Method for displaying working program steps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for displaying the progress of a work program in a cooking chamber do not effectively provide different types of information about the course of the program, limiting operator insight and kitchen logistics efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method where each step of a work program is displayed on a device with customizable display elements such as colors, images, animations, and acoustic signals, allowing operators to create personalized programming and real-time status updates, including progress bars, to clearly indicate the active step and remaining times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a single progress bar is used to display work program status, then the device structure remains simple, but the information provided to operators is insufficient and not differentiated by step type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the work program display into multiple separate display elements, each corresponding to a specific program step. Instead of a single undifferentiated progress bar, the system creates individual visual representations for each step (e.g., preheating, cooking, resting), allowing operators to see the status and characteristics of each step separately. This segmentation provides comprehensive information about the work program course while maintaining manageable display complexity through systematic organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different visual characteristics (colors, icons, animation styles) to different display elements based on the specific program step they represent. For example, different cooking modes (steam, convection, combination) are represented by distinct colors, and different step types (automatic vs. manual intervention required) have different visual appearances. This local differentiation provides rich information about the nature of each step without requiring a completely complex display structure.
2Loss of information
If detailed information about each program step is provided, then operator insight is improved, but the display device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates display elements that serve multiple functions simultaneously. Each display element not only shows the current status of a program step (active, completed, pending) but also conveys information about the step type, required user actions, and relative progress. This multi-functionality provides comprehensive information about program steps while avoiding the need for multiple separate indicators, thereby controlling display device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the information capacity of display elements by adding visual dimensions such as color coding, iconography, and animation states. Rather than using multiple separate physical indicators, the system encodes multiple layers of information (step status, step type, urgency, progress) within each display element through these visual dimensions. This approach provides detailed program step information while maintaining a compact and manageable display structure.
3Loss of information
If multiple display elements are assigned to different program steps, then information differentiation is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to programming complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables operators to customize the display elements and their characteristics through an intuitive programming interface. Operators can assign colors, icons, and other visual attributes to different program steps according to their preferences and operational needs. This self-service capability allows operators to create personalized display configurations that differentiate program steps effectively, while the systematic nature of the programming process keeps the operation manageable and not overly complex.
Data Source
AI summary
The method involves providing a display element (10,12,14,20,22,24,26) to a working program which displays the steps on a display device (1) during the course of the working program. The working program is provided in two ways of the program steps and the instruction steps. An independent claim is included for a cooking device with a cooking chamber.