Electric Kettle Handle With Touch Sensor PCB for Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric kettles lack convenient temperature control and operation management, often requiring complex wiring and limited user interface, leading to potential erroneous operations and reduced usability.
Innovation Solution
An electric kettle design featuring a handle with a touch sensor and printed circuit board (PCB) for controlling the heating module, including a temperature setting and display on the handle cover, allowing users to easily manage temperature and operation through a user-friendly interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the handle is simply provided with an on-off switch for the heater, then the structure is simple, but the user convenience and temperature control capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heater control functions (on-off switch, temperature adjustment) and display components directly into the handle assembly. The handle now integrates both mechanical switching and electronic control interfaces, merging previously separate functions into a unified user interface located on the handle for convenient operation.
2Ease of operation
If the handle is connected to the lower portion of the body where the heater is disposed, then the heater control is enabled, but the design flexibility and wiring complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control board as an intermediary component mounted on the handle that receives user inputs and communicates with the heater. This control board acts as a mediator between the user interface on the handle and the heating element in the body, enabling wireless or simplified wired communication and reducing direct wiring complexity between the handle and heater.
3Ease of manufacture
If plastic material is used for the main body, then the shaping and internal structure arrangement are facilitated, but hygiene and durability deteriorate due to potential contamination and scratches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite construction where the main body is made of plastic material for ease of molding and internal structure arrangement, while the handle is constructed from stainless steel material to provide durability, hygiene, and resistance to contamination. This composite approach allows each component to be made from materials optimized for its specific functional requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric kettle includes a body made of a metal material and configured to form a space in which water is contained, a heating module provided in the body to heat the space, a handle mounted to protrude from an outer surface of the body, a handle cover made of a metal material and configured to form an appearance of a protruding upper surface of the handle, and a handle printed circuit board (PCB) provided inside the handle and including a touch sensor that is in close contact with a rear surface of the handle cover to sense a touch operation of the handle cover. An operation of the heating module is controlled by the handle PCB.