Kitchen and/or catering device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen and gastronomy devices with touch displays lack user-friendliness and require complex design changes to integrate a turning unit effectively.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen and gastronomy device with a touch display and a turning unit that uses a rotatable knob with touch elements to transmit user inputs wirelessly to the control device via the touch display, allowing for simple integration without complex design changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a turning unit is integrated into a touch display device, then user-friendliness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turning unit is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently integrated into the touch display device. This segmentation allows the turning functionality to be added without redesigning the entire device, thus improving user-friendliness while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a turning unit as an intermediary component that bridges traditional mechanical control (knob rotation) and modern digital interfaces (touch display). This intermediary element allows users to interact with the device using familiar tactile movements while the system translates these actions into digital commands, enhancing ease of operation without requiring complete interface redesign.
2Measurement precision
If a turning unit with multiple touch elements is used, then detection precision of user inputs is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turning unit incorporates multiple discrete touch elements arranged in specific patterns (e.g., radially or in arrays). Each touch element can be independently manufactured and positioned, allowing for precise detection of rotation direction, speed, and magnitude. This segmented approach enables high detection precision while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in touch element activation patterns, contact pressure, and sliding velocity as parameters to detect user input characteristics. By monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously across several touch elements, the system achieves high detection precision for rotational movements without requiring overly complex manufacturing processes.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the turning unit is firmly fixed on the surface, then operational stability is improved, but cleaning accessibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The turning unit is designed with dynamic mounting characteristics that provide operational stability during use (firmly fixed state) while allowing for easy removal when needed (cleaning state). This dynamic design enables the unit to transition between a securely fixed position for stable operation and a removable position for cleaning, resolving the contradiction between stability and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The turning unit is designed as a separable module that can be detached from the device surface. This segmentation allows the unit to remain firmly fixed during normal operation for stability, while enabling easy removal for cleaning purposes without requiring complete device disassembly or complex release mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A kitchen and/or gastronomy device, in particular a cooking device, comprising a control unit, a touch display connected to the control unit, and a turning unit with a knob, which can be turned by the user around a Z-axis for executing a user input, and with at least one touch element arranged at the knob for swiping and thereby actuating the touch display; wherein the turning unit is fixed on a surface of the kitchen and/or gastronomy device.