Household Appliance Touch Interface with Customizable Function Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances with liquid crystal displays (LED devices) face a challenge in providing a user interface that caters to both pragmatic users seeking simplicity and controlled users who want to explore various functions, as the fixed hardware often results in an overload of functions and buttons, making it difficult to customize the interface to individual user needs.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance with a customizable touch-sensitive input and display part that includes a liquid crystal display and a second touch-sensitive input element, allowing users to selectively display and choose functions based on touch duration, enabling a personalized interface that remains adjustable even when the appliance is switched off, combining the benefits of a rotary selector and touch-sensitive control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed hardware interface with all functions is provided, then controlled users can access diverse features, but pragmatic users face interface overload and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic user interface that can change its configuration based on user interaction. The interface transitions from a static display showing all functions to a dynamic state where users can select and customize which functions are displayed. This allows the interface to adapt to different user needs (pragmatic vs controlled) while maintaining access to all underlying functions, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different regions or elements of the interface to have different properties. Specifically, the interface enables users to selectively highlight or emphasize certain functions while keeping others subdued or hidden. This local customization allows pragmatic users to see only essential functions while controlled users can explore additional features, thus reducing overall perceived complexity without sacrificing versatility.
2Ease of operation
If all functions are displayed at the first level, then controlled users can explore features, but pragmatic users experience information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the function display into multiple levels or categories. Instead of presenting all functions simultaneously, the interface divides functions into primary (essential) and secondary (additional) groups. Pragmatic users interact only with the primary segment, achieving ease of operation. Controlled users can access the secondary segment when needed. This segmentation prevents information overload for pragmatic users while maintaining function visibility for controlled users.
3Ease of operation
If a rotary selector is used, then program selection is simplified, but function customization and information display are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the simplicity of a rotary selector with the customization capabilities of a digital interface. The rotary selector maintains its ease of use for basic program selection, while the accompanying display screen provides customizable information about selected functions and parameters. Users can rotate to select programs simply, then use touch input to customize which detailed parameters are displayed, combining mechanical simplicity with digital adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a touch-sensitive display as an intermediary between the rotary selector and the full functionality of the appliance. The rotary selector handles simple program selection, while the display mediator provides customizable detailed information and additional control options. This intermediary layer bridges the gap between simple mechanical interaction and complex digital customization, allowing both pragmatic and controlled users to operate the device according to their preferences.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance comprising a housing, a control unit, and an input and display unit 1 with a liquid crystal display 2, which is configured to display several parameters 3 of a work program performed in the household appliance, wherein the liquid crystal display 2 is contained in a first input and display unit 4, and the household appliance additionally comprises a second input and display unit 5 without a liquid crystal display, which includes a first touch-sensitive input and display element 6 configured to enable, upon touch, the display and selection of a second and further touch-sensitive input elements 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. The invention further relates to a method for operating this household appliance.