Thermostat with segmented display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional segmented displays in thermostats, such as those with seven segment packages, are limited in displaying detailed and accurate characters, as they can only illuminate a limited number of segments, making it difficult to represent certain letters and symbols effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a segment display that includes a combination of characters with more than seven segments, such as nine segments, and a connecting character, allowing the processing circuit to illuminate specific segments to form letters like 'M' and 'W', and display error messages with characters like 'R', by using additional segments for enhanced detail and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a seven-segment display package is used, then the display is simple and inexpensive to install, but the character detail and accuracy are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple independent segment packages (seven-segment and nine-segment displays) that can be selectively activated. Each segment package contains discrete segments that can be individually controlled to form different characters, allowing the system to use only the necessary segments for each display scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The display configuration is made dynamic by selectively enabling or disabling different segment packages based on the information being displayed. The processing circuit controls which segments are illuminated to form the required characters, allowing the display to adapt its complexity to the specific display needs rather than always using the maximum number of segments.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional segments are added to form detailed characters like 'M' and 'W', then character representation accuracy improves, but display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple independent segment packages (seven-segment and nine-segment displays) that can be selectively activated. Each segment package contains discrete segments that can be individually controlled to form different characters, allowing the system to use only the necessary segments for each display scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
Different segments are activated based on the specific character or information being displayed. The processing circuit selectively enables only the necessary segments for the current display requirement, rather than illuminating all segments uniformly. This allows detailed characters to be formed when needed while maintaining simplicity for other displays.
3Manufacturing precision
If a nine-segment display is used instead of seven-segment, then more detailed characters can be formed, but the display becomes more complex to install and configure
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple independent segment packages (seven-segment and nine-segment displays) that can be selectively activated. Each segment package contains discrete segments that can be individually controlled to form different characters, allowing the system to use only the necessary segments for each display scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system is designed to support multiple segment configurations (both seven-segment and nine-segment packages) within the same display device. This multi-functional design allows the system to adapt to different display requirements without requiring separate dedicated displays for each character type, simplifying overall system installation while maintaining detailed character capability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device for a building includes a segment display. The segment display includes a first character comprising at least seven segments, a second character comprising at least nine segments proximate to the first character, and a connecting character comprising at least two segments located between the first and second character. The control device further includes a processing circuit that, in a first operation, illuminates at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a first letter and, in a second operation, illuminates at least one segment of each of the first character, the second character, and the connecting character to form a second letter.