Electric home appliance and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric home appliances lack an efficient and convenient method for user input, particularly in determining the proximity of a user to activate or deactivate input units, leading to unnecessary power consumption and user experience issues.
Innovation Solution
An electric home appliance equipped with a sensing unit (camera, kinetic sensor, or ultrasonic sensor) that detects a human body's presence and distance, controlling an input unit (rotary dial) to protrude or retreat based on proximity, and an optical pattern display to facilitate user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the input unit is always activated, then user interaction is always available, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The input unit dynamically changes its state between protruded (active) and retreated (inactive) positions based on detected user proximity. When a user approaches within a predetermined distance, the input unit protrudes to enable interaction; when the user moves away, it retreats to save power, thus adapting the system's operational state to real-time conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing unit automatically detects user proximity and triggers the controller to adjust the input unit's position without requiring manual user intervention. The system self-regulates its operational state based on environmental conditions (user presence), eliminating the need for users to manually activate or deactivate the input unit
2Ease of operation
If the input unit is protruded to improve accessibility, then user input convenience increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A movable support structure acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed housing and the input unit. This intermediary component enables the input unit to protrude and retreat smoothly while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The movable support serves as a mechanical bridge that translates control signals into physical position changes without requiring complex actuation systems
3Measurement precision
If the sensing unit continuously monitors for user presence, then user proximity detection is always accurate, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing unit operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. It alternates between active monitoring phases (when protrusion is needed) and dormant phases (when no user presence is detected), reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy during active periods. The controller activates the sensing unit only when proximity detection is required for input unit positioning
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
This solution minimizes power consumption by only activating input units when a user is nearby, enhances user interaction by adjusting input unit position and optical pattern speed based on distance, and improves user convenience by recognizing user intent through proximity sensing.
Implementation Method 1
the sensing unit includes at least one of a camera, a kinetic sensor, an infrared sensor and an ultrasonic sensor
Implementation Method 2
the sensing unit includes at least one of a camera, a kinetic sensor, an infrared sensor and an ultrasonic sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
Electric home appliance including a sensing unit (130, 230) for sensing whether a human body is within a predetermined range, an input unit (140, 240) for allowing a user's input, the input unit (140, 240) being protruded or retreated based on a result sensed by the sensing unit (130, 230), and a controller (210) for deciding whether to protrude or retreat the input unit (140, 240) based on presence or absence of the human body sensed by said sensing unit (130, 230).