Refrigerator Touch Sensor Control for False Input Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators lack an effective method to prevent erroneous user inputs and adjust sensitivity settings for touch sensors, leading to potential malfunctions and operational issues, especially when multiple sensors are activated simultaneously or when entering special modes.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor assembly with a sensor controller that determines touch inputs as erroneous if signals from multiple sensors occur simultaneously, and allows adjustment of sensitivity settings through a special mode, displaying the settings via a display assembly and storing them in an EEPROM for comparison during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch sensor assembly with multiple sensors is used to detect user input, then the ease of operation is improved, but erroneous input occurs when multiple sensors are activated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller implements feedback by monitoring the timing and pattern of sensor signals. When multiple sensors are activated simultaneously, the controller detects this as an erroneous input pattern and responds by ignoring the signal. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between valid sequential touches and invalid simultaneous touches, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and input accuracy.
2Reliability
If a special mode entry button is provided separate from the manipulation part, then erroneous manipulation is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the special mode entry function with the existing touch sensor assembly. Instead of adding a separate physical button, the system uses the same touch sensors to detect a specific pattern (simultaneous activation of multiple sensors) that triggers special mode. This integration eliminates the need for additional hardware while maintaining the reliability benefit of preventing erroneous manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes its interpretation of sensor signals based on the activation pattern. Under normal conditions, individual sensor activations are processed as standard user inputs. However, when a specific pattern of simultaneous activations is detected, the system dynamically switches to interpret this as a special mode entry command. This dynamic behavior allows one system to serve multiple functions without requiring separate physical controls.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensitivity settings are made adjustable for touch sensors, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it detects both standard user inputs and special mode entry commands, and it provides the interface for sensitivity adjustment. By making the existing touch interface multi-functional, the system achieves adaptability through sensitivity settings without requiring separate control mechanisms, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an embodiment for a refrigerator (1), a plurality of touch parts (12) may be manipulated to enter into a special mode, thereby preventing the refrigerator (1) from malfunctioning. The touch sensitivity adjustment of the refrigerator (1) due to the touch manipulation of the refrigerator (1) may be visualized.