Multi-Outlet Air Conditioner Flap Control With Simultaneous Display
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioners with multiple outlets lack a user-friendly mechanism to simultaneously display and control the settings of multiple flaps, making it difficult for users to confirm and adjust the wind directions of each outlet individually.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner with a controller that displays information for all outlets and flaps simultaneously, featuring sign sections near or on the outlets/flaps for identification and an operation section for adjusting flap positions, allowing users to visually confirm and change settings efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple outlets and flaps are individually controlled, then the control precision and wind direction adjustment capability are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller segments the display into individual outlet entries, each showing specific flap position information. This segmentation allows precise tracking of each outlet's wind direction settings while maintaining an organized, manageable interface that doesn't overwhelm the user with complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a visual display dimension that presents flap position information in a structured list format. This additional informational dimension allows users to comprehend multiple outlet settings simultaneously without increasing physical controller complexity, resolving the contradiction between precise control and ease of operation.
2Loss of information
If all outlet and flap settings are displayed simultaneously, then the information completeness and user awareness are improved, but the display complexity and interface difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display segments information by outlet, with each outlet occupying a distinct entry in the list. This segmentation presents complete settings information in a structured, readable format that maintains usability by organizing data logically rather than presenting it as an undifferentiated mass.
Solution Approach 2:
Each display entry has localized quality characteristics tailored to show relevant information for that specific outlet. This allows the interface to maintain simplicity at the local level while achieving completeness at the global level, as each outlet's information is presented clearly and concisely.
3Ease of operation
If sign sections are provided for each outlet and flap, then the identification accuracy and ease of operation are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and device cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual representations (display entries) as copies of the physical outlets and flaps. These digital copies provide identification and control information without requiring physical sign sections on each component, thereby maintaining ease of operation while simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller display acts as an intermediary between the user and the physical outlets/flaps. It provides identification and control information that would otherwise require physical signage, eliminating the need for manufacturing complex sign sections while maintaining user-friendly operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A controller configured so that pieces of information relating to each outlet and each flap which are currently set can be collectively visible on the controller. A controller for an indoor unit provided with flaps having substantially the same shape, the flap being respectively disposed at the outlets and capable of individually changing the discharge directions of air-conditioning air. The controller is provided with a display section for simultaneously displaying information relating to an outlet selected out of the outlets and/or information relating to a flap selected out of the flaps.