Hotplate Operator Interface Placement to Reduce Heat Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hob devices face challenges in optimizing the use of installation space and protecting temperature-sensitive components from high heat, as touch-sensitive interfaces are often integrated within the housing unit, exposing them to heat sources and limiting design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The hob device features a touch-sensitive operator interface unit with display elements and input elements arranged primarily outside the housing unit, utilizing a high-temperature resistant, low thermal expansion glass-like hob plate and recesses on the underside to accommodate the interface, ensuring protection and efficient space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operator interface unit is arranged inside the housing unit, then the device structure is compact and simple, but the temperature-sensitive components are exposed to high heat
Solution Approach 1:
The operator interface unit is extracted from the housing unit and arranged outside it, specifically on the rear side of the hob plate. This separation removes temperature-sensitive components (display elements and touch-sensitive input elements) from the high-temperature environment inside the housing unit, protecting them from heat damage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If the operator interface unit is arranged outside the housing unit, then temperature exposure is minimized, but installation space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging the operator interface unit in the horizontal plane inside the housing unit, the solution places it on the rear side of the hob plate, utilizing the vertical/third dimension. This allows the interface unit to be positioned outside the main housing volume while still being integrated into the overall device structure, effectively using previously unused spatial resources.
3Adaptability or versatility
If touch-sensitive input elements are integrated within the housing unit, then the design is unified, but the components are exposed to heat sources limiting design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive input elements and display elements are extracted from the hot environment inside the housing unit and relocated to the rear side of the hob plate. This extraction eliminates the harmful heat exposure while maintaining design flexibility, allowing the use of materials and technologies that would be unsuitable for high-temperature environments.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The device (12a) has a housing unit (14a) comprising a housing module (16a) arranged at lower sides of a hob plate (18a) in an operating mode. An operator interface unit (22a) comprises touch-sensitive input elements (34a, 36a, 44a, 46a, 54a, 56a, 64a, 66a, 74a) and display elements (32a, 42a, 52a, 62a, 72a) e.g. LED segment display. The display elements and the touch-sensitive input elements are arranged outside of the housing units. The interface unit is arranged outside of the housing unit. The display elements and the input elements are arranged in a short region of the hob plate.