Oven Door Touch Controls for Closed-Door Operation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing domestic appliances, such as baking ovens, face issues with user-friendliness and operating safety due to error-prone button arrangements and wear, particularly when the door is closed, as existing push buttons and knobs are subject to high stresses and inadequate connections.

Innovation Solution

A touch-sensitive operating device is integrated into the domestic appliance, allowing operation when the door is closed by using the door's front side for actuation, eliminating the need for separate control elements and enhancing protection against wear and soiling, with a capacitive, IR, or piezo touch-sensitive system that adjusts sensitivity based on the door's open or closed state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If push buttons and knobs are used on the door panel, then the operating device can be actuated when the door is closed, but the connection between buttons is inadequate and wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperability when door is closedVSAvoidconnection reliability and wear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical push buttons and knobs with a touch-sensitive operating device that detects touches through capacitive, piezoelectric, or infrared sensors. This eliminates mechanical contact and wear while maintaining the ability to operate the device when the door is closed, as touches through the door panel can be detected by the sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The door panel itself serves as an intermediary medium between the user and the operating device. The touch-sensitive sensors detect touches through the door panel material, allowing the door to act as a mediator that transmits the user's input to the operating device without requiring direct contact with physical buttons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If separate control elements are attached to the front side of the door, then operation when door is closed is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperability when door is closedVSAvoidnumber of separate control elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the operating device directly with the door panel structure, integrating the touch-sensitive sensors into the door assembly. This eliminates the need for separate control elements attached to the door, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full operability when the door is closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The door panel serves multiple functions: it acts as both the closure for the receiving space and as the interface for the operating device. By making the door itself part of the control interface through integrated touch-sensitive sensors, the system reduces the number of separate components needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the front side of the door is made thicker to cover the operating device, then protection against wear and damage is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against wear and damageVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs thin-film touch-sensitive sensor layers integrated into the door panel structure. These thin-film sensors can detect touches through the door panel without requiring excessive thickness, providing protection against wear and damage while minimizing the increase in manufacturing cost by using thin, cost-effective sensor materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

This configuration improves user-friendliness and safety by ensuring accurate operation with reduced malfunctions and wear, while allowing for a cost-effective and space-efficient design, with the door's front side made of glass or glass ceramic providing protection and enabling operation through two panes of glass when closed.

Implementation Method 1

The operating device is designed for touch-sensitive operation... capacitive touch technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive touch detection: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The operating device is designed for touch-sensitive operation... piezo touch technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric touch detection: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

The operating device is designed for touch-sensitive operation... IR touch technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared touch detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP1970631B1Household device, in particular an oven

Publication Date: 2014.01.01 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

Figure 1~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a household appliance with a housing (1a) and a receiving chamber (2) with a loading opening (3) which can be closed by a door (4), and an operating device (5) which is arranged adjacent to the loading opening (3), wherein the operating device (5) is touch-sensitive and is covered by a front side (4a) of the door (4) when the door (4) is closed, and the operating device (5) can be actuated by touching the front side (4a) in a specific location when the door (4) is closed.