Electronic Paper Remote Control Refresh Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Remote control devices for wet-area devices face challenges in reducing power consumption while providing effective notification of button functionality, particularly when buttons are pressed but their functions are not realized, leading to increased display region and power consumption in electronic paper displays.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a controller that performs a refresh operation in the electronic paper using stored electrical power, allowing the refresh to serve as a notification for ineffective button presses, thereby eliminating the need for additional display regions and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the display region of the electronic paper is increased to provide notification icons, then the notification function is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification functionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification function is merged with the existing refresh operation. When a button press is ineffective, the controller performs a refresh operation that causes the entire display to update, providing visual feedback to the user. This combines the notification purpose with the existing refresh mechanism, eliminating the need for separate notification icons or additional display regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The refresh operation serves multiple functions: it maintains the display quality of the electronic paper and simultaneously provides notification feedback to the user when button presses are ineffective. This multi-functionality allows a single operation to achieve both display maintenance and user feedback, avoiding the need for additional dedicated notification display elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Area of stationary object

If the display region of the electronic paper is increased, then the display capability is improved, but the electrical power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay regionVSAvoidelectrical power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously refreshing the entire display region or adding notification icons that would require continuous power, the system performs refresh operations selectively and only when necessary (when a button is pressed but the function cannot be executed). This partial action approach maintains display quality and provides notification only when needed, minimizing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Illumination intensity

If the refresh operation is performed frequently, then the display quality is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay brightnessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The refresh operation is performed periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. Specifically, the controller performs a refresh operation when a button is pressed but the corresponding function cannot be executed, providing visual feedback at these periodic intervals. This approach maintains adequate display quality while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous refreshing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach stabilizes the operation of electronic paper by minimizing power consumption and providing effective notifications without enlarging the display region, ensuring the remote control device operates efficiently with stored power.

Implementation Method 1

a generator (22) that generates electrical power by utilizing energy when the operation button (12) is pressed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10774514B2Remote control device

Publication Date: 2020.09.15 TOTO LTD

AI summary

A remote control device according to an embodiment includes an operation button, a generator, an electrical storage part, electronic paper, and a controller. The operation button is for remotely operating a wet-area device. The generator generates electrical power by utilizing energy when the operation button is pressed. The electrical storage part stores the electrical power generated by the generator; the electronic paper displays a setting state of the wet-area device. The controller controls a refresh and a display-switching of the electronic paper by utilizing the electrical power stored in the electrical storage part. The operation button is marked with information showing a function of the operation button. The controller performs the refresh in the case where the function is not realized when the operation button is pressed.