Patent Publication Number: US-2019179280-A1

Title: Method For Initializing An Appliance In A Delivery State And Appliance

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of European Patent Application No. 17205855.4, filed on Dec. 7, 2017. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an appliance and, more particularly, to a method for initializing an appliance in a delivery state. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An appliance, for example a power supply or a light source, can supply an adjustable output value, such as an output voltage, an output current, a light color, or a light intensity. An appliance with such a variable output has a variable control mechanism that is user adjustable for controlling the adjustable output value. A user adjusts a user adjusting element, for example a tap changer, a control knob, an actuator, or the like, connected to the variable control mechanism for controlling the output value. 
     A manufacturer of the appliance delivers the appliance in a delivery state. The appliance operates as delivered until the user adjusts the variable control mechanism; the delivery state of the appliance is different from a state of the appliance after the user initially adjusts the variable control mechanism. For example, the appliance outputs a delivery output value until the user adjusts the variable control mechanism to have the appliance output a different output value. 
     The manufacturer determines whether the appliance is in the delivery state or not in order to check parameters of the appliance for quality assurance. If the appliance is in the delivery state, the output value is the delivery output value. Each appliance in a series is delivered with the same delivery output value, and a uniform output value improves quality control for the manufacturer and simplify commissioning procedures for the user. Each appliance in a series is currently adjusted manually to deliver the appliance with the delivery output value. However, there is a need for the appliance to provide a predetermined output value after unpacking to be adapted for plug and play start-up by the user without adjusting the output value. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method for initializing an appliance in a delivery state comprises providing a control unit connected to a memory unit and a variable control mechanism, storing a first code word in the memory unit, and changing the first code word to a second code word using the control unit when the variable control mechanism is adjusted by a user. The variable control mechanism is adjustable by the user to control an output value of the appliance. A predetermined delivery output value of the appliance is associated with the first code word. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an appliance according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is another schematic diagram of the appliance; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart depicting a process for preparing the appliance; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart depicting a process for operating the appliance according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart depicting a process for operating the appliance according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, several aspects of the embodiments may form-individually or in different combinations-solutions according to the present invention. The following described embodiments thus can be considered either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     An appliance  100  according to an embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The appliance  100  comprises a memory unit  110 , a control unit  120 , a variable control mechanism  130 , a first output  141 , and a second output  142 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the variable control mechanism  130  is connected to the control unit  120  and to the first output  141 . The control unit  120  is connected to the memory unit  110  and to the second output  142 . In another embodiment, the first output  141  can include a plurality of first outputs  141  and the second output  142  can include a plurality of second outputs  142 . 
     The memory unit  110 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is a non-transitory computer readable medium adapted for storing data. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the memory unit  110  includes an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)  111 . In another embodiment, the memory unit  110  may include other non-transitory computer-readable mediums, for example, a random-access memory (ROM). The stored data may be any sequence of bits and can include delivery settings of the appliance  100 , delivery settings of the control unit  120 , and/or delivery settings of the variable control mechanism  130 . The memory unit  110  also stores a delivery output value that can be output at the second output  142 . Data can be stored in the memory unit  110  via the control unit  120 , can be stored in advance in the memory unit  110 , or can be stored in the memory unit  110  by a memory storing unit. 
     The control unit  120 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , can retrieve data from the memory unit  110 , can store data in the memory unit  110 , and can change data in the memory unit  110 . The control unit  120  can retrieve data from the variable control mechanism  130  and send data to the second output  142 . In an embodiment, the control unit  120  can sense an adjusted value adjusted at the variable control mechanism  130  and can calculate an output value for the second output  142  based on the sensed adjusted value adjusted at the variable control mechanism  130 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the control unit  120  includes a processing unit  121 , such as a microprocessor, adapted to execute program instructions stored on the memory unit  110  to control the appliance  100  as described herein. 
