Home Automation Actuator Impedance Modulation for Adaptive Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication methods between power supply and communication entities and electric actuators in home automation systems are limited by the need for dedicated interfaces, which increase costs and complexity, and are not adaptable to varying conditions such as temperature changes, restricting communication to a subset of actuators and requiring pre-defined data rates and formats.
Innovation Solution
A method where the power supply and communication entity generates a supply signal that the actuator responds to, with the actuator varying its impedance to transmit information, allowing for adaptive communication by detecting temporal sequences of the response signal, enabling communication with different actuators under variable conditions without additional dedicated components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated wired interfaces (UART, USB) are used for communication between power supply entity and actuator, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power supply and communication functions into a single communication channel. The power supply entity and actuator exchange both power and data through the same electrical connection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated communication interfaces like UART or USB. This merging reduces component count and system complexity while maintaining reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing power supply wires are made multi-functional by enabling them to carry both electrical power and communication signals. This universal usage of the same physical medium for multiple purposes eliminates the need for additional dedicated communication infrastructure, reducing overall device complexity and cost.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pre-defined data rates and formats are required for communication, then communication stability is improved, but adaptability to different actuators deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system dynamically adapts its data rate and format based on the specific actuator being addressed. Rather than requiring pre-defined fixed parameters, the system can adjust communication characteristics in real-time to match the capabilities of different actuators, ensuring both stability and broad compatibility across the product range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables changes in communication parameters such as data rate and format depending on the actuator type and operating conditions. This flexibility allows the system to optimize communication for each specific device while maintaining stable operation, resolving the contradiction between fixed parameters and adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If communication parameters are fixed in advance, then programming simplicity is improved, but communication speed under variable conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system transitions from static pre-defined parameters to dynamic parameter adjustment. The data rate and communication format can be modified based on real-time conditions such as temperature variations and actuator response characteristics, enabling faster communication when conditions permit while maintaining simplicity through automated adaptation.
4Device complexity
If temperature variations are not compensated, then system simplicity is maintained, but communication reliability under variable conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor communication quality and detect the impact of temperature variations. Based on this feedback, the communication parameters are automatically adjusted to compensate for environmental changes, maintaining reliable communication without requiring complex temperature compensation hardware or manual calibration.
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
This approach allows for efficient and adaptable communication with various actuators, reducing costs and complexity by using existing wires for both power supply and communication, and automatically adjusting data transfer rates to optimize communication speed based on operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator varying its impedance to transmit information
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~3b
AI summary
A method for communicating a home automation actuator comprising an electric motor for driving a moving element in a building and two electrical terminals allowing the actuator to be powered by a power supply and communication unit (PSU) and communication between the actuator and the PSU, the method comprising the steps: - analysis of a power supply signal provided by the power supply and communication unit; - generation of a first time sequence of a response signal, representative of a first predetermined calibration information element, called the first calibration sequence; emission of a series of time sequences of the response signal, representative of a series of information elements, each information element of this series, equal to the calibration information element, being represented by a time sequence image of the first calibration sequence.