Air Conditioner Parameter Adjustment Using Visual Curve Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users find it difficult to visually compare and adjust air conditioner parameters such as temperature and humidity quickly and accurately using traditional remote controllers, requiring frequent button presses for adjustments.

Innovation Solution

An adjusting method and device that utilize a parameter variation curve displayed on a terminal, allowing users to interact with the curve by touching and dragging to set target values and time points, generating adjusting instructions based on this interaction, and storing these settings for future use, including reboot scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional remote controller is used to set parameters, then the air conditioner can be controlled, but it is difficult for users to visually compare settings and requires frequent button presses making adjustment troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveParameter adjustment convenienceVSAvoidTime for parameter adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the traditional one-dimensional button press interface into a two-dimensional visual curve interface. Users can see the parameter variation curve displayed on a terminal screen, allowing visual comparison of settings across different time points. This dimensional change enables users to adjust parameters by touching and dragging points on the curve, significantly reducing the number of operations needed and making adjustment intuitive and efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If visual parameter adjustment is implemented through curve interaction, then adjustment speed and accuracy improve, but the system complexity increases due to curve display and interaction processing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveParameter adjustment speedVSAvoidSystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a terminal (such as a smartphone or computer) as an intermediary between the user and the air conditioner. The terminal handles the complex tasks of displaying the parameter variation curve, processing user touch inputs, calculating adjusted parameter values, and communicating with the air conditioner. This intermediary approach allows the air conditioner itself to remain relatively simple while providing sophisticated visual adjustment capabilities through the terminal's display and processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical button-pressing system with a digital graphical interface system. Instead of physically pressing buttons to increment or decrement parameters, users interact with a visual curve displayed on the terminal screen by touching and dragging points. The system automatically calculates the adjusted parameters based on the new position of the dragged point, substituting mechanical interaction with digital graphical interaction that is faster and more intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If parameter adjustments are stored for future use, then convenience is improved for repeated operations, but memory storage and data management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRepeated operation convenienceVSAvoidData management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a copy-and-reuse mechanism where adjusted parameter curves can be saved and reused in future operations. When users adjust the parameter variation curve, they can choose to save this adjusted curve as a template. In subsequent operations, users can load and reuse these saved curves, automatically applying the previously adjusted parameters without needing to manually readjust them. This copying approach provides significant convenience for repeated operations while keeping the data management relatively simple through basic save and load functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3553400B1Air conditioner adjusting method and device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 GD MIDEA AIR CONDITIONING EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3553400B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3553400B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3553400B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an adjusting method of an air conditioner, including the following operations: acquiring a time point corresponding to the adjusting instruction and a first target value corresponding to the adjusting instruction, under the condition that an adjusting instruction is detected triggered based on a first air conditioning parameter variation curve; and updating the first air conditioning parameter variation curve according to the time point and the first target value, to control the operation of the air conditioner according to the updated first air conditioning parameter variation curve. The present application further discloses an air conditioning device for an air conditioner and a computer readable storage medium.