Multi-Apparatus Clothes Treating System Diagnosis Through Single Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes treating systems lack an efficient method for diagnosing multiple apparatuses without disassembling and reassembling components, and they require multiple communication ports for effective communication between apparatuses and diagnostic terminals.
Innovation Solution
A clothes treating system comprising a first and second clothes treating apparatus with controllers and a diagnostic port, where the first controller can identify and perform diagnostic operations on both apparatuses, transmitting diagnosis signals through a single diagnostic port, and a connection circuit board facilitates communication between controllers, minimizing the need for multiple ports and allowing diagnosis without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple diagnostic ports are provided for each clothes treating apparatus, then communication between apparatuses and diagnostic terminals is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first communication port is designed to serve multiple functions: it directly communicates with the first clothes treating apparatus and also relays communication to the second clothes treating apparatus. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated communication ports for each apparatus, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The first controller acts as an intermediary between the diagnostic terminal and the second clothes treating apparatus. It receives diagnosis request signals from the diagnostic terminal through the first communication port, identifies the target apparatus, and relays appropriate signals to the second apparatus. This intermediary role allows single-port access to multiple apparatuses without requiring direct communication ports on each device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If diagnosis is performed on multiple clothes treating apparatuses, then diagnostic coverage is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic system dynamically identifies the target clothes treating apparatus based on the diagnosis request signal content. The first controller can switch between diagnosing the first apparatus directly or relaying to the second apparatus depending on the request, enabling flexible and efficient multi-apparatus diagnostic coverage without fixed operational sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of the diagnosis target apparatus before executing the diagnostic operation. By analyzing the diagnosis request signal to determine whether the target is the first or second apparatus, the system prepares the appropriate communication path and diagnostic routine in advance, reducing actual diagnostic time and operational complexity.
3Device complexity
If a single diagnostic port is used for multiple apparatuses, then device complexity is reduced, but communication conflicts may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication protocol implements local quality differentiation by including apparatus identification information within diagnosis request signals. The first controller examines the signal content to determine the target apparatus and adjusts its communication behavior accordingly, ensuring reliable targeted communication even though a single physical port serves multiple apparatuses.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic communication is segmented into distinct targeted operations. Each diagnosis request signal is specifically directed to a identified target apparatus (first or second), creating logically separated communication streams through the single physical port. This segmentation prevents communication conflicts by ensuring each signal is properly routed to its intended recipient.
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes treating system includes a first clothes treating apparatus including a first drum, a first controller configured to control an operation of the first drum, and a diagnostic port; and a second clothes treating apparatus including a second drum, and a second controller configured to control an operation of the second drum. The first controller includes a first transmitting end and a first receiving end, and is configured to receive a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through the first receiving end, identify a diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal, transmit a first diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port through the first transmitting end after performing a diagnostic operation corresponding to the first diagnosis request signal in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus, and in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus, transmit a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end.