Method for displaying a control menu and control of a cooking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooking appliances require operators to navigate complex electronic interfaces, leading to longer learning curves and reduced operational efficiency in canteen kitchens.
Innovation Solution
A touchscreen-based method for displaying and controlling cooking appliances with multiple menu levels, featuring a first overview field for selecting cooking chamber areas, second for subdividing chambers, third for selecting cooking applications, and fourth for assigning applications to predefined chamber subdivisions, allowing for intuitive and rapid operation without delving into sub-menus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional multi-level menu interfaces are used for controlling cooking appliances, then the device can provide comprehensive cooking control functions, but the operator requires extensive training time and the operation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The touchscreen display is segmented into multiple parallel overview fields (first, second, third, and fourth overview fields), each presenting different aspects of cooking control (cooking chamber areas, temperature settings, cooking applications, and predefined configurations). This segmentation allows operators to access different control functions simultaneously without navigating through hierarchical sub-menus, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional hierarchical menu structure (requiring navigation through multiple menu levels) to a parallel overview field layout where all control options are accessible from a single main menu level. This dimensional reorganization of the interface allows operators to select any cooking parameter (area, temperature, application) directly without traversing through intermediate menu levels, significantly reducing the learning curve and operational complexity.
2Productivity
If comprehensive cooking control options are provided through multiple menu levels, then the device offers high flexibility, but the operational speed decreases and learning curve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface pre-organizes all cooking control options (cooking chamber subdivisions, temperature settings, cooking applications) into parallel overview fields that are immediately visible and accessible from the main menu level. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for operators to learn and navigate through hierarchical menu structures, allowing them to directly access and modify any cooking parameter without time loss, thereby increasing operational speed and reducing training requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for displaying at least one operating menu of a cooking appliance on a touchscreen and for controlling the cooking appliance provides that in the first menu level, a first overview field (38) of at least one cooking chamber defined by a flat heating surface onto which food can be placed or poured, with areas (42 - 52') of the cooking chamber that can be selected directly for separate activation in the first menu level, and, additionally, a second overview field (54) with various predefined cooking chamber subdivisions and/or a third overview field (68) with several different cooking applications (70 - 80) and/or a fourth overview field (82) with various predefined cooking chamber subdivisions with already assigned cooking applications are displayed simultaneously.