Air Conditioner Controller Logic for Purification Module Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners with and without air purification modules often have poor user experience due to inconsistent display and control logic, leading to misunderstandings and unnecessary operations, and existing solutions either increase hardware costs or fail to address configuration flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system with a controller that uses an air purification identifier bit stored in EEPROM, allowing the controller to determine and display the presence of the air purification module based on a unique manufacturing number, enabling automatic control and configuration adjustments without additional hardware costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a feedback circuit is added to detect whether there is an air purification module, then the user experience is improved, but the hardware circuit costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a copy of the manufacturing number (stored in EEPROM) to represent the presence or absence of the air purification module. Instead of adding hardware detection circuits, the system reads the pre-stored manufacturing number and determines module configuration from this data copy, achieving detection functionality without additional hardware costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the air purification identifier bit extracted from manufacturing number) that mediates between the physical module presence and the control system. This intermediary allows the controller to determine module status through software processing of stored data rather than direct hardware detection, avoiding the need for additional feedback circuits.
2Ease of manufacture
If a set of control logic is adopted for air conditioners with and without air purification modules, then the development costs are saved, but the user experience deteriorates due to misunderstandings and unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control logic that adapts based on the detected air purification module status. The controller dynamically adjusts its behavior and display based on the air purification identifier bit, showing air purification-related controls only when the module is present. This dynamic adaptation maintains a single codebase while providing customized user experiences for different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different control interfaces and displays for different system configurations. The air purification control options are selectively displayed or hidden based on the specific hardware configuration, ensuring users only see relevant controls. This localized customization improves user experience without requiring separate control logic for entire systems.
3Loss of information
If the air purification identifier is always displayed on the controller, then the information is provided to users, but it causes misunderstanding and unnecessary cumbersome operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual state changes (analogous to color changes) to indicate the presence or absence of the air purification module. The air purification identifier bit determines whether air purification-related display elements are shown or hidden, providing clear visual feedback to users about available functions without causing confusion. This visual differentiation helps users understand system capabilities at a glance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
An air conditioner includes an indoor unit and a controller. The indoor unit includes a main control board, and the main control board is communicatively connected to the controller in a wired or wireless manner. The air conditioner performs control according to the following control method: setting an air purification identifier bit which is assigned with a value according to whether an air purification module is equipped, and writing the value into the main control board; when the air conditioner is turned on, the controller being in handshake communication with the main control board of the indoor unit, and the main control board sending the air purification identifier bit to the controller; and the controller performing control output according to the air purification identifier bit. The control method solves a display control problem of air conditioners with different configurations by means of software, where configuration condition is marked by setting an identifier bit for a functional module, and the controller performs corresponding output control according to the identifier bit, which improves user experience, and does not incur costs of the hardware in a case where hardware is not changed.