Modular Appliance Master-Slave Control for Stacked Device Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular appliances stacked together lack integrated control, requiring users to input commands separately into each device, which is inconvenient and limits their combined performance.
Innovation Solution
An appliance with a transceiver and processor that identifies adjacent devices and determines relative positions to establish a master-slave hierarchy, allowing for integrated control of stacked modular devices through communication and power supply management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple modular appliances are stacked together to save space, then the area occupied is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users must input commands separately into each appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple modular appliances into a single controllable unit by establishing a master-slave hierarchy. The master appliance aggregates control commands and distributes them to slave appliances, enabling users to control multiple stacked appliances through a single interface rather than separately controlling each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The master appliance acts as an intermediary between the user and the slave appliances. It receives control commands from the user, processes them, and transmits appropriate commands to the relevant slave appliances, thereby simplifying the control interface while maintaining individual appliance functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular appliances function independently to maintain operational autonomy, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for separate control systems in each appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into a master appliance that handles high-level control decisions and slave appliances that execute specific functions. This segmentation allows slave appliances to maintain operational autonomy for their core functions while delegating control coordination to the master appliance, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The master appliance serves multiple functions: it acts as a control hub for slave appliances, maintains communication protocols, manages power distribution, and coordinates operations across the stacked appliances. This multi-functionality reduces the need for duplicate control systems in each appliance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a
Figure 3b~4
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.