Electric Kettle Handle PCB for One-Handed Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric kettles lack convenient temperature control and ergonomic design, with handles often connected to the heating module, limiting user interaction and causing inconvenience in operation.
Innovation Solution
The electric kettle features a handle with a built-in operation portion and display on its upper surface, allowing one-handed temperature control, and a handle PCB that includes a touch sensor and booster for accurate operation, while maintaining a separate connection to the heating module for power control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle is connected to the heating module for power control, then the heater can be controlled, but the user interaction is limited and operation becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into two independent parts: the handle contains only the operation portion and display for user interaction, while the heating module contains the heater and temperature control circuitry. This segmentation allows the handle to be ergonomically designed for easy operation without the complexity of integrated heating components, while still achieving full temperature control functionality through wireless communication between the handle and heating module.
2Ease of operation
If the handle is simply provided with an on-off switch, then the structure is simple, but temperature adjustment and user convenience are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed as a multi-functional control unit that integrates the operation portion for power control, temperature adjustment, and display functions. This universal design allows a single component (the handle) to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require separate controls, significantly improving user convenience while maintaining relatively simple structure through the use of a touch sensor and microcontroller.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electric wires are guided through the handle to control the heater, then the heater can be controlled, but structural limitations in design occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical connection and control circuitry from the handle structure itself, placing the heater and power control components in the heating module instead. The handle communicates with the heating module through wireless signals or external connections, eliminating the need for complex internal wire guidance structures and allowing greater design freedom for both the handle and heating module.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric kettle may include a body made of a metal material and configured to form a space in which fluid, such as water is contained, a heating module provided in the body to heat the space, a handle mounted to protrude from an outer surface of the body, a handle cover made of a metal material and configured to form a protruding upper surface of the handle, and a handle printed circuit board (PCB) provided inside of the handle and including a touch sensor in close contact with a rear surface of the handle cover to sense a touch operation of the handle cover. An operation of the heating module may be controlled by the handle PCB.