Programmable User Interface Device for Electrical Consumer Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control devices for electrical consumers become complex and difficult for average users to use as they integrate multiple functions, requiring extensive training to understand the effects of settings, especially in advanced light systems with multiple full color and variable color temperature sources.
Innovation Solution
A user interface device with a manual control unit and an electronic control unit that provides feedback and feedforward information through a display, allowing users to intuitively understand the effects of their settings, reducing the need for extensive training, and enabling integration of multiple functions like brightness, color, and timing control in a compact and cost-effective manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple functions are integrated into one user interface device, then the device complexity increases, but the ease of operation improves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions (brightness control, color control, timing control, and effect control) into a single user interface device with one display unit, eliminating the need for separate switches for each function while maintaining intuitive operation through visual feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit serves multiple purposes: it displays current settings, provides visual feedback about consumer load status, shows available functions, and guides user interaction, making a single component universally useful for all control operations
2Loss of information
If feedback information is provided to the display unit, then the ease of operation improves, but the loss of information decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having the electronic control unit send information signals to the display unit that show the current state and effects of control settings, allowing users to see immediately what their adjustments will do to the consumer load without needing to imagine or guess the outcome
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit shows users the expected effects of control settings before they actually apply them, allowing users to preview and understand the outcome of their actions before committing to them
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a user interface device and a method for controlling an electrical consumer (130). To provide a cost effective user interface device with an improved usability for an average users a user interface device for controlling an electrical consumer (130) is provided, comprising: a manual control device (110) including a display unit (112) and an input unit (111) for generating a switching signal (1a) based on an user input; and an electronic control device (120) for receiving the switching signal (Ia) and generating an information signal (1b) based on the switching signal (Ia) and/or a feedback signal (1e) received from the consumer load (130) and for outputting a control signal (1d) to the electrical consumer (130), wherein the information signal (1b) includes information at least indicating a direct relation between a presentation on the display unit (112) and the control setting of the electrical consumer (130); wherein the display unit (112) is adapted to display the presentation based on the information included in the received information signal (1b).