Acoustic Diagnostic Data Transmission in Home Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for fault diagnosis in home appliances are complex and lack a straightforward way to transmit diagnostic data images from appliances to servers for efficient analysis.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal and home appliance system that uses sound output and microphone functionality to transmit diagnostic data images to a server, where the home appliance outputs sound corresponding to diagnostic data, which is then collected and imaged by the mobile terminal for transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If acoustic communication is used to transmit diagnostic data from home appliance to mobile terminal, then data transmission is achieved without wired connection, but transmission reliability is affected by ambient noise and signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image generation unit that creates visual representations of diagnostic data, which are then transmitted through multiple channels (acoustic, wireless, or wired). This intermediary visual format serves as a reliable backup when acoustic transmission is compromised by noise, ensuring data integrity while maintaining wireless convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-generates image files containing diagnostic information before transmission. This preliminary preparation ensures that even if acoustic transmission fails due to ambient noise, the diagnostic data is already formatted and ready for alternative transmission methods, maintaining reliability without sacrificing ease of operation.
2Loss of time
If diagnostic data is transmitted in real-time during home appliance operation, then timely fault detection is achieved, but additional power consumption is required for continuous monitoring and communication
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring unit operates periodically rather than continuously, checking diagnostic data at predetermined intervals. This periodic monitoring reduces power consumption compared to continuous real-time monitoring, while still achieving timely fault detection by capturing critical changes in the home appliance's operational state.
Solution Approach 2:
The home appliance monitors its own diagnostic data using its existing operational sensors and controllers, eliminating the need for separate dedicated monitoring hardware that would consume additional power. The system leverages already-available operational data to detect faults, reducing overall power requirements while maintaining timely detection capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols are supported for data transmission between home appliance and mobile terminal, then system adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication unit is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple communication protocols (acoustic, wireless, wired) within a single integrated component. This universal design achieves high adaptability and compatibility with different mobile terminals without requiring separate dedicated communication modules for each protocol, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates the convenient and efficient transmission of diagnostic data images from home appliances to servers, enhancing user convenience and improving diagnostic data quality.
Implementation Method 1
a sound output unit configured to output sound corresponding to the diagnostic data
Implementation Method 2
a microphone configured to receive sound from an external source
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile terminal includes a communication unit, a microphone, a display, and a controller to transmit a request for transmitting diagnostic data to a home appliance through the communication unit, to extract diagnostic data of the home appliance from sound received from the home appliance through the microphone, and to transmit a diagnostic data image, acquired by imaging the diagnostic data, to a server. Thereby, the mobile terminal may conveniently transmit the diagnostic data image based on the diagnostic data of the home appliance to the server.