Interactive TN Thermostat Display for Lower-Cost Touch Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with interactive liquid crystal display (LCD) touch screens often utilize high-cost components, making it challenging to reduce costs while maintaining or improving operation and reliability.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device featuring a twisted nematic (TN) display with a control module and computer-readable memory, configured to display interactive icons and information, including a capacitive touch overlay, that can switch between idle and home screen formats, and display various data sets such as temperature, weather, and system status, utilizing a plurality of colors and scrolling functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-cost LCD components are used for interactive display, then display quality and interactivity are improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex LCD components with a simpler twisted nematic display that uses less expensive materials and manufacturing processes. The TN display accepts trade-offs in certain performance areas (such as response time and viewing angles) to achieve significant cost reduction while maintaining adequate functionality for thermostat applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies display parameters by using a twisted nematic liquid crystal material with specific properties that is cheaper than standard LCD materials. The display operates at different voltage levels and refresh rates optimized for the TN technology, achieving cost-effective operation suitable for low-power thermostat devices.
2Ease of manufacture
If simplified display components are used to reduce cost, then device cost decreases, but display functionality and interactivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The TN display incorporates an integrated touch-sensitive overlay that allows direct user interaction without requiring complex separate components. The display itself responds to touch inputs, enabling interactive functionality such as button presses and navigation directly through the display surface, thereby maintaining adaptability while simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system performs multiple functions using a single integrated component: it displays information, accepts user input through touch, and provides visual feedback for system status. This multi-functionality compensates for the simpler underlying technology by maximizing the utility of the cost-effective TN display.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective TN display that offers real-time information and on-display help, reducing the need for separate manuals and enhancing user interaction, while maintaining reliability and operation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a twisted nematic (TN) display configured to display at least one icon being interactive, and display information requested via the at least one icon
Implementation Method 2
the TN display is a touch screen
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device that may be a thermostat includes a TN display configured to display at least one icon being interactive, and display information requested via the at least one icon. A control module of the electronic device is coupled to the TN display and is configured to receive a control command from the at least one icon and output the information to the TN display. A computer readable memory of the electronic device is coupled to the control module for storing at least a portion of the information.