System for assisting the use of an electrodomestic appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pressure cooker systems face challenges in providing reliable user assistance, especially when wireless communication between the portable terminal and the appliance is interrupted, leading to potential errors and safety risks due to lack of synchronization with the cooking cycle.

Innovation Solution

A system with a transmitter module embedded in the pressure cooker that detects wireless connection breaks and switches to a degraded mode, allowing autonomous data collection and communication of operation information to the user, ensuring continued assistance even during disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless connection is used between the pressure cooker and portable terminal for user assistance, then ease of operation and information delivery are improved, but reliability deteriorates when connection is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser assistanceVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter module dynamically switches between two operational modes: normal mode (when wireless connection is active) and degraded mode (when connection is interrupted). This dynamic adaptation ensures the system maintains reliability across varying connection conditions while preserving ease of operation during normal use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes its operational parameters based on connection status. In normal mode, it transmits data wirelessly to the portable terminal for comprehensive user assistance. In degraded mode, it autonomously controls the pressure cooking process using pre-programmed parameters, ensuring safe operation even without wireless communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If the system relies on continuous wireless communication for cooking assistance, then user guidance accuracy is improved, but safety risks increase when communication is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking cycle synchronizationVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter module is equipped with pre-programmed cooking instructions and safety parameters stored in its memory before operation begins. This beforehand preparation ensures that even if wireless communication is interrupted, the module can autonomously execute safe cooking procedures, cushioning against potential safety risks from communication loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the wireless connection status and provides feedback to determine operational mode. When connection is established, it receives real-time cooking cycle data from the portable terminal. When connection is lost, the feedback mechanism triggers autonomous operation mode, ensuring continuous safety monitoring and appropriate response to cooking conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the transmitter module operates autonomously without wireless connection, then reliability is improved during disruptions, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of real-time assistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation continuityVSAvoidreal-time guidance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter module is pre-configured with complete cooking instructions, timing sequences, and safety parameters before the cooking cycle begins. This preliminary action enables the module to autonomously execute the full cooking process without real-time wireless assistance, maintaining reliability during disruptions while having all necessary operational information prepared in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3169199B1System for assisting the use of an electrodomestic appliance
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 SEB SA
  • EP3169199B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

System for assisting the use of an electrodomestic appliance (1) by means of an application executed by an independent computer terminal (4) available to a user, said system comprising an emitter module (5) as well as telecommunication means establishing a wireless connection between said application and said emitter module (5), a control means, said emitter module (5) being designed to operate according to at least: a normal mode, which is active as long as said control means does not detect any break in said wireless connection, and according to which the emitter module (5) monitors and/or gathers and/or generates a first set of data relating to the operation of the electrodomestic appliance (1) which is transmitted in part or in full to the application; and a degraded mode according to which the emitter module (5) monitors and/or gathers and/or generates a second set of data relating to the operation of the electrodomestic appliance (1). Household electrodomestic appliances.