Block-Based Actuator and Heater Control with Rule-Enforced Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional home appliance control systems require pre-developed control programs by manufacturers, making it difficult to customize and update programs to meet user-specific needs, and pose safety risks due to lack of safety assurance for third-party developed applications.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a controller that uses function blocks to define applications, consults rules for safe execution, and modifies applications to ensure safe operation of actuators and heaters, allowing for wide customization and safety guarantees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control programs are pre-developed and stored in the product by the manufacturer, then product safety can be ensured, but it becomes difficult to customize and update programs to meet user-specific needs
Solution Approach 1:
The control program is segmented into multiple blocks that can be independently selected and combined. Each block represents a functional unit that can be safely executed or prohibited based on rules, allowing customization while maintaining safety through modular structure
Solution Approach 2:
A rule-based intermediary system is introduced between the application blocks and the actuator/heater execution. This intermediary checks and enforces safety rules, allowing third-party developed applications to run while preventing unsafe operations through automated rule verification
2Reliability
If control programs are pre-developed and stored in the product by the manufacturer, then safety can be assured, but development time and resources increase for creating diverse control programs
Solution Approach 1:
Safety rules are predetermined and stored in advance in the controller. These rules are prepared beforehand to automatically check and prohibit unsafe block combinations, eliminating the need for manual safety verification during program development and reducing development time
Solution Approach 2:
The block-based control program structure with rule enforcement serves multiple functions: it enables customization by users, ensures safety through automated rule checking, and reduces development time by providing a reusable framework. This universal approach handles diverse application requirements without requiring separate safety verification processes
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes at least one of an actuator or a heater, and a controller that controls the at least one of the actuator or the heater. The controller: obtains an application defined by a plurality of blocks that drive the at least one of the actuator or the heater; consults a rule that when one block included in two or more given blocks is executed, prohibits at least one of remaining blocks included in the two or more given blocks from not being executed, and modifies the application when the rule applies to a plurality of blocks included in the application; and drives the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application.