Wireless Settings Configuration for Electrical Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical devices with multiple functions become complex and costly due to the need for physical controls to adjust settings, leading to user confusion and increased size.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a wireless communication unit, processor, and function module that allows electrical devices to receive settings information from an external device, configuring settings wirelessly and eliminating the need for physical controls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical controls (knobs, sliders, buttons) are added to provide additional functions, then the electrical device can offer more features, but the device size increases and becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditional functionsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical mechanical controls (knobs, sliders, buttons) with a wireless communication system. The electrical device includes a wireless communication unit that receives control commands wirelessly from external devices, eliminating the need for physical controls on the device itself. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing additional functions through wireless communication rather than adding physical control elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If physical controls (knobs, sliders, buttons) are added to provide additional functions, then the electrical device can offer more features, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditional functionsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical mechanical controls with a wireless communication system. The electrical device includes a wireless communication unit configured to receive control commands wirelessly, eliminating the need to manufacture physical control components like knobs, sliders, and buttons. This reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to provide additional functions through software-based control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If numerous physical controls are added to the electrical device, then more functions are available, but the device becomes confusing to operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of functionsVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an external device as an intermediary between the user and the electrical device. The external device provides a user interface for configuring and controlling multiple functions, while the electrical device simply executes received commands. This separates the complexity of multiple functions from the user interaction, making the electrical device itself simple and intuitive to operate while still providing numerous functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical controls with wireless communication. The electrical device includes a wireless communication unit that receives control commands wirelessly from external devices. This eliminates physical controls that would clutter the device interface, making the device simpler and more intuitive to operate while still providing access to multiple functions through the external device's interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9922788B2Electrical device with associated settings and system including the same

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

An electrical device having one or more settings associated therewith, the electrical device includes a wireless communication unit structured to wirelessly communicate with an external device and to wirelessly receive settings information from the external device, a processor structured to configure one or more settings associated with the electrical device based on the received settings information, and a function module structured to provide an additional function associated with a type of the electrical device.