Kitchen and/or gastronomy device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Kitchen and catering appliances lack user-friendly and simple manufacturing solutions, particularly in integrating rotating units with touch displays for control, which complicates design and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A rotating unit with touch elements that can be attached to a touch display surface, allowing for user input via sweeping and pressing actions without wired connections, enabling easy integration and maintenance by using capacitive touch technology and flexible coverings for enhanced detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rotating unit with touch elements is integrated into the touch display surface, then user input detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating unit is integrated directly into the touch display surface, merging the rotation detection functionality with the existing touch display structure. The touch elements are incorporated into the touch display layer, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch display surface serves multiple functions: it acts as both the display interface and the detection interface for the rotating unit. The same touch display technology detects both touch inputs and rotational movements, eliminating the need for dedicated detection hardware and simplifying the device architecture.
2Reliability
If the rotating unit is firmly attached to the surface, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating unit is designed as a separate module that can be independently manufactured and then attached to the touch display surface. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured separately using standard processes, improving ease of manufacture while ensuring reliable attachment through dedicated mounting interfaces.
3Reliability
If wired connections are used for transmitting information from the rotating unit, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical wired connection system is replaced with a wireless communication system. The rotating unit transmits information to the control unit wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical cables and connectors. This reduces device complexity by removing wiring infrastructure while maintaining reliable data transmission through wireless protocols.
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 simplifies the integration of rotating units into kitchen appliances, enhancing user input detection accuracy and robustness, while maintaining a clean and user-friendly interface, allowing for precise control of heating and cooking functions.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one touch element is configured to actuate the capacitive touch display
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a kitchen and/or catering appliance (1), in particular a cooking appliance, comprising a control unit (7), a touch display (5) connected to the control unit (7), and a rotary unit (6) with a knob (12) rotatable by the user about a Z-axis for performing a user input (20), and with at least one touch element (15) arranged on the knob (12) for swiping over and thereby actuating the touch display (5); wherein the rotary unit (6) is attached to a surface (4) of the kitchen and/or catering appliance (1).