     The variable control mechanism  130 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , can be adjusted by a user for controlling the output value of the first output  141  or the second output  142 . The variable control mechanism  130 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes a user adjusting element  132  and a conversion element  131 . The user adjusting element  132  is a switching element and, in various embodiments, may be a tap changer, a control knob, an actuator, or the like. A user can adjust the user adjusting element  132  by applying, for example, a mechanical force, an electrical force, a magnetic force, or the like. The user adjusting element  132  is connected to the conversion element  131 . 
     The conversion element  131 , shown in  FIG. 2 , converts an actual setting  134  of the user adjusting element  132  to an adjusted value, which can be sensed and processed by the control unit  120 . The conversion element  131  is connected to the control unit  120  and can also directly output the adjusted value at the first output  141 . In an embodiment, the conversion element  131  is a potentiometer, which can supply a voltage depending on the actual setting  134  to the control unit  120 . The conversion element  131  can provide a delivery setting  133 , which is calculated based on predetermined values of the conversion element  131 . Predetermined values of the conversion element  131  are, for example, a minimum and a maximum value of the user adjustable range. For example, a potentiometer with an adjustable range from 10 V to 20 V can, for example, have a delivery setting  133  of 15 V. 
     The first output  141  is directly controlled by the variable control mechanism  130  and the second output  142  is controlled indirectly by the variable control mechanism  130 . The first output  141  and the second output  142  can therefore each supply an output value that is controlled by the variable control mechanism  130 . 
     The second output  142 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is controlled by the control unit  120  to supply an output value such as an output voltage, an output current, an output luminous intensity, or an output light color. The output value of the second output  142  is calculated by the control unit  120 . Calculating the output value at the control unit  120 , in an embodiment, includes converting an adjusted value corresponding to the actual setting  134  with a first characteristic, for example, a voltage, to an output value with a second characteristic, for example, an output voltage, an output current, an output luminous intensity, and an output light color. In another embodiment, calculating the output value at the control unit  120  additionally or alternatively includes multiplying the adjusted value by a certain constant. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the EEPROM  111  stores a marker  112  and a trim setting  113 . The trim setting  113  is an actual setting  134  of the conversion element  131  in a delivery state of the appliance  100 . In an embodiment, the trim setting  113  is stored in advance by the manufacturer. The marker  112  is a code word indicating whether the appliance  100  is in the delivery state or not. A first code word TRUE, which can be a flag, a marker, or any storable information such as at least one bit, indicates that the appliance  100  is in a delivery state. As described in the processes below, the first code word TRUE is changed to a second code word FALSE. The second code word can be also a flag, a marker, or any storable information such as at least one bit. The second code word, which differs from the first code word by at least one bit, indicates that the appliance  100  is not in the delivery state. A person skilled in the art knows that changing the code word can comprise clearing a flag, overwriting the code word, replacing an index pointing to the code word, or the like. The information of the appliance  100  status can be stored and retrieved efficiently using the code words and, for example, the control unit  120  can determine the status of the appliance  100  by verifying only the code word. 
     A sequence for storing the trim setting  113  in the memory unit  110  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The sequence starts at step  200  and is performed before the appliance  100  is delivered to a user. 
     In step  201 , an actual setting  134 , also referred to as the adjusted value, of the variable control mechanism  130  is sensed and processed by the control unit  120 . The actual setting  134  is a value indicating the actual position of the variable control mechanism  130 ; an actual position of the user adjusting element  132  is converted by the conversion element  131  to form the actual setting  134 . In an embodiment, the actual setting  134  is a voltage value of the potentiometer. 
     In step  202 , the measured actual setting  134  is stored permanently as the trim setting  113  in the EEPROM  111 . Additionally or alternatively, the actual setting  134  is stored as the trim setting  113  elsewhere in the memory unit  110 . In an embodiment, a storing unit of the control unit  120  stores the trim setting  113  in the memory unit  110  and/or the EEPROM  111 . In the shown embodiment, the control unit  120  stores the trim setting  113  in the EEPROM  111 . 
