Method and control unit for locking a user interface of a household appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household appliance user interfaces often lack efficient and comfortable child lock functions, as users may forget to activate them, leading to unintended inputs from children or animals, and the provision of a dedicated control element increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A control unit that detects sequences of actuations on the user interface, classifies them as normal or abnormal using machine-learning algorithms and pre-trained data, and automatically locks the interface if an abnormal sequence is detected, thereby providing a reliable and comfortable lock function.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dedicated control element for child lock function is provided, then the child lock function can be activated, but the cost of the user interface increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechild lock functionVSAvoiduser interface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control elements of the user interface are designed to serve multiple purposes: normal operation control and child lock activation. By detecting specific sequences of actuations on existing control elements, the system activates the child lock function without requiring a dedicated control element, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the child lock function is not activated, then the user interface remains accessible, but unintended inputs from children or animals may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface accessibilityVSAvoidunintended inputs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit automatically detects abnormal actuation sequences and autonomously activates the child lock function without requiring user intervention. The system monitors its own operation, identifies patterns indicative of child or animal interaction, and self-corrects by locking the interface, thereby maintaining ease of operation while preventing harmful unintended inputs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the user interface is locked to prevent unintended inputs, then safety is improved, but the user cannot operate the appliance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunintended inputs protectionVSAvoidappliance operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The child lock function is dynamically activated only when abnormal actuation sequences are detected, rather than being permanently enabled. The control unit continuously monitors actuation patterns and adapts the lock state accordingly - unlocking when normal operation is detected and locking when abnormal patterns occur, thus balancing protection with operational accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4328677A1Method and control unit for locking a user interface of a household appliance

Publication Date: 2024.02.28 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

Figure 1~2b
Figure 3

AI summary

A control unit (101) for controlling a user interface (110) of a household appliance (100) is described, wherein the user interface (110) comprises a set of control elements (111). The control unit (101) is configured to detect a sequence (200) of actuations (201) of the set of control elements (111), and to classify the detected sequence (200) of actuations (201) as being a normal sequence or an abnormal sequence. Furthermore, the control unit (101) is configured to cause the user interface (110) to be locked, if the detected sequence (200) of actuations (201) is classified to be an abnormal sequence.