially invisible when viewed from the front. This local quality differentiation allows the operating area to be functionally large while the visible profile remains aesthetically pleasing and resistant to dirt accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element employs asymmetric design where the functional pressing surface extends further radially than the visible outer profile. The lower portion that would normally be visible from the front is minimized in radius, creating an asymmetric form that prioritizes both operational ease (large pressing area) and aesthetic cleanliness (minimal visible profile).
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is based on a household appliance operating device with at least one operating unit (20), which has at least one operating element (14) for operation by an operator, which is mounted rotatably about a first axis (24), with a display unit (17) for displaying a Household appliance operating menus (19) and a control unit (22) which is provided in cooperation with the actuating element (14) to operate the household appliance operating menu (19). In order to increase the ease of use, it is proposed that the actuating element (14) be mounted so that it can rotate about at least one second axis (26).