Systems and methods for controlling an appliance using another appliance communicatively coupled thereto
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertically stacked appliances present challenges in controlling the top appliance due to inaccessible controls, particularly for users of below average height, and similarly, some appliance systems have controls that are difficult to reach or access.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a first appliance with a user interface and controller can receive user inputs to control the operational components of a second appliance, allowing for communication of control commands to operate the second appliance, enabling control of one appliance using the controls of another, even if they are stacked or difficult to access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If appliances are vertically stacked to save space, then space utilization is improved, but control accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs wireless communication technology as an intermediary to transmit control signals between the bottom appliance (easier to access) and the top appliance (harder to access). The bottom appliance's controller receives user inputs and relays control commands to the top appliance's operational components, eliminating the need for direct physical access to the top appliance's controls while maintaining full functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If controls are located at the top of the unit for the top appliance, then control functionality is improved, but user accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control input function from the top appliance's physical interface and relocates it to the bottom appliance's user interface. The bottom appliance's controller is configured to receive control inputs that can activate operational components of the top appliance, effectively separating the control input location from the appliance being controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom appliance's controller is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the control interface for the bottom appliance itself and as the remote control interface for the top appliance. This universal controller can process and transmit various control commands to operate different components of the stacked appliance system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling one appliance using another appliance communicatively coupled thereto are provided. In one example aspect, a system includes a first appliance and a second appliance communicatively coupled thereto. The first appliance includes features that allow a user to control the first appliance and the second appliance from a single user interface.