Control unit, household appliance and method for controlling a user interface of an appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances with limited user interface capabilities, such as small display screens and few control elements, restrict user interaction comfort and reliability due to space and cost constraints.
Innovation Solution
A control unit that integrates a local user interface on the appliance with a remote user interface on a mobile device, allowing seamless interaction by detecting user inputs and providing extended menu options on the remote device, enabling self-explanatory menu point representation and notifications to enhance usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the user interface includes a small display screen and limited control elements to reduce cost and space, then the appliance becomes more affordable and compact, but the user interaction comfort and reliability deteriorate due to limited output and input capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile device serves as an intermediary between the user and the appliance. The mobile device displays extended menu options and receives user inputs that are then transmitted to the appliance via communication network. This mediator approach allows the appliance to maintain a simple, cost-effective local interface while providing comprehensive control capabilities through the mobile device.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface is extended from the physical dimension (local display and controls on the appliance) to the wireless communication dimension. By utilizing the mobile device's display and processing capabilities through wireless communication, the system provides a richer interface without adding physical components to the appliance.
2Volume of moving object
If the user interface includes a small display screen and limited control elements to reduce space, then the appliance becomes more compact, but the user interaction comfort and reliability deteriorate due to limited output and input capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary that provides extended display and control capabilities. The appliance maintains a compact form factor with minimal local interface components, while the mobile device handles the display of detailed menu options and reception of user inputs through wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface capabilities are shifted from the physical space dimension to the wireless communication dimension. The appliance remains compact with a small local display, while the mobile device provides comprehensive display and control options through wireless connection, effectively adding interface capacity without adding physical volume.
3Ease of operation
If the local user interface displays all menu options with detailed descriptions, then the user interaction becomes more comfortable and reliable, but the display screen size and complexity must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary that displays detailed menu options and descriptions. The appliance's local display can remain small since it only needs to show basic information or confirm selections, while the mobile device handles the display of comprehensive menu structures with detailed descriptions through its larger screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The display area requirement is shifted from the appliance's physical display to the mobile device's display through wireless communication. The appliance maintains a small local display area, while the mobile device provides a large display area for comprehensive menu options and detailed descriptions.
4Reliability
If the appliance provides comprehensive menu options and detailed descriptions on the local interface, then the user interaction reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of displaying comprehensive menu options and detailed descriptions. The appliance's interface complexity is reduced to basic display and control functions, while the mobile device's software application provides the comprehensive menu structure and detailed information through wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface complexity is shifted from the appliance's hardware and software to the mobile device's software environment. The appliance maintains a simple interface with basic components, while the mobile device provides comprehensive menu options and detailed descriptions through its processing power and display capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit is provided for an appliance. The appliance includes a local user interface located at the appliance, the appliance includes a control menu with one or more submenus for selecting an operation program and/or for setting an operation parameter of the appliance, and the appliance is configured to be controlled by using a remote user interface on a user device. The control unit is configured to detect a user input at the local user interface for selecting a submenu of the control menu and, in reaction to the detected user input, to cause the remote user interface to provide the selected submenu on the user device. A household appliance and a method for controlling a user interface of an appliance are also provided.