Operator control panel and domestic appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-capable graphical displays in household appliances lack haptic and acoustic feedback, which are customary in mechanical rotary selectors or buttons, leading to a less satisfying user experience.
Innovation Solution
An operator control panel with a haptic actuator that applies targeted vibrations to the touchscreen surface and an optional acoustic signal emitter to provide feedback, allowing for a compact and efficient design that simulates mechanical switching sounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If haptic feedback is added to a touchscreen operator control panel, then user experience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the haptic actuator with the existing touchscreen control panel structure by guiding it through a recess in the panel carrier and attaching it directly to the rear side of the operator control front. This integration approach adds haptic feedback functionality while minimizing structural complexity and avoiding the need for separate mounting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate element made of plastic material between the operator control front and the panel carrier. This intermediate element serves as a mediator that facilitates the integration of the haptic actuator while maintaining the structural integrity of the control panel and enabling simplified assembly.
2Use of energy by moving object
If haptic actuator power is reduced, then energy consumption is decreased, but haptic feedback effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies haptic feedback locally at the specific position where the haptic actuator is attached to the operator control front, rather than attempting to vibrate the entire panel. This localized approach allows for effective haptic feedback with reduced power consumption, as the actuator only needs to generate sufficient vibration at the attachment point which then propagates to the user's finger.
3Volume of moving object
If the haptic actuator is guided through the panel carrier, then the design becomes more compact, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the haptic actuator through a recess in the panel carrier, allowing it to be positioned and attached to the rear side of the operator control front. This extraction approach enables a compact integrated design while the recess geometry provides natural alignment features that reduce the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
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
Enhances user experience by providing haptic and acoustic feedback, reducing the power requirements of the haptic actuator and enabling a more intuitive control interface, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a haptic actuator (19) which is coupled to the operator control front (15) in order, during an operator control procedure of the operator control panel (12), to output a haptic signal in the form of vibrations as feedback to a user
Implementation Method 2
A structure-borne sound converter of this kind substantially involves an electrodynamic speaker without diaphragm. This means that a voice coil of the structure-borne sound converter does not drive a speaker diaphragm, but rather in particular is connected directly to the operator control front
Data Source
AI summary
An operator control panel for a household appliance includes an operator control front, a panel carrier supporting the operator control front and having a recess, and a haptic actuator guided through the recess of the panel carrier for coupling to the operator control front so that during an operator control procedure of the operator control panel the haptic actuator outputs a haptic signal as feedback to a user in response to the operator control procedure via the operator control front.