Interface Device Channel Grouping for HMI Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) for electrical installations, particularly in home automation, are bulky and costly due to their design requiring multiple push buttons and LEDs for each channel, leading to increased size and production costs.
Innovation Solution
The interface device optimizes channel control by associating each push button with a group of channels, using a manual selector with multiple positions to enable manual activation of all channels in a group, reducing the number of push buttons and LEDs needed, and incorporating a microcontroller for functional association between push buttons and channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each push button is associated with a single channel, then the control functionality is straightforward and reliable, but the number of push buttons and LEDs increases, leading to larger device size and higher production costs
Solution Approach 1:
Each push button is designed to control multiple channels (at least two channels per push button) instead of one-to-one mapping. The electronic card associates each push button with multiple channels, allowing a single push button to activate several channels simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of push buttons and LEDs required in the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the control function of multiple channels into a single push button. By combining multiple channel controls under one push button, the device reduces the number of individual control elements needed, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining comprehensive control capability.
2Ease of operation
If multiple push buttons and LEDs are used for each channel, then precise control over each channel is achieved, but the production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Each push button serves multiple channels, making it a multi-functional control element. This approach maintains precise control over each channel while reducing the total number of control elements, thereby lowering production costs associated with manufacturing multiple push buttons and LEDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of channel association from one-to-one to one-to-many. By modifying how push buttons are associated with channels (controlling at least two channels per push button), the system achieves the same control precision with fewer components, reducing manufacturing costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If each channel has its own push button and LED, then the device provides comprehensive control and status indication, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Push buttons and LEDs are designed to serve multiple channels simultaneously. Each push button controls at least two channels, and each LED indicates the status of multiple channels, thereby providing comprehensive control and indication coverage while occupying less physical space in the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the control and indication functions for multiple channels into single push buttons and LEDs. This consolidation reduces the physical footprint of the device while maintaining comprehensive control coverage over all channels.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an optimized interface device for controlling the equipment of an electrical installation. This device comprises a housing with a front interface face and containing an electronic circuit board (2) including at least one push button (3), at least two channels, and a manual selector switch (5) movable between at least two main positions. Each push button (3) is associated with a group of at least two channels, and the number of main positions of the selector switch (5) is equal to the number of channels in each group, such that all channels in each group can be selected for manual activation by the push button(s) (3) or the selector switch (5).The electronic board (2) is adapted to functionally associate, for each main position of the selector (5), the selected channel with the associated push button (3) or the set of channels selected simultaneously with the associated push buttons (3).