Cooking Hob Interface Layout for Clear Timer Zone Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find it difficult to recognize which cooking zone a timer display on a conventional cooking hob corresponds to, leading to confusion in controlling cooking times and power levels.
Innovation Solution
A user interface with dedicated digital displays for each cooking zone, featuring a touch-sensitive power input device and timer input device, including a timer-select button, rising, and lowering buttons, allows clear correlation between timer values and cooking zones by alternately or simultaneously indicating current power and timer values, with the power input device becoming invisible when timer values are indicated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single shared timer display is used for all cooking zones, then the device complexity is reduced and space is saved, but the user cannot easily recognize which cooking zone the timer display corresponds to
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is segmented into separate control zones, with each cooking zone having its own dedicated control elements and display area. This segmentation allows users to clearly associate timer and power level displays with specific cooking zones, eliminating the confusion caused by shared displays while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cooking zone is equipped with localized control elements and display indicators specific to that zone. The timer display and power level indicators are positioned within or adjacent to their corresponding cooking zone controls, creating a localized information display that enhances zone identification without requiring a completely separate display system for each zone.
2Ease of operation
If separate digital displays are provided for each cooking zone, then zone identification is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The timer display and power level display are merged into a single integrated digital display unit for each cooking zone. This combined display shows both timer values and power level information in one location, eliminating the need for separate display components while still providing clear zone-specific information. The display alternates between showing timer and power level data, or displays them simultaneously in a compact format.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital display unit serves multiple functions: it displays timer values, power level indicators, and cooking zone identification simultaneously. This multi-functional display reduces the overall number of display components needed while providing comprehensive information for each cooking zone, thereby improving zone identification without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Loss of information
If both power level and timer values are displayed simultaneously, then information availability is improved, but the display becomes more complex and harder to read
Solution Approach 1:
The display alternates between showing timer values and power level information in a periodic sequence. This alternating display ensures that both types of information are made available to the user over time without requiring them to be displayed simultaneously in a cluttered format. The periodic switching maintains information availability while preserving display simplicity and readability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display uses spatial arrangement and visual hierarchy to organize multiple pieces of information within a compact two-dimensional space. By positioning the timer display within the partition of the corresponding cooking zone and using different display regions for different information types, the system provides comprehensive information availability while maintaining a clean, non-overlapping layout that avoids complexity.
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 users to easily identify and manage cooking zone settings, enhancing user experience by providing clear and intuitive control over cooking times and power levels.
Implementation Method 1
the power input device is formed as a touch-sensitive linear slider or as a touch-sensitive circular slider
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a user interface (10) for a cooking hob. The user interface (10) or at least a portion of said user interface (10) is subdivided into partitions (12). Each partition (12) corresponds with a cooking zone of the cooking hob. Each partition (12) comprises a digital display (20), at least one power input device (22) and at least one timer input device (24). The digital display (20) includes at least two seven-segment digits. The digital display (20) is provided for indicating a current cooking parameter, in particular a current power value, of the corresponding cooking zone and a current timer value relating to said corresponding cooking zone. Further, the present invention relates to a cooking hob with at least one user interface (10).