Touch Panel Operation Device for Simultaneous Power and Time Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users find it difficult to perform power settings and time settings for oven and microwave functions in household appliances using conventional touch panel display devices, requiring a complex operation and multiple steps.

Innovation Solution

A touch-based operation device with a graphical user interface (GUI) on a full-dot liquid crystal display and capacitance type touch panel, allowing users to set power and time settings by dragging or touching an intersection point on an orthogonal coordinate system, reducing the number of operations needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional touch panel display devices are used for power and time settings, then the device provides basic operation functionality, but the operation becomes complex and requires multiple steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power setting and time setting into a single integrated operation. By displaying power and time values on an orthogonal coordinate system and accepting simultaneous input through one touch operation, the device merges two separate setting operations into one unified action, directly reducing operation complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension to the setting operation by using an orthogonal coordinate system where power and time are represented as coordinates. This dimensional transformation allows users to set both parameters by positioning a single point in 2D space rather than performing sequential selections, simplifying the interaction model

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If conventional sequential setting operations are used, then each parameter can be set individually, but the number of operations increases and user efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetting efficiencyVSAvoidsetting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges power setting and time setting into a single simultaneous input operation. The touch panel accepts both parameters at once through one coordinate positioning action, eliminating the sequential steps required in conventional devices and directly improving setting efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares the orthogonal coordinate system display in advance, showing both power and time values ready for simultaneous selection. This preliminary arrangement of the interface allows users to directly input both parameters in one operation without navigating through multiple screens or menus, reducing the time required for settings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3062206B1Operation device
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3062206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3062206B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3062206B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation device is provided with a GUI display unit (304) which displays a power setting value for defining an operation power of a household appliance, and a time setting value for defining an operation time of the household appliance on an orthogonal coordinate system; and a touch operation unit (301) which simultaneously accepts an input of the power setting value and an input of the time setting value to be displayed on the GUI display unit (304) by an operation of letting a predetermined object touch the GUI display unit (304).