     In step  203 , the marker  112  is created in the EEPROM  111  or elsewhere in the memory unit  110 . In an embodiment, the marker  112  is called IGNORE and the marker  112  has a first state called FALSE and a second state called TRUE. The FALSE state indicates that the output value at the second output  142  of the appliance  100  is generated by evaluating the variable control mechanism  130  via the control unit  120 . In an embodiment, the adjusted value at the conversion element  131  is sensed and evaluated for generating the output value at the second output  142 . The TRUE state indicates that the output value at the second output  142  is a predetermined delivery output value, which is independent of the variable control mechanism  130 . In an embodiment, a creation unit of the control unit  120  creates the marker  112  in the memory unit  110  and/or the EEPROM  111 . In another embodiment, the control unit  120  creates the marker in the memory unit  110 . 
     In step  204 , the control unit  120  sets the marker  112  in the memory unit  110  and/or the EEPROM  111  as the IGNORE marker in the TRUE state. In another embodiment, a setting unit of the control unit  120  sets the marker  112  in the memory unit  110  and/or the EEPROM  111  in the TRUE state. 
     In step  205 , the process ends and the appliance  100  is in a delivery state. 
     A sequence for operating the appliance  100  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The appliance  100  is either in a delivery state or in a different state. The sequence starts at step  300  by switching on the appliance  100  at an on/off switch. The sequence is executed by the control unit  120  and, in an embodiment, is executed by the processing unit  121 . 
     In step  301 , the marker  112  stored in the memory unit  110  is verified. If it is verified that the marker  112  IGNORE is in the status TRUE, the sequence proceeds with step  302 . 
     A delivery setting  133  is calculated in step  302 . The delivery setting  133 , also referred to a predetermined setting, is based on predetermined values of the conversion element  131 . Predetermined values of the conversion element  131  are, for example, the minimum and maximum value of the adjustable range of the conversion element  131 . The delivery setting can, for example, be stored in the memory unit  110  or can be calculated by the control unit  120 . 
     In step  303 , an actual setting  134  of the variable control mechanism  130  is sensed in a similar way as described with reference to process step  201 . 
     In step  309 , the trim setting  113  is set in relation with the actual setting  134 . The trim setting  113  is retrieved from the memory unit  110 . The trim setting  113  has been stored in the memory unit  110  in advance according to the process described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The trim setting  113  is compared with the actual setting  134 . If the trim setting  113  is equal to the actual setting  134 , the process continues with process step  310 . If the trim setting  113  is not equal to the actual setting  134 , the process continues with process step  311 . In other embodiments, it is not necessary that the trim setting  113  be equal to the actual setting  134 ; equal can be substituted with similar, less than, greater than, or the like. For example, it might be determined that the actual setting  134  is not within a trim region, the trim region ranging from the trim setting  113  plus or minus a predetermined value from the trim setting  113 . 
     If it is determined in process step  309  that the actual setting  134  equals the trim setting  113 , the sequence proceeds with process step  310 . The delivery output value is output at the second output  142  in step  310 . The delivery output value is a predetermined value that can be stored in the memory unit  110 . Process step  310  can additionally comprise calculating the delivery output value by the control unit  120 . The delivery output value can be calculated based on predetermined values of the conversion element  131 ; predetermined values of the conversion element  131  are, for example, the minimum and maximum value of the adjustable range of the conversion element  131 . 
     If it is determined in process step  309  that the actual setting  134  is not equal to the trim setting  113 , the sequence proceeds with process step  311 . The IGNORE marker  112  is set in the FALSE state in step  311 . The marker  113  is, for example, a code word stored in the memory unit  110  that is changed by the control unit  120  as described above. In an embodiment, after changing the code word of the marker  112 , the second code word FALSE is permanently stored in the memory unit  110 . The change is one-directional and irreversible. The first code word can only be changed if the first code word is stored and, in an embodiment, the first code word is overwritten. Once the first code has been changed for the first time it is not changed again. Consequently, one code word is sufficient for indicating whether the appliance  100  is in the delivery state 
     After process step  310  or process step  311 , the sequence returns to process step  301 . Starting with process step  301 , the process steps  302 ,  303 ,  309 ,  310 , and  311  build a delivery sequence for verifying and operating the appliance  110  in a delivery state. For a person skilled in the art, it is clear that process step  310  can be also executed after process step  301  and before process step  309  in this delivery sequence. The delivery sequence is operated until it is determined that the appliance  100  is not in the delivery state. If the appliance  100  is not in the delivery state, the marker  112  is changed in process step  311 . 
