Wraparound Door User Interface for Multi-Angle Appliance Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances with user interfaces mounted on doors face difficulties in being read and operated from certain directions due to their positioning, limiting accessibility and requiring multiple parts for assembly.
Innovation Solution
A user interface that extends partially or completely around the edge of a household appliance's door, allowing operation from multiple directions and reducing the number of parts needed by integrating input and output functions on a single, curved surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user interface is mounted on the front or upper narrow side of the door, then it can be read and operated from one direction, but it becomes difficult or impossible to read and operate from the other direction
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is extended from a single-plane mounting to a multi-dimensional configuration that wraps around the edge of the door. This allows the interface to be accessed from both the front and upper narrow side directions simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between directional accessibility and multi-directional operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface is divided into multiple segments or surfaces that are arranged at different orientations. One surface faces the front direction while another surface faces the upper narrow side, allowing each segment to be optimally positioned for its specific viewing direction while collectively providing multi-directional accessibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two separate flat user interfaces are used on opposite surfaces of the edge, then each surface can be operated independently, but the number of parts and assembly outlay increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using two completely separate user interface assemblies, the invention merges them into a single integrated user interface structure that extends around the edge. This unified structure shares common components such as the display backend, control circuitry, and housing, thereby reducing the total number of parts and simplifying assembly while still providing independent operation on both surfaces.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance (1) with at least one user interface (13) for inputting and/or outputting information and an edge (14, 14), the at least one user interface (13) extending partially or completely around the edge ( 14, 14) around.