Oven Cooling Fan Failure Detection via Cool Air Temperature Rise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking appliances with sealed types face challenges in quickly detecting failures of the cooling fan, leading to overheating and potential failure of electronic components, especially in various-sized ovens and stacked units.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a temperature measuring unit in the cool air passage between the casing and circuit board, with a controller monitoring temperature increases to detect fan failures and immediately stop the heating unit, ensuring proper cooling and preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling fan operates without monitoring, then the appliance structure remains simple, but electronic components are at risk of overheating and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by installing a temperature sensor in the cool air passage that continuously monitors temperature and sends signals to the control unit. When the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit stops the heating unit, creating a closed-loop feedback system that automatically responds to thermal conditions without requiring complex additional hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the cool air passage itself as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal information from the electronic component space to the temperature sensor. By placing the sensor in the cool air passage where cooled air flows, the system indirectly monitors the thermal state of electronic components without requiring direct contact sensors, simplifying the monitoring structure.
2Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is installed in the electronic component space, then overheating can be detected, but the sensor may be exposed to excessive heat and fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the cool air passage as an intermediary zone where the temperature sensor is positioned. The sensor measures the temperature of the cool air that has just passed over the electronic components, indirectly obtaining accurate thermal information without being exposed to the extreme heat conditions that would cause sensor failure. This intermediary positioning maintains both measurement precision and sensor reliability.
3Reliability
If the cooling fan failure is not quickly detected, then the control system remains simple, but electronic components may overheat and fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a real-time feedback monitoring system where the temperature sensor continuously measures cool air temperature and the control unit compares readings against a predetermined threshold. This automatic feedback mechanism enables quick detection of cooling fan failures without requiring complex diagnostic systems, as the temperature rise serves as a direct indicator of cooling system malfunction.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system's thermal state serves its own monitoring function. The temperature of the cool air passage naturally rises when the cooling fan fails, and this self-generated thermal signal is captured by the temperature sensor, eliminating the need for separate active monitoring devices or complex diagnostic algorithms.
4Loss of time
If the temperature measuring unit is placed in the cool air passage, then fan failures can be quickly detected, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing cool air passage structure as the mounting location for the temperature sensor, rather than creating a separate monitoring chamber or modifying the electronic component space. This approach enables rapid failure detection by positioning the sensor where cool air naturally flows, while avoiding additional structural complexity by leveraging the existing airflow path geometry.
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 solution allows for rapid detection and prevention of cooling fan failures, protecting electronic components from overheating and effectively applying to different oven sizes and stacked configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling fan can suction external air to cool an inside of the electronic component space and can forcibly blow hot air in the electronic component space out of the sealed type cooking appliance to cool the electronic component space
Implementation Method 2
a temperature measuring unit disposed at a supporter supporting the circuit board, wherein the temperature measuring unit measures a temperature in the cool air passage
Implementation Method 3
a heating unit configured to heat the cooking space
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance and a method for controlling the same, wherein the cooking appliance determines whether a cooling fan stops operating based on results of monitoring of an increase per unit time in temperatures in a cool air passage, and when confirming the cooling fan stops operating, stops the heating unit from operating.