Control of a household appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current household appliances lack the ability for users to create and run custom sequence programs without compromising security or operational safety, limiting their adaptability and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows users to create and execute sequence programs on household appliances by checking predetermined device conditions, enabling user-controlled scheduling while preventing unsafe operations through static and dynamic testing, and allowing parameter adjustments to ensure compliance with device specifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users are allowed to create and execute custom sequence programs on household appliances, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but operational safety and security may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by checking the user-created sequence program against predetermined appliance conditions before execution. The control device validates the program in advance to ensure it meets safety requirements, preventing potentially harmful operations from being executed while still allowing user customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary validation mechanism between the user program creation and appliance execution. The control device acts as a mediator that intercepts the user program, checks it against safety conditions, and only permits execution if validation succeeds, thus protecting the appliance while maintaining user adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users can create custom sequence programs externally, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to validation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the program creation functionality from the appliance itself, allowing users to create sequence programs on external devices. This removes the need for complex programming interfaces on the appliance, maintaining ease of operation while reducing the appliance's operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The validation of user programs is performed as a preliminary check before execution. The control device validates the program structure and parameters against predetermined conditions in advance, which adds a layer of complexity but maintains ease of operation by providing clear feedback to users about program validity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3555357B1Control of a household appliance
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3555357B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3555357B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3555357B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the process programming of a household appliance, comprising the steps of receiving a sequential program by the household appliance; checking the sequential program with respect to a predetermined device condition by the household appliance; and releasing the sequence of the sequential program in the household appliance as a function of the result of the check.