Kitchen Device Magnetometer for Accessory Detection and Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Motor-operated kitchen devices often require complex safety features with many parts and moving components, leading to increased manufacturing costs and safety risks, and lack the ability to adapt control schemes based on the type of accessory connected.
Innovation Solution
A kitchen device equipped with a base, a coupling for receiving an accessory with a magnet, a controller, and a magnetometer, preferably a magnetoresistor, to detect the accessory's presence and provide a signal to the controller, allowing the device to operate according to predetermined instructions based on the accessory's magnetic field strength and position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional interlocks and moving parts are used to detect accessory presence, then safety features can be implemented, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical interlocks and moving parts with a magnetometer (magnetic sensor) that detects the magnetic field of the accessory. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical safety features while maintaining accessory detection capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnet as an intermediary element attached to the accessory, which interacts with the magnetometer in the base. This magnetic field mediator enables non-contact detection of accessory presence and position, avoiding the need for direct mechanical contact or moving parts while ensuring safe operation
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensor elements are used to detect magnetic field components along different axes, then accessory position detection precision is improved, but magnetometer complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple sensor elements arranged along different spatial axes (x, y, z directions) to detect magnetic field components in three dimensions. By measuring the magnetic field vector in multiple directions simultaneously, the system achieves precise determination of accessory position and orientation through spatial dimensionality, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
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
Simplifies design and manufacturing, reduces costs, and enables safe operation with multiple accessories by using a magnetometer to detect and adapt control schemes based on accessory type, ensuring consistent and precise operation.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetometer located in the base and configured to interact with the magnet when the accessory is coupled to the base to provide an accessory signal indicative of a presence of the accessory to the controller
Implementation Method 2
the magnetometer comprises a magnetoresistor. Preferably, the magnetoresistor includes a first sensor element being aligned with a first sensor axis that intersects the magnetoresistor, wherein the accessory signal includes a first component for the first sensor axis, the first component being indicative of a magnetic field strength in the direction of the first sensor axis
Data Source
AI summary
A kitchen device (100) having: a base (110) with a coupling (120) for receiving an accessory (130), the accessory (130) comprising a magnet and being configured for performing an operation when operated by the kitchen device (100); a controller configured to operate the kitchen device (100), and thereby the accessory (130), to perform the operation; and a magnetometer located in the base (110) and configured to interact with the magnet when the accessory (130) is coupled to the base (110) to provide an accessory signal indicative of a presence of the accessory (130) to the controller, wherein the magnetometer comprises a magnetoresistor.