Metallic Touch Sensor Assembly for Cooking Apparatus Recognition Rate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking apparatuses with touch control panels face limitations due to the restriction of using glass for the exterior and capacitive sensors, which can lead to reduced recognition rates for touch operations.
Innovation Solution
A cooking apparatus with an exterior formed from metallic materials, featuring a touch sensor assembly where the touching part is machined using etching or laser processing, and an inclined surface to enhance recognition rates, including a guide case and elastic support for the touch module to ensure accurate and durable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a glass panel with capacitive sensor is used for the control panel, then the control panel structure is simple, but the exterior design is restricted and recognition rate of touch operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from glass to metallic material, and changes the sensor type from capacitive to piezoelectric sensor. This parameter change enables better exterior design flexibility with metallic materials while piezoelectric sensors provide higher touch recognition rates and reliability, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the capacitive sensor system with a piezoelectric sensor system. Piezoelectric sensors detect mechanical pressure directly through piezoelectric effect, providing more reliable and accurate touch recognition compared to capacitive sensors, thus improving the recognition rate without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
2Shape
If a metallic material is used for the exterior, then the exterior design is improved, but the material is harder to deform for touch sensor contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a touching part with different local properties on the metallic exterior. The touching part is formed with a machined pattern that increases local flexibility and deformability, allowing it to contact the piezoelectric sensor effectively, while the rest of the metallic exterior maintains its aesthetic design and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the metallic exterior into different functional zones: the main exterior body for aesthetic purposes and the touching part for sensor interaction. The touching part is further segmented into patterns that enhance deformability, allowing the hard metallic material to locally deform for touch contact while maintaining overall structural rigidity and design quality.
3Strength
If the touching part is made thicker for durability, then strength is improved, but recognition rate of touch operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses curved or patterned surface designs on the touching part rather than flat surfaces. The curvature and patterning allow the touching part to deform more easily under touch while maintaining sufficient structural strength and durability, thereby improving touch recognition rate without sacrificing durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of the touching part to achieve a balance between strength and deformability. Rather than making it uniformly thick, the touching part is designed with optimized thickness distribution and machined patterns that provide adequate strength for durability while allowing sufficient deformation for reliable piezoelectric sensor activation.
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 metallic exterior and enhanced touch sensor assembly improve the recognition rate of touch operations, allowing for more convenient and reliable input, while preventing simultaneous key presses and maintaining performance over time.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric sensor which generates an electricity according to a pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed are a cooking apparatus and a touch sensor assembly. The touch sensor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an outer cover formed of a metallic material and configured to form a part of an exterior of the cooking apparatus; and a touch module installed to be in contact with a rear surface of the outer cover, and having a plurality of touch sensors, wherein a touching part which is formed by machining a rear surface of the outer cover which is in contact with the touch sensor, and easily elastically deformed when being touched by a user, and thus transfers a pressure to the touch sensor is formed.