Modular Display Circuit with Selection Unit for Appliance Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances face challenges in achieving flexible and cost-effective display solutions due to high requirements for display devices, which often necessitate expensive and complex individual constructions to fit within confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A circuit arrangement that allows for the modular connection of multiple visual output units with parallel data connections and a selection unit, enabling the transmission of data to specific output units and allowing for the creation of a unified output device with varied content and geometry, reducing the need for expensive dedicated display controllers and RGB splitters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple visual output units are connected in parallel to a single computer interface, then the flexibility and adaptability of display devices are improved, but the control complexity and signal routing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a selection unit as an intermediary component between the computer interface and multiple visual output units. This selection unit receives selection signals from the computer unit and uses them to establish or disconnect communication connections between the computer interface and specific output units. By acting as a mediator, the selection unit simplifies the overall control architecture while enabling flexible configuration of multiple display devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional components: the computer interface, multiple independent visual output units, and a selection unit that manages connections between them. Each visual output unit operates independently with its own storage unit and interface, while the selection unit divides the control task by processing selection signals to determine which output units should be active. This segmentation reduces control complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom-designed display devices are used to fit limited space within appliances, then the display requirements are met, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal, standardized visual output units that can be used across different household appliances. These output units have standard interfaces that can connect to the computer interface through the selection unit. Instead of designing custom display devices for each appliance, the same modular output units can be configured in different arrangements and connected via the selection unit, reducing manufacturing costs while adapting to various space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The display configuration is made dynamic through the selection unit, which can change the active output units based on selection signals. This allows the same hardware configuration to adapt to different space requirements and display needs without requiring physical reconfiguration or custom design. The system can dynamically enable or disable specific output units to optimize for available space while using standardized components.
3Speed
If each output unit has its own storage unit for complete visual output data, then the output speed and independence are improved, but the memory requirements and data transmission complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The visual output data is segmented and distributed to individual storage units in each visual output unit. Each storage unit holds the complete visual output data needed for its specific output device. This segmentation allows parallel processing and independent operation of each output unit, improving output speed while distributing the memory burden across multiple units rather than requiring one large centralized memory system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a circuit assembly (1) for operating an output device (19) of a household device (20) having more than two visual output units (2, 4, 6), wherein the output units (2, 4, 6) each have a storage unit (3, 5, 7) for a complete visual output to be displayed, and a digital output unit interface (8, 9, 10), wherein the circuit assembly (1) has an image-processing computer unit (11) with a digital computer interface (13), wherein the both the computer interface (13) and the output unit interfaces (8, 9, 10) each comprise parallel data connections (23) and a separate output unit control connection (15, 16, 17, 18), wherein the data connections (23) of the output unit interfaces (8, 9, 10) are each connected in parallel to the data connection (23) of the computer interface (13), wherein a selection unit (14) is also provided, said selection unit having a selection connection (26) that is connected to the computer unit (11), wherein the output unit control connections (15, 16, 17, 18), the computer interface (13) and the output unit interfaces (8, 9, 10) are connected to the selection unit (14), wherein the selection unit (14) is designed to selectively generate a communication connection between the output unit control connection (15) of the computer interface (13) and the output unit control connection (16, 17, 18) of one of the output unit interfaces (8, 9, 10) associated with the respective selection signal, , in accordance with a selection signal provided by the computer unit (11) at the selection connection (26).