Rotary Control Knob with Rotating Push Magnet for Sanitary Fitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water-carrying sanitary fitting operating devices lack convenience and efficiency in operation, particularly with their control toggles, which do not provide significant application advantages.

Innovation Solution

An operating device with a base mount and a control knob featuring a rotary and fixed control panel, where the rotary control panel can be rotated and pressed against a spring force, utilizing a push magnet and magnetic field sensor for precise detection, and a 3D Hall sensor for rotation detection, ensuring accurate operation without interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional control toggle is used, then the device structure is simple, but the operational convenience and efficiency are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational convenienceVSAvoidcontrol structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control knob is divided into two distinct parts: a rotatable control panel for selecting functions or parameters, and a fixed control panel for stability and mounting. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall operational convenience without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control knob incorporates dynamic elements including rotational movement for selection, pressing motion for activation, and automatic return mechanism via spring force. These dynamic characteristics enhance operational convenience by providing tactile feedback and intuitive control while managing structural complexity through well-defined mechanical movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If magnetic field sensors and push magnets are added for precise detection, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing and rotation detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor and magnet system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical detection mechanisms with magnetic field sensors and push magnets. This substitution achieves high measurement precision for detecting pressing and rotation actions while actually reducing overall device complexity by eliminating intricate mechanical linkages, switches, or contact-based detection systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The push magnet acts as an intermediary between the user's pressing action and the magnetic field sensor, translating mechanical pressure into detectable magnetic field changes. This intermediary approach enables precise detection while keeping the sensor system simple and the overall structure manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the push magnet is fixed, then the magnetic field remains stable, but rotation detection accuracy is reduced due to interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation detection accuracyVSAvoidmagnetic field stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The push magnet is designed to rotate together with the rotary control panel, creating a dynamic magnetic field configuration that maintains stability relative to the rotating elements. This dynamic arrangement ensures the magnetic field remains stable during rotation while enabling accurate rotation detection through the consistent relative positioning of magnetic elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The push magnet's rotation is merged with the rotary control panel's movement, ensuring they rotate together as a unified system. This merging maintains the magnetic field's stability during rotation while enabling accurate rotation detection, as the relative positions of magnetic elements remain consistent throughout the rotation cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution enhances the operational convenience and accuracy of the water-carrying sanitary fitting by allowing precise detection of pressing and rotation, ensuring reliable and efficient control of water distribution and temperature settings.

Implementation Method 1

a spring, which presses the control knob with spring force from the pressed-in position into the basic position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

At least one magnetic field sensor, advantageously a Hall sensor, is arranged in the depressible part of the control knob

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 3

a magnetic field sensor, advantageously a Hall sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3705643B1Operating device for a water-bearing sanitary fitting
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3705643B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3705643B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3705643B1 patent drawingFigure 4a

AI summary

An operating device with a base bracket on which an operating knob is arranged, the knob having a rotary control element and a fixed control element rotatably relative to each other, the rotary control element being rotatable about an axis of rotation on the base bracket. The operating knob can be pressed into the base bracket along the axis of rotation. At least one pressure magnet is arranged in the base bracket, and at least one magnetic field sensor is arranged in the operating knob. An evaluation device for the magnetic field sensor detects whether it is approaching the pressure magnet when pressed. At least one magnetic element is arranged in the rotary control element. According to the invention, the pressure magnet is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation of the rotary control element of the operating knob, the pressure magnet interacting with the magnetic element in such a way that the pressure magnet rotates with the rotation of the magnetic element and the rotary control element of the operating knob.