Magnetic Rotary Button for Domestic Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic appliances such as heaters and ovens face challenges with mechanical wear and difficult cleaning due to push-buttons or sliders, and existing solutions for rotary buttons are not easily mountable, removable, or efficient in measuring angular positions.
Innovation Solution
A rotary button system comprising a ferromagnetic plate and a rotatable button with a permanent magnet, where a magnetic sensor device measures magnetic field components or gradients to determine the button's angular position without direct contact, allowing for easy mounting, removal, and cleaning, and reducing mechanical wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotary button with direct mechanical contact is used, then mechanical wear occurs and cleaning becomes difficult, but if a non-contact magnetic system is used, then mounting and removal becomes easier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical contact system with a magnetic field-based non-contact system. The permanent magnet in the rotary button interacts with the ferromagnetic plate through magnetic attraction without direct contact, eliminating mechanical wear while maintaining secure mounting. The magnetic coupling allows easy attachment and detachment without mechanical fasteners.
2Force
If multiple magnets are used to hold the button in position, then holding force increases, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the second magnet from the system and replaces it with a ferromagnetic plate. The permanent magnet in the rotary button alone provides the holding force by attracting to the ferromagnetic plate, eliminating the need for a second magnet on the appliance body while maintaining sufficient holding force.
Solution Approach 2:
The ferromagnetic plate serves multiple functions: it provides magnetic attraction for holding the button, acts as a shield to contain the magnetic field, and enables angular position detection. This single component replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate elements including a second magnet.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a ferromagnetic plate is used as a magnetic shield, then magnetic field containment improves, but magnetic field penetration for sensing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the magnetic sensor at a specific location and orientation relative to the ferromagnetic plate and permanent magnet. The sensor detects magnetic field components in directions where the plate's shielding effect is minimal, allowing field penetration for sensing while maintaining containment in other directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from trying to penetrate the magnetic shield in the traditional sense to detecting the magnetic field in alternative dimensions or orientations. The sensor measures magnetic field components that are influenced by the permanent magnet's position and orientation, allowing angular detection without direct field penetration through the plate.
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
The system enables accurate angular position measurement over 180° or 360°, reduces mechanical wear, and facilitates easy cleaning and assembly, with fewer components and no need for additional magnets for holding the button in place.
Implementation Method 1
the button can exert an attractive force on the ferromagnetic plate, and vice versa, for holding the button (with the magnet) in position
Implementation Method 2
the magnetic sensor device comprises at least one magnetic sensor for measuring at least one magnetic field component, and is configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said at least one magnetic field component
Implementation Method 3
the magnetic sensor device comprises at least two magnetic sensors, and is configured for determining at least one magnetic field gradient, and is configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said at least one magnetic field gradient
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary button system for use in a domestic apparatus, comprising: a ferromagnetic plate; a button removably mountable at a predefined first distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a first side of said plate, and rotatable about a virtual rotation axis substantially perpendicular to said plate, and comprising a permanent magnet magnetised in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis; and a magnetic sensor device mounted at a predefined second distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a second side of said plate opposite the first side, and comprising one or more magnetic sensors for measuring one or more magnetic field components or field gradients, and configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said one or more field components and/or field gradients.