Control device for a domestic appliance, domestic appliance and method for operating two control units in a domestic appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances with multiple control units face challenges in efficiently managing electrical energy consumption and resetting subordinate control units without significant effort, especially when errors occur.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a unidirectional communication channel between first and second control units, where the first control unit activates or deactivates the second unit by transmitting communication signals, allowing for energy savings and effortless resetting by interrupting or resuming communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the second control unit remains continuously active to ensure immediate response to communication signals, then the response time is reduced, but electrical energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second control unit is pre-configured with activation capability but remains in a deactivated state until a communication signal from the first control unit triggers its activation. This preliminary preparation allows immediate response when needed while avoiding continuous energy consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit operates in periodic cycles of activation and deactivation based on communication signals. Instead of continuous operation, it activates only during communication events and deactivates during idle periods, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining responsiveness during active periods.
2Reliability
If the first control unit continuously monitors the communication channel to detect transmission status, then detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The activation device automatically detects communication signals on the communication channel without requiring continuous active monitoring by the first control unit. The system uses the presence or absence of communication signals itself to trigger activation or deactivation, eliminating the need for separate continuous monitoring processes and reducing energy consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the second control unit is deactivated during idle periods to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to activation/deactivation control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The activation device combines the functions of signal detection, activation decision-making, and control unit activation into a single integrated mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate continuous monitoring processes and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining energy-saving benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication channel serves multiple functions: it is both the medium for data transmission and the trigger mechanism for activation. The presence of communication signals on this channel simultaneously conveys information and activates the control unit, eliminating the need for separate activation signaling and reducing system complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the first control unit can reset the second control unit by interrupting communication signals, then resetting capability is improved, but communication reliability may be affected by signal interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The reset function is extracted as a separate operational mode from normal communication. The first control unit can intentionally interrupt communication signals specifically for reset purposes, distinguishing this intentional interruption from communication errors. This extraction allows reliable resetting capability while maintaining communication reliability during normal operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A solution is to be shown as to how electrical energy can be saved on the one hand in a control device (2) with two microcontrollers (3, 4) in a household appliance (1) and on the other hand one microcontroller (3) can control the other microcontroller (4 ) can reset. An activation device (21) is provided in a control device (2) according to the invention, which checks a communication channel (6) between the microcontrollers (3, 4) to determine whether the first microcontroller (3) sends communication signals (9) to the second microcontroller (4) sends or not. After recognizing the communication signals (9), the activation device (21) causes the second microcontroller (4) to be activated. A household appliance (1) is also provided, as is a method for operating at least two microcontrollers (3, 4) in a household appliance (1).