Modular Appliance Master-Slave Control for Stacked Device Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular appliances stacked together often require separate user input for control, leading to inconvenience in managing multiple devices simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An appliance with a transceiver and processor that identifies adjacent devices and determines relative positions, allowing for integrated control by designating master and slave devices based on arrangement state information, enabling communication and power supply management among stacked modular appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple modular appliances are stacked together to save space, then space utilization is improved, but control complexity increases as separate user input is required for each device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent appliance controls into a unified control system. When appliances are stacked, they automatically form a master-slave relationship where the master appliance receives user commands and distributes appropriate commands to slave appliances. This combining of control functions allows users to control multiple stacked appliances through a single interface, resolving the contradiction between space-saving stacking and control convenience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular appliances function independently to maintain individual functionality, then device versatility is improved, but system complexity increases due to separate control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into independent functional units with clear master-slave roles. Each appliance maintains its independent functionality while being part of a segmented control hierarchy. The master appliance handles high-level decision-making and command distribution, while slave appliances execute specific functions. This segmentation allows versatile independent operation while reducing overall system complexity through structured control division.
3Reliability
If stacked appliances maintain individual control autonomy, then device reliability is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to multiple input requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control layer through the master appliance that mediates between user commands and slave appliances. The master appliance acts as a communication bridge, receiving user input and translating it into appropriate commands for slave appliances. This intermediary structure maintains the reliability of independent appliance operation while significantly improving user convenience by requiring only single-point input.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance is provided. The appliance includes a transceiver, and a processor configured to, based on an external appliance being identified to be adjacent to the appliance, receive arrangement state information of the external appliance through the transceiver, identify whether the appliance is a slave device controlled by the external appliance or a master device to control the external appliance based on the arrangement state information of the external appliance and arrangement state information of the appliance, based on the appliance being identified as the slave device, transmit a control authority to the external appliance through the transceiver, and based on the appliance being identified as the master device, request the control authority from the external appliance identified as the slave device through the transceiver.