Operation terminal, program, and air-conditioning system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air direction settings for multiple indoor units are cumbersome and difficult for users to manage independently.

Innovation Solution

An operation terminal with a display screen showing icons for indoor units and a room layout, allowing users to input airflow traces to easily set air direction and volume settings via a communication interface that transmits commands to the units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If independent air direction setting for each vane is implemented, then airflow control precision is improved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow control precisionVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple vane control operations into a single group operation. When users select multiple indoor units, the system applies air direction settings to all selected units simultaneously, converting what would be multiple individual settings into one unified operation, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining precise control over each unit's airflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The operation terminal provides multiple operational modes including individual unit control and bulk group control. This multi-functionality allows users to choose the most efficient operation mode based on their needs, whether controlling one unit precisely or multiple units simultaneously, thus improving ease of operation without sacrificing control precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If individual air direction setting for each indoor unit is required, then airflow precision is improved, but user burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow precisionVSAvoiduser burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the control of multiple indoor units into a single operational workflow. Users can select multiple indoor units and apply air direction settings to all of them at once, which reduces the number of separate operations required while maintaining the ability to achieve precise airflow control for each individual unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the control process into two distinct phases: selection phase where users choose which indoor units to control (can be one or multiple), and setting phase where air direction parameters are configured. This segmentation allows the system to handle both individual and bulk operations efficiently, reducing user burden while preserving airflow precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3708917B1Operation terminal, program, and air-conditioning system
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3708917B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3708917B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP3708917B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An operation terminal includes a display unit (151) with a display screen to display an airflow input screen image indicating a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of indoor units installed in a room and a layout of the room, an input unit (152) to receive input of a trace indicating an airflow on the display screen displaying the airflow input screen image, and a terminal-side communication unit (155) to transmit a command for setting an air direction and air volume corresponding to the inputted trace on at least one of the plurality of indoor units.