Air-conditioning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-conditioning apparatuses that accept remote manipulation instructions from outside the home may perform unintended operations affecting users, as they do not distinguish between remote control device instructions and remote manipulation instructions, leading to unexpected changes.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with a receiving unit for remote control information, an adapter for external network information, and a controller that outputs different notifications via a sound or display unit to distinguish between remote control and remote manipulation instructions, allowing users to identify remote manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If remote manipulation instructions are accepted from outside home, then the air-conditioning apparatus can be controlled remotely, but users may experience unexpected operations that affect them without their knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a notification system that provides feedback to users when remote manipulation instructions are received. The notification unit outputs information indicating that a remote instruction has been received, ensuring users are aware of operation changes even when they are not present in the room. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining remote control capability while preventing information loss about operation changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control system into distinct components: a receiving unit for remote control information, an adapter for remote manipulation information, and a notification unit. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between different types of control inputs and appropriately notify users only for remote manipulation instructions, resolving the contradiction by providing targeted feedback without interfering with normal remote control functionality.
2Productivity
If remote manipulation instructions are accepted without notification, then the system operates smoothly, but users cannot identify when operations are changed remotely
Solution Approach 1:
The notification unit acts as an intermediary between the control system and the user. It receives information about remote manipulation instructions from the adapter and translates this into user-friendly notifications. This intermediary function allows the system to maintain efficient operation while simultaneously providing users with identification of remote instruction sources, resolving the contradiction between operational efficiency and information transparency.
3Loss of information
If the air-conditioning apparatus distinguishes between remote control and remote manipulation instructions, then user awareness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification unit serves multiple functions: it receives information from the adapter, determines whether an instruction is a remote manipulation instruction, and outputs appropriate notifications to users. By making this single component multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby resolving the contradiction between improving instruction source identification and minimizing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive remote control information transmitted from a remote control device, an adapter configured to receive remote information including operation details conveyed through an external network, an information outputting unit configured to output information when the adapter receives the remote information or when the receiving unit receives the remote control information, and a controller configured to control operations of the information outputting unit. The controller includes an information adjustment unit configured to cause the information outputting unit to output different information when the adapter receives the remote information and when the receiving unit receives the remote control information.