Household appliance closure element with touch interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliance human-machine interfaces (HMIs) face issues with accidental activation due to their placement on movable closure elements like doors or lids, and the integration of electrical components limits the form factor and aesthetics of these interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive HMI system where a transparent, electrically conductive layer on a movable closure element, such as a lid or door, is decoupled from the display elements, allowing for wireless communication and energy harvesting, thereby reducing accidental activation and enhancing aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the HMI is placed on the movable closure element, then the user can interact with the interface while the appliance is accessible, but accidental activation occurs when users lean against or place items on the appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The HMI is segmented into two separate portions: a first portion with display elements fixed to the housing, and a second portion with touch-sensitive elements on the movable closure element. This segmentation allows the display to remain stationary while the touch interface moves with the closure element, enabling user interaction without accidental activation when the closure element is not being deliberately operated.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrical components are integrated into the closure element, then the touch interface functionality is achieved, but the form factor and aesthetics of the HMI are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display elements are extracted from the movable closure element and placed on the stationary housing, while only the touch-sensitive portion remains on the closure element. This extraction allows the display to have unrestricted form factor and aesthetic design, while the touch interface maintains its functionality on the movable closure element.
Solution Approach 2:
The HMI is separated into spatial dimensions: the display portion is fixed in one location on the housing, while the touch-sensitive portion is located on the movable closure element. This dimensional separation allows each portion to be optimized independently for its specific function and design requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the touch-sensitive layer is decoupled from the display elements, then wireless communication and energy harvesting become possible, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The physical connection between display and touch elements is replaced with wireless communication systems. The decoupled touch-sensitive portion can communicate with the control system wirelessly, enabling energy harvesting and wireless data transmission while maintaining functional integration without mechanical constraints.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a robust, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly touch-sensitive interface that minimizes accidental activations and allows for flexible design across different appliance models by separating touch and display electronics, improving user interaction and appliance design.
Implementation Method 1
the second portion including an electrically conductive layer having a touch-sensitive area corresponding to the display elements
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance includes a housing; a treating chamber located within the housing and having an access opening; a closure element movable relative to the access opening between opened and closed positions to selectively provide access to the treating chamber through the access opening; a controller associated with the housing and implementing a treating cycle on at least one item in the treating chamber; and a human-machine interface. The HMI includes a first portion associated with the housing and a second portion associated with the closure element. The first portion includes non-touch sensitive indicia. The second portion includes an electrically conductive layer having a touch-sensitive area corresponding to the indicia of the first portion and is arranged to be in register with a corresponding selection area when the closure element is in the closed position.