Wall-Mounted Remote Control With Dual-Function Touch Electrode Antenna

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Solution Overview

Problem

Remote control devices used as sidewall-installed controls for air conditioners or heat pumps face performance degradation and increased costs due to antenna placement for wireless communication, which can inhibit near field communication (NFC) or other wireless communication when the antenna is on the back surface, and reduce operability when on the front surface.

Innovation Solution

A remote control device with a touch panel and liquid crystal display where the electrode unit functions as both a touch electrode for position detection and an antenna for wireless communication, positioned closer to the front surface to avoid overlap and reduce the need for additional antennas, maintaining surface area and operability while enhancing communication performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the antenna for wireless communication is disposed on the back surface side of the main unit, then wireless communication performance is improved, but the surface area of the display is reduced and operability is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless communication performanceVSAvoidoperability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode unit of the touch panel is designed to serve dual functions: it acts as both the touch sensing electrode and the antenna for wireless communication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate antenna structure, allowing the front surface to maintain full display area and operability while achieving effective wireless communication through the front-facing electrode unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the antenna for wireless communication is disposed on the back surface side of the main unit, then wireless communication performance is improved, but costs are increased with installation of additional antenna

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless communication performanceVSAvoidcosts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the touch electrode and antenna into a single integrated electrode unit structure. By merging these two previously separate components into one, the design eliminates the need for additional antenna materials and assembly processes, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining both touch functionality and wireless communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If the antenna for wireless communication is disposed on the front surface side of the main unit, then the surface area of the display is maintained, but wireless communication performance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay surface areaVSAvoidwireless communication performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode unit is positioned closer to the front surface part than to the back surface part within the touch panel structure. This local positioning strategy ensures that the electrode unit maintains optimal proximity to the front surface for effective wireless communication while not interfering with the display surface area. The specific spatial arrangement within the layered structure of the touch panel allows both functions to coexist effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration prevents performance degradation and cost increases by utilizing the touch panel electrodes for wireless communication, ensuring effective NFC or other wireless communication without reducing the display surface area or degrading operability.

Implementation Method 1

The second antenna electrode section functions as an antenna for performing wireless communication with another communication device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The first touch electrode section functions as an electrode for detecting a touched position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3153786B1Remote control device

Publication Date: 2019.08.07 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

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AI summary

A remote control (30) which is installed on a sidewall (SW) and carries out wired communication with an indoor unit (20) has a touch panel (70) including an electrode unit (71), a liquid crystal display (60) disposed so as to overlap the touch panel (70) as seen from a front surface part (32) side, and a casing (31). The casing (31) has a back surface part (33) that faces the sidewall (SW) in an installed state and the front surface part (32) that faces the indoor space (SI) in the installed state. The electrode unit (71) has a touch electrode section (72) that functions as an electrode for detecting a touched position, and an antenna electrode section (73) that functions as an antenna for performing wireless communication with an external communication device (110). The touch electrode section (72) and the antenna electrode section (73) are nearer to the front surface part (32) than to the back surface part (33) inside the casing (31) and are disposed so as not to overlap with each other as seen from the front surface part (32) side.