Electric Range Gesture Control for Rapid Heat Power Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric ranges require cumbersome touch operations to adjust heat power, making it difficult to rapidly change heat settings, and users must perform separate actions to access additional functions, which can be inconvenient, especially during emergency situations while cooking.

Innovation Solution

An electric range that adjusts heat power and provides additional functions by detecting a user's gesture of sliding a heated item in specific directions, using a control unit to control heating units and an input interface, allowing for rapid heat adjustments and function changes without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If touch operation is used to adjust heat power, then heat power can be controlled, but adjustment speed is slow and cannot rapidly lower heat power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat power adjustment speedVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical touch operation system with a gesture recognition system that detects the user's hand movements in the air space above the appliance. This allows rapid heat power adjustment by simply waving the hand, eliminating the need for repeated touch operations while maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary gesture recognition system that translates physical hand gestures into control commands. This intermediary layer enables rapid heat power adjustment by interpreting the speed and direction of hand movements, solving the contradiction between fast adjustment and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate operation is required for additional functions, then functions can be accessed, but user convenience is reduced during cooking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction accessibilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the gesture recognition system universal by enabling it to control multiple functions including heat power adjustment, timer settings, and child lock features. A single gesture interface provides access to all functions, eliminating the need for separate operations and improving user convenience while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If manual intervention is required for function selection, then specific functions can be activated, but response time in emergency situations is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency response capabilityVSAvoidtime for function activation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service functionality where the system automatically detects emergency situations (such as boiling over) and activates appropriate functions without requiring manual user input. The gesture recognition system enables rapid one-handed operation, and the system can autonomously respond to emergencies, improving both reliability and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables rapid and convenient heat power adjustments and access to additional functions through intuitive gestural control, addressing the limitations of traditional electric ranges by simplifying the process of managing heat settings and providing emergency response capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

The resistance heating type electric range generates heat by applying a current to a metal resistance line or a nonmetal heating element such as silicon carbide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

heats an item (e.g. a cooking vessel such as a pot or frying pan) by radiating or conducting the generated heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

heats an item (e.g. a cooking vessel such as a pot or frying pan) by radiating or conducting the generated heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

The induction heating type electric range generates a magnetic field around a coil by applying high frequency power to the coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 5

heats an item made of a metallic material by using an eddy current generated from the generated magnetic field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEddy currents: Eddy Currents

Data Source

PatentUS20230037555A1Electric range providing specific functions without user intervention

Publication Date: 2023.02.09 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Disclosed is an electric range which provides specific functions without user intervention. The electric range adjusts the heating power if a user enacts a gesture that slides an item to be heated in a first direction. Also, the electric range provides additional functions if a user enacts a gesture that slides an item to be heated in a second direction.