Transparent Oven Door Display With User-Tracked Augmented Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances lack an effective way to provide users with real-time, augmented views of cooking chamber contents without opening the door, and fail to adjust the user interface based on user position and movement, limiting convenience and cooking efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance with a transparent touchscreen display on the door, equipped with interior and exterior cameras, allows users to view and interact with the cooking chamber contents through an augmented image that adjusts based on user position and movement, enabling real-time monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a transparent touchscreen display is provided on the door, then users can view the cooking chamber without opening the door, but the display may reduce the viewing clarity or require additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the window and user interface into a single transparent touchscreen display assembly integrated into the door. This merging eliminates the need for separate window and control components, reducing overall complexity while maintaining the ability to view the cooking chamber and interact with the appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent touchscreen display serves multiple functions: it acts as a window for viewing the cooking chamber, a touchscreen interface for controlling appliance operations, and a display for showing cooking information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall door assembly.
2Loss of information
If cameras are added to capture cooking chamber and user position, then augmented imaging is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that receives signals from both the interior camera (monitoring cooking chamber) and exterior camera (tracking user position). The controller processes this information and generates augmented images displayed on the transparent touchscreen, eliminating the need for complex direct processing circuits and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates augmented copies of the cooking chamber view by combining real-time camera footage with graphical overlays showing cooking status, temperature, and timing information. This copying approach allows comprehensive information display without requiring direct modification of the physical monitoring system.
3Ease of operation
If the transparent display opacity is adjusted based on user position, then viewing comfort is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior camera continuously monitors user position and provides feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts the transparent display opacity accordingly. When a user approaches, the display becomes more opaque to reduce glare and improve visibility; when users move away, it becomes more transparent. This automatic feedback loop eliminates manual adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The display opacity transitions from a static property to a dynamic one that automatically adapts to user presence and position. The controller continuously modifies the opacity level based on real-time camera data, creating a responsive user interface that adjusts to viewing conditions without requiring manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.