Wireless Communications Module for Appliance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances face challenges in adapting to rapid advancements in display technologies and memory due to their typical 10-year lifespan, making it difficult to exchange electronic display devices or provide new functions, and existing control systems are cumbersome and inflexible, especially with button-based operations.
Innovation Solution
A communication module with a touch-sensitive display that enables wireless communication between household appliances and a communication partner, allowing for the elimination of display devices on appliances and simplifying operation through a single button interface, utilizing a communication partner like a smartphone or tablet PC for control and adaptation of functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a display device and operating unit are integrated into the household appliance, then the appliance can be operated directly, but the device complexity and manufacturing effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display device and operating unit are extracted from the household appliance and relocated to an external communication partner device. The appliance only retains essential components like a single button for mode selection, while all display and complex operation functions are performed externally through wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The external communication partner device serves multiple functions: it acts as the display device, the operating unit, and the control interface for the household appliance. This universal approach eliminates the need for dedicated display and operation components on the appliance itself.
2Loss of information
If display devices are integrated into the household appliance, then information can be displayed locally, but adaptation to new display technologies becomes difficult due to the appliance lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The display and information presentation capabilities are made dynamic by utilizing the external communication partner device, which can be updated with new display technologies and interfaces. The appliance maintains flexible communication protocols that can adapt to different display capabilities of various partner devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module acts as an intermediary between the household appliance and the external display device. This mediator handles the translation and adaptation of information to suit different display capabilities, allowing the appliance to work with various display technologies without direct integration.
3Ease of operation
If multiple buttons and controls are provided on the appliance, then operation flexibility increases, but the manufacturing effort and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple buttons and controls are extracted from the appliance and implemented as virtual controls on the external communication partner device's display. The physical appliance is reduced to essential components like a single button for basic mode selection, significantly simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical mechanical controls (multiple buttons) are replaced with a digital interface on the external communication partner device. The touch-sensitive display and software interface provide the same operational flexibility without requiring physical manufacturing of multiple buttons and control elements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a communication module with wireless capabilities is added, then operation flexibility and remote control improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module is designed with universal wireless communication capabilities that can work with various external devices (smartphones, tablets, PCs). This multi-functional approach consolidates the communication infrastructure into a single versatile component rather than requiring separate interfaces for different device types.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a communications module (100) for a domestic appliance (200-1, 200-2), wherein the communications module (100) comprises a transmission device for the wireless transmission of domestic appliance information to a communication partner (300) having a touch-sensitive display. The invention further relates to a communication partner (300) having a touch-sensitive display for operating the domestic appliance, a domestic appliance, a domestic appliance arrangement and to a method for operating a domestic appliance (200-1, 200-2).