Systems and methods for display case diagnostics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diagnostic systems for display cases face challenges in efficiently identifying and prioritizing faults, leading to difficulties in troubleshooting, as critical alarms may go unnoticed while non-critical alerts receive attention.

Innovation Solution

A diagnostics system that includes a remote controller capable of receiving data from local controllers, identifying events, assigning ranks based on persistence time, and providing alerts and troubleshooting strategies, with features like visual and aural notifications for critical events, and email notifications to owners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a diagnostics system monitors all events in display cases, then comprehensive fault detection is achieved, but critical alarms may be lost among non-critical alerts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidcritical alarm visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments events into different priority levels (critical, high, medium, low) and processes them through different notification pathways. Critical events trigger immediate alerts while lower priority events are logged and reviewed later, preventing critical alarms from being lost among non-critical alerts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality attributes to different events based on their severity. Critical events receive prominent notification methods (alarms, immediate notifications) while non-critical events receive standard logging and delayed notifications, ensuring each event type receives appropriate attention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If technicians address all alerts equally, then thorough troubleshooting is performed, but time is wasted on non-critical issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetroubleshooting completenessVSAvoidtechnician troubleshooting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary prioritization of events before technician intervention. By pre-classifying events into priority levels and preparing appropriate response protocols in advance, the system guides technicians to address critical issues first, reducing time spent on non-critical problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback loops where event priorities are continuously updated based on persistence time and impact analysis. This feedback mechanism helps technicians understand which issues require immediate attention and which can be addressed later, optimizing their troubleshooting workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If the system assigns fixed ranks to events, then consistent prioritization is achieved, but persistent non-critical events may be underestimated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevent ranking consistencyVSAvoidpriority assessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes event rankings dynamic by adjusting priorities based on how long events persist. Non-critical events that continue beyond a threshold time automatically have their priority elevated, ensuring that persistent issues receive appropriate attention even if they initially appeared minor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the priority parameter of events based on multiple factors including persistence time, impact on operations, and frequency of occurrence. This multi-parameter approach allows the system to maintain consistency while adapting to changing conditions and preventing underestimation of persistent non-critical events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12029331B2Systems and methods for display case diagnostics
Publication Date: 2024.07.09 HILLPHOENIX INC
  • US12029331B2 patent drawing
  • US12029331B2 patent drawing
  • US12029331B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A diagnostics system for a display case includes a display case, a display device, and a remote controller, according to some embodiments. The display case includes a local controller, a refrigeration apparatus, and multiple sensors. The remote controller includes a processing circuit configured to receive diagnostics data from the local controller of the display case, according to some embodiments. The processing circuit is configured to identify one or more events using the diagnostics data and assign a rank to each of the one or more events. The processing circuit is configured to promote the rank of each of the one or more events based on an amount of time that each of the one or more events persists. The processing circuit is configured to operate the display device to notify a user regarding the one or more events and the rank of each event.