Remote controller for air conditioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air-conditioning remote controllers are limited to displaying only operational information and lack the capability to show non-operational information, despite improved display performance, which restricts their usage beyond basic functions.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning remote controller equipped with a display unit that acquires and displays image data from an external communication terminal, allowing the display of various information, including operational and non-operational data, through an image acquisition processing unit and display processing unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional air-conditioning remote controllers display only fixed operational information, then the display function is simple and reliable, but the versatility and user experience are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay versatilityVSAvoiddisplay control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit is designed to perform multiple functions: displaying air-conditioning operational information and displaying external image data from communication terminals. This multi-functionality approach allows the same display hardware to serve both traditional remote control purposes and additional information display purposes, thereby improving versatility without requiring separate dedicated devices

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

Solution Approach 2:

The remote controller dynamically switches between displaying operational information and displaying external image data based on user input signals. The display content is not fixed but can be changed on demand, allowing the system to adapt its function according to user needs while maintaining a relatively simple base structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If the display unit shows only operational data, then the device structure remains simple, but the information display capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoidprocessing unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An image acquisition processing unit acts as an intermediary component that receives image data from external communication terminals and makes it available for display. This intermediary layer allows the remote controller to access external information sources without requiring complex integrated processing capabilities, thereby improving information display capability while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The functional components for displaying operational information and for acquiring/displaying external image data are merged into a single integrated system. The display unit, processing unit, and control unit work together as a unified structure, combining multiple functions within one device rather than requiring separate independent systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3517850B1Remote controller for air conditioning
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3517850B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3517850B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3517850B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An air-conditioning remote controller for operating an air-conditioning apparatus is provided. The air-conditioning remote controller includes a display unit, an image acquisition processing unit, and a display processing unit. The display unit displays various information. The image acquisition processing unit acquires image data from an external communication terminal. The display processing unit displays, on the display unit, a settings management screen used for operating the air-conditioning apparatus, and the image data acquired by the image acquisition processing unit from the communication terminal.