Air-conditioner control interface device, air conditioner, and air-conditioner control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioner control systems face challenges with limited input/output capabilities, increased manufacturing costs, and poor scalability due to fixed input/output contents, requiring multiple external-device output units and switches, which restricts flexibility and compatibility with various user needs.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioner control interface device that includes an interface controller, external-device-information input/output unit, air-conditioner-information input/output unit, and an external-recording-medium input/output unit, allowing for customizable interface control information storage and interpretation, enabling flexible information transmission and reception without the need for multiple output units or switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple external-device output units and switches are provided to increase information output capability, then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal output unit that can output various types of information (operation information, control information, diagnostic information, etc.) to multiple types of external devices (remote controllers, personal computers, card keys, coin timers, centralized controllers) through a single interface. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple dedicated output units and switches, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high adaptability and versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple external-device output units and switches are provided to increase information output capability, then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing a single universal output unit that can handle multiple information types and external device connections, the patent reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This eliminates the need for multiple switches and jumpers, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining the capability to support diverse external devices and information types.
3Ease of manufacture
If input/output contents are fixed to suppress board size and manufacturing cost, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability and versatility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability to the output unit, allowing the information output contents to be changed based on the connected external device type and user needs. The system can dynamically select and output appropriate information types (operation information, control information, diagnostic information, etc.) without requiring physical hardware changes, thereby maintaining small board size and low manufacturing cost while achieving high adaptability and customization capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If software or hardware changes are made to the control board whenever different information is input or output, then the adaptability and versatility are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic information selection mechanism that allows the control board to flexibly configure information input/output based on the connected external device without requiring physical hardware changes. The system can dynamically adjust which information types are output (operation information, control information, diagnostic information, etc.) through software control, thereby achieving high adaptability while maintaining simple and consistent hardware configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air-conditioner control interface device that connects an air conditioner to an external device, including: an air-conditioner-information input/output unit (4) that transmits or receives information to or from the air conditioner; an external-device-information input/output unit (3) that transmits or receives information to or from the external device; an interface-control-information input/output unit (5; 12; 16) that acquires interface control information (7), in which definitions of the information transmitted or received between the external device and the air conditioner and methods of transmitting or receiving the information, are described; and an interface controller (2) that controls the external-device-information input/output unit (3) and the air-conditioner-information input/output unit (4) to transmit or receive information based on the interface control information (7).