Multi-field Display for Centralized Appliance Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing central display devices for household appliances are often confusing and cumbersome to use, requiring selection of each appliance to monitor its status, which can lead to inefficient operation and oversight of relevant states.

Innovation Solution

An integrated operating and display device with a multi-field display and handle for selecting programs and options, allowing summarized information of remote appliance states via a logical OR link, enabling clear and continuous monitoring of multiple appliances without direct operation, using wireless or Powerline communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a central display device is used to monitor multiple household appliances, then information about appliance states can be obtained centrally, but the selection of each appliance to monitor its status makes the operation confusing and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about appliance statesVSAvoidoperation of display device

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is divided into multiple independent display fields, each assigned to a specific household appliance. This segmentation allows each appliance's status to be displayed in its own dedicated field, eliminating the need for manual selection and making the device immediately informative about all monitored appliances without confusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display device automatically displays information from all connected household appliances without requiring user intervention for selection. The system serves itself by continuously updating and presenting the state of each appliance in its corresponding display field, making the operation as simple as plugging in the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If separate display elements are assigned to each connected device, then device-specific information can be displayed, but the overall device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice-specific informationVSAvoidstructure of display device

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple display fields for different appliances are merged into a single integrated display device. Instead of having separate display devices for each appliance, the invention combines them into one unit with multiple fields, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining device-specific information display capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The display device is designed to be universal and can monitor multiple different types of household appliances simultaneously. Each display field is configured for a specific appliance, but the overall device can handle various appliance types, making it a multi-functional solution that reduces the need for multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1843231B1Operating and display device for a domestic appliance, domestic appliance and system

Publication Date: 2012.10.10 MIELE & CO KG

Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b

AI summary

The device (2) has a display indicator (3) with several display regions and an operating handle (4) for selecting operating programs, parameters and/or display options of household devices (5.1, 5.2) such as washing machine and dryer, staying in connection with a household appliance (1) such as stove. The conditions and/or settings of the household devices are displayed on the display regions as summarized information. An independent claim is also included for a system consisting of a household appliance with an operation and display device.