Air Conditioner Controller Display Layout for Clear Setting Meaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning controllers display numeric data and function content together, making it difficult for users to distinguish between time-based settings, requiring reference to instruction manuals for clarification.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning controller with a storage component for operation explanation data, relationship explanation data, and setting display layout data, which displays numeric data alongside operation and relationship explanations in separate regions, allowing users to understand function operations and settings without manual reference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If numeric data and function content are displayed together on one screen, then the display is compact and simple, but the user cannot distinguish whether the air conditioner will cut off after a time period or at a specific time
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen is segmented into distinct regions: a first display region for numeric data and a second display region for function explanations. This segmentation allows numeric values and their corresponding function meanings to be displayed separately, enabling users to understand whether a setting refers to a time period or specific time without complicating the overall display structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Function explanation data act as an intermediary element between numeric data and user understanding. By displaying explanations such as 'Cut Off in minutes' or 'Cut Off at time' in the second display region, the system mediates the meaning of numeric values, eliminating ambiguity without requiring additional complexity in the display hardware or interface.
2Device complexity
If only numeric data are displayed, then the display is simple, but users must refer to instruction manuals to understand the detailed meaning of settings
Solution Approach 1:
The display system provides self-service by automatically showing function explanation data alongside numeric data. Users can understand the meaning of settings directly from the display without needing to consult external instruction manuals. The system serves itself by embedding necessary explanatory information within the display interface.
Solution Approach 2:
Function explanation data are prepared and displayed in advance alongside numeric data before users need to understand them. This preliminary provision of information ensures that users immediately grasp the meaning of settings during operation, eliminating the need for subsequent reference to manuals.
3Loss of information
If multiple setting regions are displayed simultaneously, then users can understand which regions have been configured, but the display layout becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple setting regions are segmented and displayed simultaneously on the screen, with each region showing numeric data and its corresponding function explanation. This segmentation allows users to see which regions have been configured and which remain unconfigured, providing clear configuration status without requiring complex layout changes.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
To provide an air conditioning controller with which it is possible to understand the relationship between operations of functions and set values by just display content. A database (73) stores operation explanation data (D42a) that explain operations of functions executed in an air conditioner (100), relationship explanation data (D42b) that explain relationships between the explanations of the operations of the functions and values that are set, and setting display layout data (D42). An LCD (75) causes numeric data received from an arrow key (11) to be displayed in a setting display region (D422) while causing the operation explanation data (D42a) and the relationship explanation data (D42b) to be displayed in an explanation display region (D421) in accordance with the setting display layout data (D42).