Wearable Wireless Device for Load Control Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home automation systems lack a convenient and portable solution for controlling electrical loads and electronic devices beyond traditional smartphones and computers, as users often find these devices bulky and inconvenient for quick control.
Innovation Solution
A wearable wireless device, such as a smartwatch or activity tracking device, is introduced to transmit digital messages for controlling load control devices, allowing users to monitor and adjust lighting and window treatments via a smaller display with soft buttons and a dial for intuitive control, paired with a network device for fine-tuned adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smartphone or tablet is used for controlling electrical loads, then the control functionality is comprehensive, but the device becomes bulky and inconvenient for quick control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential control functionality from bulky smartphones and tablets, implementing it in a compact wearable device. The wearable device includes only the necessary components (display, buttons, wireless communication) to provide quick control of electrical loads, separating the core control function from the comprehensive but cumbersome smartphone form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device concentrates control functionality in a localized, portable form factor that can be worn on the body. By making the control device small and wearable, users can access control functions immediately without needing to locate or retrieve a larger device, thereby improving ease of operation while reducing portability burden.
2Weight of moving object
If a wearable device with smaller display is used, then the device becomes more portable, but the space for user control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device employs dynamic control elements including a rotatable dial that provides tactile feedback and adjustable control options. The dial can be rotated to scroll through options and pressed to select, adapting the control interface to the limited display space while maintaining ease of use. This dynamic mechanical control element compensates for the reduced display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces physical buttons and a rotatable dial as intermediary control elements between the user and the digital interface. These tactile controls provide an additional layer of interaction that doesn't require large display space, allowing users to navigate and control functions through touch and rotation rather than relying solely on screen real estate.
3Productivity
If quick adjustments with larger changes are needed, then the wearable device provides faster control, but the precision of adjustment is reduced compared to network devices
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device is designed for quick, coarse adjustments using the rotatable dial and buttons, providing rapid control for common scenarios. For situations requiring fine-tuned precision, the system allows users to interact with network devices through the wearable interface or use the network device directly, combining the speed of wearable control with the precision of network device capabilities when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable wireless device may be configured for control of a parameter of a load control device. The load control device may be responsive to a network device, for example, to provide fine tune adjustment of the parameter. The wearable wireless device may include a touch-responsive visual display for displaying feedback of the parameter of the load control device. The visual display may be configured to be actuated to receive a user input to adjust the parameter of the load control device. An actuation of the visual display of the wearable wireless device may adjust the parameter by a greater percentage than the fine tune adjustment provided by the network device.