Heat Pump Remote Control with Glove-Friendly Function Keys
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control devices for heat pump systems are difficult to operate while wearing gloves, and their design is limited by the combination of touch screens and physical keys, leading to decreased work efficiency and increased size.
Innovation Solution
A remote control device with a touch screen and separate physical keys, where the physical keys are assigned common functions that can be used to switch the operating state of the heat pump system, allowing for operation without using the touch screen, thus improving operability, compactness, and design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both touch screen and physical keys are provided, then the device offers multiple operating methods, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The physical keys are strategically positioned in specific locations on the remote control device, such as along the side edges or in concentrated groups. This local placement provides easy access to essential functions without requiring the keys to be distributed throughout the device, thereby maintaining compact dimensions while offering multiple operating methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The device design allows for dynamic adaptation between touch screen and physical key usage based on operational needs. The physical keys provide quick access to common functions without requiring the device to be large, while the touch screen handles more complex operations, creating a dynamic operating system that maintains versatility without increasing size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of physical keys is increased to provide all functions, then complete functionality is achieved, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The physical keys are designed to provide universal access to common functions that are frequently used regardless of the specific operating mode. By concentrating these essential functions on a limited number of physical keys, the device achieves complete functionality without requiring a large number of keys, thus reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen displays virtual representations of the physical key functions, allowing users to access additional functions through the touch interface when needed. This copying approach enables complete function coverage without requiring physical keys for every single function, thereby reducing the number of physical keys needed while maintaining full functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote control device of a heat pump system is useable to switch an operating state of the heat pump system. The remote control device includes a touch screen and physical keys provided separately from the touch screen. The touch screen is configured and arranged to display a plurality of touch keys displayed by words, graphics, or symbols associated separately with any of a plurality of set items. The physical keys include at least two function keys. A number of the function keys is fewer than a number of the touch keys. The function keys are assigned a common function utilized when the operating state is switched. The remote control device further includes a common function setting part configured and arranged to assign the common functions to the function keys.