Active Sensor Set Point Adjustment for Hygienic Building Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional set point adjustment methods in building control systems require physical interaction, which can be unsanitary and inconvenient, especially in environments where hygiene is a concern or where accidental activation is a risk.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an active sensor to initiate set point adjustments based on the distance and time an object is sensed from the sensor, allowing adjustments without physical contact and reducing accidental initiation, using a simple and cost-effective setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If physical buttons are used for set point adjustment, then device complexity is reduced, but hygiene is compromised and accidental activation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical button pressing with an optical sensing system using an active sensor to detect hand gestures and distance, eliminating the need for physical contact and thereby solving the hygiene problem while maintaining ease of manufacture through relatively simple sensor-based hardware
2Object-affected harmful factors
If camera and gesture recognition software are used for contactless adjustment, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a relatively simple and inexpensive active sensor instead of expensive camera systems and complex gesture recognition software, achieving contactless operation with minimal hygiene risk while keeping device complexity and manufacturing costs low through the use of affordable sensing technology
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in the active sensor output (distance and time values) to control set point adjustment, translating physical hand movement into control signals without requiring complex image processing or gesture recognition algorithms
3Reliability
If distance-based initiation is implemented, then accidental activation is reduced, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of hand presence at a specific distance threshold before initiating set point adjustment, allowing the system to distinguish between intentional user interaction and accidental sensor triggering, thereby improving reliability without requiring extremely high measurement precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy, hygienic, and intuitive set point adjustments in building control systems, reducing the complexity and cost of implementation while providing user feedback and minimizing accidental changes.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor from which some kind of signals are transmitted which then is reflected, refracted of scattered and the measured when received by the sensor again
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3d
Figure 4a~4d
AI summary
The present invention relates to a building control system, and more particular to a method and a device for set point adjustment in a building control system. The device (308) for set point adjustment comprises an active sensor configured to sense the distance to an object (310), for example at a first distance (304) and at a second distance (312). In response to sensing the movement of the object (310), the device (308) adjusts the set point from a first set point to a second set point. The second set point depends on the first set point and an offset between the first distance (304) and the second distance (312).