Remote flame-producing appliance control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame-producing appliances lack remote control and management capabilities, limiting user convenience and safety features for devices like fire features, heating devices, and cooking appliances.
Innovation Solution
Integration of wireless communication components, including short-range networking modules and microcontrollers, allows for remote control and monitoring of flame-producing devices, enabling users to manage fuel valves, igniters, and other systems via a wireless remote control device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flame-producing appliances are controlled locally without remote capabilities, then the device structure remains simple, but user convenience and safety are limited
Solution Approach 1:
A remote control device serves as an intermediary between the user and the flame-producing appliance. The remote control transmits wireless signals to the appliance's control system, allowing users to operate the appliance from a distance without directly interacting with local controls. This resolves the contradiction by improving ease of operation through remote access while containing complexity in separate, modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical or manual local control systems with wireless electronic communication systems. Instead of requiring physical interaction with local controls, the system uses wireless signals (such as radio frequency communication) to transmit control commands to the appliance, thereby improving user convenience while modernizing the control architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If remote control components are integrated into flame-producing appliances, then user convenience is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality to justify the added complexity. The system not only provides remote control capabilities but also integrates safety monitoring, operational status reporting, and potentially automation features. This universal approach allows the increased complexity to serve multiple purposes, improving adaptability and versatility across different operating scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a remote control device for user input, a communication interface for wireless signal transmission, and a control system integrated with the appliance's existing components (fuel valve, igniter). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing complexity across modular elements rather than concentrating it in a single unit.
3Reliability
If wireless communication components are added to enable remote control, then safety features are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to perform preliminary safety actions before critical failures occur. For example, the system can detect potential safety issues (such as abnormal operating conditions) and automatically take preventive measures (such as shutting off the fuel valve) before a hazardous situation develops. This preliminary action approach enhances safety while maintaining a straightforward manufacturing process by utilizing existing appliance components in an integrated control architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for controlling and managing one or more flame-producing devices, such as fire features, heating devices and/or cooking devices. Control of respective devices may be provided by a first communication component and a first controller component disposed locally on respective devices, in combination with one or more wireless remote control devices. Respective flame-producing devices may be communicatively coupled with a remote control device, allowing for commands to be sent wirelessly to the flame-producing device, and status information to be sent to the remote control device.