Stacked Home Appliance Communication for Unified Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional modular home appliances operate independently when stacked, making it inconvenient for users to control multiple appliances simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A home appliance with a communicator and processor that identifies and establishes communication connections with adjacent appliances based on received signals, including identification information and arrangement state, allowing for collective control of stacked modular devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple modular home appliances are stacked and arranged in space, then space utilization is improved, but control complexity increases as each appliance operates independently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent modular home appliances into a single controllable system by establishing communication connections between stacked appliances. The control device can send control signals that are relayed through the communication network to all connected appliances, allowing unified control while maintaining the physical stacking arrangement that saves space.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is designed to universally control multiple types of modular home appliances (e.g., air purifiers, humidifiers) through a standardized communication interface. This allows a single control device to manage various appliances in the stacked configuration, providing multi-functional control capability that addresses the ease of operation issue.
2Device complexity
If modular home appliances operate independently, then device simplicity is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates due to separate control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control functionality by introducing a separate control device that is independent from the modular home appliances themselves. This control device acts as a centralized command center that communicates with multiple appliances, allowing the appliances to remain simple and independent in their core functions while gaining collective control capability through the external control device.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device serves as an intermediary between the user and multiple modular home appliances. It receives user input and translates it into appropriate control signals for each connected appliance, mediating the interaction and eliminating the need for users to directly control each appliance separately.
3Adaptability or versatility
If communication connection is established between stacked appliances, then collective control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system uses a universal communication protocol and standardized interfaces that allow different modular home appliances to connect and communicate effectively. This universal approach enables collective control capability without requiring complex, appliance-specific communication systems, as the same communication framework works across all connected devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance is disclosed. The home appliance comprises: a communication unit; and a processor for receiving a signal including identification information of external home appliances from at least one external home appliance through the communication unit for a preset amount of time, identifying an external home appliance arranged adjacently to the home appliance on the basis of the received signal, and performing a communication connection with the identified external home appliance, when an event for the communication connection with the at least one external home appliance occurs.