Touchscreen Control Circuit for Hair Grooming Appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Many electric hair grooming appliances have mechanical controls that are difficult for users with arthritis and other physical ailments to use, and the bulkiness of these controls limits the functions and operations that can be controlled by the user.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a touchscreen into electric hair grooming appliances to allow users to input commands and control the operation of the devices, with the touchscreen sending command signals to a control circuit to facilitate communication and control of the device's operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mechanical controls (buttons and knobs) are used in electric hair grooming appliances, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but the ease of operation deteriorates for users with arthritis and physical ailments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical controls (buttons and knobs) with a touchscreen display that receives user inputs through touch gestures. This substitution eliminates the need for physical pressing or turning mechanisms, making the device accessible to users with arthritis and hand mobility issues while maintaining control functionality through software-based interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touchscreen acts as an intermediary between the user and the control circuit. Instead of direct mechanical interaction with control elements, users interact with the touchscreen interface which then communicates control signals to the underlying circuitry, providing a more intuitive and accessible control method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical controls are used in electric hair grooming appliances, then the device structure remains simple, but the quantity of functions that can be controlled deteriorates due to bulkiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of functionsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touchscreen interface provides a universal control mechanism that can manage multiple functions and operations within the hair grooming appliance. Through software menus and icons, the touchscreen can control various parameters such as temperature, speed, and operational modes without requiring separate physical controls for each function, thereby increasing versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional mechanical controls (buttons and knobs that require linear pressing or rotational movement) to a two-dimensional touchscreen interface. This dimensional change allows for more control elements to be packed into a smaller space, enabling multiple functions to be accessed simultaneously without increasing the physical bulk of the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If touchscreen is implemented in electric hair grooming appliances, then the ease of operation and quantity of functions improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUSRE47784E1Electric hair grooming appliance including touchscreen

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 SPECTRUM BRANDS INC

AI summary

An electric hair grooming appliance is configured to have one or more operations to facilitate grooming of hair. The electric hair grooming appliance includes a control circuit, and a touchscreen for receiving one or more inputs from a user and to facilitate communication between the user and the control circuit. The touchscreen is configured to send one or more command signals to the control circuit in response to receiving the one or more inputs from the user. The control circuit is configured to control one or more operations of the electric hair grooming appliance in response to receiving one or more of the command signals.