Floor Plan Dehumidifier Control Interface Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing remote control systems for managing home devices, such as dehumidifiers, require complex operation steps and lack clear visualization of device states and control regions, leading to potential errors and inefficient use of display space.

Innovation Solution

A method for a home control system that displays a floor plan with device icons, including a dehumidifier icon, allowing selection to reveal an operation screen outside the room region, enabling control and state display within the room, preventing erroneous operations and optimizing display space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operation screen is displayed within the room region on the floor plan, then the control interface is easily accessible, but it obscures the room display and causes potential operational errors

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of control interfaceVSAvoidAccuracy of device identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into distinct functional regions: a floor plan region for spatial context and an operation screen region for device control. This segmentation allows users to access control functions while maintaining visibility of the room layout, preventing confusion about which device is being controlled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A border or boundary element is introduced as an intermediary between the floor plan region and operation screen region. This border visually separates the two functional areas, ensuring that the operation screen does not obscure the room display while maintaining clear accessibility to control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the operation screen is displayed outside the room region, then the room display remains visible, but the control interface becomes less accessible

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccuracy of device identificationVSAvoidAccessibility of control interface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into distinct regions with the operation screen positioned in a separate area from the floor plan. This spatial segmentation ensures that control operations do not obscure the room context, maintaining reliability while preserving access to controls through dedicated interaction areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A border or boundary serves as an intermediary element that connects the floor plan region and operation screen region. This intermediary maintains visual separation while establishing clear spatial relationships, allowing users to easily associate controls with their corresponding devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If the operation screen overlaps with the room display, then screen real estate is maximized, but visual clarity and device state visibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDisplay space utilizationVSAvoidVisibility of room and device states

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into non-overlapping functional zones: a floor plan region for spatial information and an operation screen region for device control. This segmentation eliminates visual overlap while maintaining efficient use of available screen real estate through dedicated interaction areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The operation screen is positioned in a different spatial dimension or layer relative to the floor plan, rather than overlapping in the same plane. This dimensional separation allows both the room display and control interface to be fully visible simultaneously, preserving information clarity while maximizing display utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9912726B2Control method for information apparatus and computer readable recording medium that control dehumidifiers connected to a network

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

A control method causes a computer of an information apparatus to: display a display screen representing a floor plan on a display; display on the display screen device icons, the device icons including a dehumidifier icon; when selection of the dehumidifier icon is sensed, display on the display an operation screen for operating a dehumidifier corresponding to the dehumidifier icon, the operation screen being displayed on the display screen and outside of a region corresponding to a room where the selection of the dehumidifier icon is sensed; output a control command for operating the dehumidifier to a network based on an operation on the operation screen; and display an operation state of the dehumidifier in the region corresponding to the room where the selection of the dehumidifier icon is sensed based on the operation on the operation screen.