Mobile Appliance Display Orientation Adapting to Operating Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile household appliances with displays face challenges in presenting information effectively due to changing user orientations relative to the device, leading to potential upside-down reading situations during different operating modes.

Innovation Solution

A mobile household appliance with an evaluation and control device that adjusts the display's presentation direction based on detected operating parameters, such as handle orientation, contact with service stations, and accumulator charging states, to align information display with the user's viewing direction, thereby improving readability across various operating modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the display shows information with a fixed direction relative to the appliance housing, then the display structure is simple, but the user may have to read information upside down when the user position changes during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereadability of display informationVSAvoiddisplay control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display orientation is made dynamic by rotating the display direction based on the detected operating mode. The evaluation and control device adjusts the display orientation automatically according to the current operating mode detected by sensors, transforming the fixed display into an adaptive one that maintains optimal readability throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the display orientation is adjusted according to operating mode, then readability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereadability of display informationVSAvoidsensor and control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device serves multiple functions: it detects operating modes for display orientation adjustment, determines usage positions, and identifies operational states. This multi-functional sensor system reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved readability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If multiple types of sensors are used to detect operating parameters, then the operating mode detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating mode detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensor types (orientation sensor, contact sensor, accumulator monitoring device) are merged into a single detection device system that collectively detects operating parameters. The evaluation and control device integrates signals from these sensors to determine the operating mode, achieving high detection accuracy while managing complexity through unified control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3987992B1Mobile domestic appliance with a display
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3987992B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3987992B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a mobile household appliance (1), in particular a soil cultivation device, comprising a device housing (2), a display (3) forming part of an outer shell of the device housing (2), a detection device (4) for detecting an operating parameter characterizing an operating mode currently executed by the household appliance (1), and an evaluation and control device (5) for determining the operating mode based on the operating parameter and for displaying at least one piece of information (6) relating to the current operating mode on the display (3).To improve the display of information (6) on the display (3) for a user, it is proposed that the evaluation and control device (5) be configured to vary the display direction (r) of the information (6) shown on the display (3) depending on the determined current operating mode of the household appliance (1), wherein the detection device (4) has a sensor selected from the following: a sensor configured to detect a relative orientation of a handle (10) of the household appliance (1) that is adjustable relative to the appliance housing (2); a contact sensor to detect mechanical contact between the household appliance (1) and a service station; and an accumulator monitoring device configured to detect charging or discharging of the accumulator (8).