Touch Button Calibration for Cooking Apparatus Sensitivity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cooking apparatus touch buttons often malfunction due to inconsistent touch sensitivity, requiring disassembly and replacement, which is inconvenient and costly, and can lead to breakage of other hardware components.

Innovation Solution

A cooking apparatus with a processor that enters a calibration mode to adjust the threshold value for touch buttons based on signal strength, allowing for proper identification of touch inputs and reducing the need for hardware replacement by adjusting the sensitivity settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the threshold value for touch button detection is set too high, then false touches are reduced, but legitimate touch inputs may not be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch detection accuracyVSAvoidtouch sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the threshold value parameter based on signal strength characteristics. By changing the threshold parameter adaptively rather than using a fixed value, the system achieves both reliable detection (by setting appropriate thresholds) and ease of operation (by maintaining sensitivity through calibration).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs calibration by receiving test inputs and using the signal strength feedback to determine appropriate threshold values. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn the actual touch characteristics and adjust thresholds accordingly, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If hardware replacement is performed to fix touch button malfunction, then reliability is improved, but cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch button functionalityVSAvoidrepair process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical hardware replacement approach with a software-based calibration process. Instead of physically replacing touch buttons when they malfunction, the system adjusts threshold values through calibration modes, eliminating the need for disassembly and hardware replacement while maintaining reliability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-diagnosis and self-calibration through calibration modes that can be activated by users. This allows the touch button system to service itself by adjusting its own parameters without requiring external repair intervention, reducing repair complexity while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If disassembly is performed to diagnose touch button issues, then accurate diagnosis is achieved, but risk of additional damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch button diagnosis accuracyVSAvoidhardware breakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a software intermediary (calibration mode and threshold adjustment mechanism) between the user and the hardware. This intermediary allows diagnosis and adjustment of touch button functionality without direct physical manipulation of the hardware, eliminating the risk of additional damage while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3726143B1Cooking apparatus and controlling method thereof
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3726143B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3726143B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3726143B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes an input panel comprising a plurality of touch buttons, and a processor configured to enter a calibration mode according to a predetermined event, receive a signal corresponding to a test input for a first touch button among the plurality of touch buttons from the input panel in the calibration mode, and adjust a threshold value for identifying whether the first touch button was touched based on the strength of the received signal.