Extractor Hood Pause Mode with Setting Memory for Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extractor hoods for hobs lack a pause function that allows for temporary deactivation and subsequent automatic reactivation with memory of previous settings, leading to inefficient energy use and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
An extractor hood with a variably adjustable drive unit that can switch to a paused mode, store settings, and automatically reactivate, utilizing a control unit for closed-loop control and sensor units for parameter measurement and user detection, enabling optimized operation and energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the extractor hood is continuously operated to maintain extraction performance, then the gaseous medium extraction efficiency is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor hood operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active extraction mode and paused mode. The control unit manages these periodic operations based on detected cooking states, allowing the system to maintain extraction effectiveness when needed while reducing energy consumption during inactive periods through automated pausing and resuming of the drive unit
2Use of energy by moving object
If the extractor hood is paused to reduce energy consumption, then the power usage is reduced, but the extraction performance is temporarily lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit detects cooking states in advance using sensor units and proactively pauses the extractor hood before the cooking process actually begins or when cooking is detected to be complete. This preliminary action allows the system to avoid unnecessary operation during non-cooking periods, reducing energy consumption while maintaining extraction performance when cooking is detected
3Ease of operation
If manual operation is used to control the extractor hood, then the user has full control over operation, but the convenience and automation level is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor hood system performs self-service through automated detection and control. Sensor units automatically detect cooking states (such as presence of cookware, heat generation, or steam), and the control unit autonomously decides when to activate or pause the drive unit based on these detections, eliminating the need for manual user intervention while maintaining optimal extraction performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where sensor units continuously monitor cooking conditions and provide information to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the extractor hood operation, pausing when cooking is detected to be complete or when no cooking activity is present, thereby improving user convenience through automation while maintaining extraction effectiveness
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
The solution allows for efficient energy management by reducing power consumption during inactivity, maintaining previous settings for seamless reactivation, and enhancing user convenience through automatic operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one drive unit being variably adjustable for sucking a gaseous medium of a substance to be processed
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to extractor hood (1) for a hob (2), with at least one drive unit (3), the at least one drive unit (3) being variably adjustable for sucking a gaseous medium (4) of a substance (5) to be processed. The extractor hood (1) is characterized in that the at least one drive unit (3) is configured to switch from a hood operating mode (A) to a hood paused mode (B), preferably via at least one paused signal (S); and to remain in the hood paused mode (B) for a predetermined time period, preferably via at least one automatic time control signal (S); and to reactivate the hood operating mode (A), preferably via at least one reactivation signal (S), wherein at least one setting (SE) for operating the hood operating mode (A) is a recovered at least one setting (SE). The present invention relates further to a method of operating an extractor hood (1) and an arrangement with a hob (2) and an extractor hood (1).