Touch-Control Blender Housing to Prevent Button Damage and Ingress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blenders with physical push-button inputs are prone to accidental activation, leading to component damage and malfunction due to unintentional force application and food/liquid leakage, which can damage electrical components.

Innovation Solution

A blender design featuring a touch input portion integrated with the outer case, eliminating the need for physical push-buttons and gaps, allowing for precise motor operation time control based on user touch inputs, thereby preventing component damage and improving reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a physical push-button is used for input, then the user can easily manipulate the blender, but the push-button may be pressed unintentionally causing component damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manipulationVSAvoidcomponent damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical push-button system with a capacitive touch sensor system. The touch input portion detects user input through electrical field changes rather than mechanical contact, eliminating the risk of accidental activation from physical pressure while maintaining ease of use through touch gestures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gap between the touch input portion and the outer case as an intermediary protective layer. This gap prevents direct transmission of external forces to internal components while still allowing touch detection, thus protecting against accidental damage from drops or impacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a physical push-button protrudes from the outer case, then the button is easily accessible, but gaps are formed allowing food and liquid to enter and damage electrical components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton accessibilityVSAvoidfood and liquid ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the protruding mechanical button with a flush-mounted capacitive touch sensor integrated into the outer case surface. This eliminates gaps and openings that could allow food and liquid to penetrate to electrical components, while the touch sensor remains fully accessible through the smooth surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the touch input portion with the outer case into a single integrated structure. The touch sensor is embedded within the case surface rather than being a separate protruding component, creating a seamless design that prevents contamination pathways while maintaining input functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the touch input portion is integrated with the outer case, then gaps are eliminated preventing food ingress, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from food ingressVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The outer case serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection, defines the blender's appearance, and integrates the touch input functionality. By making the case multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate protective structures, thereby limiting the increase in complexity while achieving reliable protection against food ingress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 touch input system enhances user convenience by allowing customizable motor operation times and prevents damage from external forces and food/liquid ingress, ensuring reliable and efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

a touch sensor disposed on an inner lower surface of the outer case at a position corresponding to the position of the touch input portion and configured to detect touch manipulation input to the touch input portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive touch sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11896162B2Blender

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A blender includes a jar including a blade module to cut an object, a main body to receive the jar and including a motor to rotate the blade module, and a controller disposed inside the main body and configured to operate the motor. The main body further includes an outer case and forming an outer structure of the main body. The outer case includes a touch input portion on an outer surface of the outer case. A touch sensor is disposed on an inner surface of the outer case at a position corresponding to the touch input portion to detect a touch input on the touch input portion. The controller is configured to determine an operation time period of the motor based on the touch input detected by the touch sensor.