Cooking Hob Touchscreen Mode Switching for Recipe and Control Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking hobs lack a user-friendly interface for presenting information in a simple and intuitive manner, requiring users to navigate between control and recipe modes with complex interactions.

Innovation Solution

A touch screen interface that alternates between cooking and recipe modes with a dedicated switch button, allowing for seamless transitions while maintaining consistent operation of essential controls and displaying information in a two-dimensional format with text, pictures, and symbols, and enabling zoom and slide functions for enhanced usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate control interface and recipe display system are used, then the functionality is comprehensive, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is designed to serve dual purposes: functioning as a control interface for cooking parameters and as a display for recipe information. By implementing mode switching between control mode and recipe mode, the same hardware component performs multiple functions, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate displays are used for control and information, then the information presentation is comprehensive, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation presentationVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface and recipe display are merged into a single touch screen. The touch screen displays cooking control elements in control mode and recipe information in recipe mode, eliminating the need for users to switch between separate displays and simplifying the user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated recipe display mode is added, then the information presentation improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation presentationVSAvoidcontrol unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen dynamically changes its displayed content based on the active mode. A mode switching mechanism allows the same display hardware to present different information types (control parameters vs. recipe details) at different times, avoiding the need for separate static display components and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3320270B1Cooking hob comprising a control unit
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
  • EP3320270B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3320270B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3320270B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a control unit (10) for a domestic appliance, in particular for a cooking appliance. The control unit (10) comprises at least one display (12) formed as an input-output device. At least a part of the display (12) is touch-sensitive and/or formed as a touch screen. The display (12) is switchable between a control mode and an information mode. The display (12) includes at least one area (16). In the control mode the area (16) illustrates symbols and/or touch switches for controlling the domestic appliance by a user. In the information mode the area (16) illustrates information as a two-dimensional representation for the user. The representation of information on the at least one area (16) is controlled or controllable by symbols and/or touch switches on said area (16). The control unit (10) includes a switch button (20) for switching over between the control mode and the information mode.