Remote Controller Selective Button Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote control devices illuminate all buttons simultaneously, making it difficult for users to determine which buttons are relevant to the current operational mode of a target device, leading to confusion and inefficient control.
Innovation Solution
A remote controller device with selectively backlit buttons, where the controller hardware activates different groupings of optical sources based on the current operational mode, illuminating only relevant buttons and deactivating irrelevant ones, providing clear guidance to the user on which buttons to use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If all buttons are illuminated simultaneously, then users can see all buttons clearly, but users cannot determine which buttons are relevant to the current operational mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the illumination state of different button groups based on their relevance to the current operational mode. Relevant buttons are illuminated to provide visual guidance, while irrelevant buttons remain dark. This spatial differentiation of illumination quality helps users quickly identify which buttons are applicable in the current mode without illuminating all buttons uniformly.
2Illumination intensity
If all buttons are illuminated simultaneously, then users can see all buttons clearly, but energy is wasted illuminating unnecessary buttons
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by selectively illuminating only the button groups that are relevant to the current operational mode while leaving other button groups dark. This localized illumination approach maintains visibility for necessary buttons while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to illuminating all buttons simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination is activated periodically based on operational mode changes rather than continuously. The system turns on illumination when a mode change occurs and updates the illumination pattern accordingly, rather than maintaining constant illumination of all buttons. This periodic activation reduces energy consumption while ensuring visibility when needed.
3Ease of operation
If illumination is provided for all buttons, then users can operate any button, but users experience confusion about which buttons to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality to provide differential illumination to different button groups based on their relevance to the current operational mode. By illuminating only the relevant button groups and leaving others dark, the system provides clear visual guidance about which buttons are applicable, thereby improving ease of operation while preventing user confusion.
4Loss of energy
If selective illumination is implemented, then power is conserved and relevant buttons are highlighted, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed with multi-functionality to manage both the operational mode control and the selective illumination of button groups. By integrating the illumination control logic within the existing controller that manages operational modes, the system achieves selective illumination without requiring a completely separate control system, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances user experience by clearly indicating applicable buttons, reducing confusion and improving control efficiency by only illuminating buttons pertinent to the current operational mode, while also conserving power by deactivating unused buttons.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the multiple selectable control buttons includes a switch individually controlling back-illumination of the selectable control button
Data Source
AI summary
According to one configuration, a remote controller device wirelessly controls a remote media system. The remote controller device includes multiple selectable control buttons, multiple optical sources, and controller hardware. Each optical source individually back-illuminates a respective selectable control button of the multiple selectable buttons. The controller hardware selectively activates different groupings of the multiple optical sources depending upon a current operational mode of the remote media system. For example, a respective user of the remote controller device selects a particular button of the remote controller device corresponding to the first operational mode. The remote controller device, in turn, transmits a wireless signal to the remote media system to control the remote media system to the first operational mode. Rather than illuminating all buttons, the remote controller device then back-illuminates only a relevant group of multiple selectable control buttons applicable to the first operational mode.