Domestic appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances require multiple, device-specific control units and input devices, leading to increased development and production costs, as well as complexity in maintenance and repair.
Innovation Solution
A unified input device with a programmable control device that can be configured for various household appliances, allowing identical hardware to operate different appliance types through software-specific programs, reducing the need for multiple device-specific components and enabling easy maintenance and repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple device-specific control units are used for different household appliances, then each appliance can be precisely controlled, but development and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal input device that can control multiple different household appliances through a single standardized interface. The control device contains a program memory with device-specific programs that enable the same hardware to adapt to different appliance types (oven, hob, extractor hood, etc.), eliminating the need for separate control units for each appliance while maintaining precise control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device uses programmable parameters to adapt its behavior to different appliance types. By storing multiple device-specific programs in memory and selecting the appropriate program based on the connected appliance, the system changes its operational parameters to match the specific requirements of each device, achieving precise control without hardware customization.
2Reliability
If multiple device-specific control units are used for different household appliances, then each appliance can be precisely controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal input device that can control multiple different household appliances through a single standardized interface. The control device contains a program memory with device-specific programs that enable the same hardware to adapt to different appliance types (oven, hob, extractor hood, etc.), eliminating the need for separate control units for each appliance while maintaining precise control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into a universal hardware platform and separate software programs for different device types. This segmentation allows the common control functions to be implemented once in the universal input device, while device-specific behaviors are handled by loading appropriate programs from memory, reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If device-specific control units are used for each household appliance, then precise control is achieved, but maintenance and repair become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal input device that can control multiple different household appliances through a single standardized interface. The control device contains a program memory with device-specific programs that enable the same hardware to adapt to different appliance types (oven, hob, extractor hood, etc.), eliminating the need for separate control units for each appliance while maintaining precise control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having unique control units for each appliance, the system uses copies of the same universal control hardware that can be programmed to simulate different device-specific control behaviors. This allows maintenance personnel to work with a single type of control unit across all appliances, significantly easing repair and maintenance operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic appliance (1), having at least one electrically actuated device-type-specific device component (4a-4f) which is designed to execute an operating function which is characteristic of the type of domestic appliance (1), having a control apparatus (5a-5f) which is designed to actuate the device-type-specific device component (4a-4f), and having an input apparatus (2) which is electrically connected to the control apparatus (5a-5f) and which has a display means (6, 6a), at least one programmable input means (7a-7e) and also at least one switch (9a, 9b) with which electrical contact is made in order to switch a main function of the domestic appliance (1), which main function is characteristic of at least two different types of domestic appliances, and the input apparatus (2) further has a programmable control device (10) in which at least two programmes, which are differently designed to actuate a corresponding number of different types of domestic appliances (1), are stored, said programmes each being designed for device-type-specific communication between the at least one programmable input means (2) and the control apparatus (5a-5f), and which is designed to activate only that programme which corresponds to the type of domestic appliance (1) which is connected to the input apparatus (2) on the basis of the type of that domestic appliance (1) to the control apparatus (5a-5f) of which the input apparatus (2) is connected.