     If it is verified in step  301  that the marker  112  IGNORE is in the status FALSE, the sequence proceeds with step  320 . An actual setting  134  of the variable control mechanism  130  is sensed in step  320  in a similar way as described with reference to process step  201  or process step  303 . 
     An output value is calculated in process step  321  based on the actual setting  134  sensing in step  320 . 
     The output value calculated in process step  321  is output at the second output  142  in process step  322 , and the sequence then returns to process step  320 . 
     Process steps  320 ,  321 , and  322  build an operation sequence for operating the appliance  100  when the appliance  100  is not in the delivery state. In this operation state, the appliance  100  outputs an output value adjusted by the user at the variable control mechanism  130 . 
     Another embodiment of a process of operating the appliance  100  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The sequence shown in  FIG. 5  is mostly the same as the sequence shown in  FIG. 4 , except process step  309  is replaced by the process steps  304 ,  305 , and  306 . In the following, the process steps  304 ,  305 , and  306  are explained in detail, while for the other process steps reference is made to the description of  FIG. 4 . 
     In step  304 , the trim setting  113  is compared with the delivery setting  133 . Each of the process steps  305  and  306  comprises comparing the actual setting  134  with the delivery setting  133 . If in process step  304  it is determined that the trim setting  113  is less than the delivery setting  133 , and in process step  305  it is determined that the actual setting  134  is not greater than the delivery setting  133 , then the process proceeds with process step  310 . The process also proceeds with process step  310  in the case that in process step  304  is determined that the trim setting  113  is not less than the delivery setting  133  and in process step  306  is determined that the actual setting  134  is not less than the delivery setting  133 . Alternatively, the process proceeds with process step  311 . 
     The process steps  304 ,  305 , and  306  enable the appliance  100  to output the delivery output value until a user manually adjusts the variable control mechanism  130  according to a predetermined procedure. 
     The predetermined procedure will be explained by way of an example. The conversion element  131  is a potentiometer having a minimum value of 10 V and a maximum value of 20 V. The delivery setting  133  relates, for example, to a potentiometer value of 15 V. 
     In a first example, the trim setting  113  relates to a potentiometer value of 10 V; a potentiometer is at a left stop. The user turns the user adjusting element  132  to the right and increases the value of the actual setting  134 . Until the actual setting  134  is greater than the predetermined delivery setting, the appliance  100  is in the delivery state and outputs the predetermined delivery output value. 
     In a second example, the trim setting  113  relates to a potentiometer value of 20 V; potentiometer is at a right stop. The user turns the user adjusting element  132  to the left and decreases the value of the actual setting  134 . Until the actual setting  134  is less than the predetermined delivery setting, the appliance  100  is in the delivery state and outputs the predetermined delivery output value. 
     The appliance  100  can be manufactured using a potentiometer with a right stop or left stop. The code word of the marker  112  is not changed until the variable control mechanism  130  is adjusted by the user and an adjusted value of the variable control mechanism  130  fulfills a predetermined condition. 
     The appliance  100  is initialized in the delivery state using the processes described above. The control unit  120  automatically determines whether the appliance  100  is in a delivery state. The manufacturing process of the appliance  100  is simplified, the appliance  100  provides a more precise output value, and the appliance  100  can be assembled irrespective of the tolerances of the electrical components, for instance the tolerances of the potentiometer used to assemble the variable control mechanism  130 .