Electrical apparatus and method for adaptive control of an electrical apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems face challenges in accurately detecting human subjects, leading to false recognition and incorrect activation or deactivation of the apparatus, especially when subjects move or change positions.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a combination of an infrared detection means and a spatial detection means, such as an ultrasonic sensor, associated with a processing board to accurately detect the presence and distance of a human subject, preventing false signals and enabling adaptive control of the air conditioning apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single passive infrared sensor is used to detect subject presence, then the device is economical and consumes little energy, but it can only detect movement and cannot detect stationary subjects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a passive infrared sensor (for detecting thermal radiation from subjects) with an ultrasonic sensor (for detecting movement via sound wave reflection). This merging of different detection technologies allows the system to overcome the limitations of each individual sensor type and achieve reliable detection of both stationary and moving subjects.
2Reliability
If multiple infrared sensors are used to detect stationary subjects, then subject presence can be detected accurately, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple infrared sensors to detect stationary subjects, the patent merges a single passive infrared sensor with a single ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor detects movement through reflection, allowing the system to identify both stationary and moving subjects without requiring multiple infrared sensors, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving reliable detection.
3Measurement precision
If active ultrasonic sensors are used to measure distance, then distance detection is achieved, but the sensors are insensitive to movement in the orthogonal direction and require integration with other sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates an active ultrasonic sensor with a passive infrared sensor. The ultrasonic sensor provides distance measurement through time-of-flight calculation, while the infrared sensor detects thermal radiation from subjects. This combination allows the system to achieve both distance measurement and subject detection capabilities without requiring complex multi-sensor configurations.
4Reliability
If complex sensor integration (infrared, acoustic, ultrasonic, microwave) is used, then subject detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges only two sensor types - a passive infrared sensor and an ultrasonic sensor - to achieve reliable subject detection. This selective combination provides the necessary detection accuracy without the excessive complexity and cost associated with integrating four or more different sensor types (infrared, acoustic, ultrasonic, microwave).
Solution Approach 2:
The combined sensor system performs multiple functions: the ultrasonic sensor measures distance and detects movement, while the infrared sensor detects subject presence through thermal radiation. This multi-functionality allows a simple two-sensor configuration to replace complex multi-sensor systems while maintaining detection accuracy.
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 solution effectively prevents false activations and deactivations, ensuring continuous and automatic regulation of the air conditioning system based on the subject's position, thereby improving energy efficiency and user comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared detection means and a spatial detection means, such as an ultrasonic sensor
Implementation Method 2
a spatial detection means, such as an ultrasonic sensor
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
An electric apparatus comprises at least one functional component (16, 17, 18) suitable to modify at least one environmental characteristic of an internal space (11) and a device for detecting a subject (S) suitable to detect the presence and the distance of a subject (S) with respect to the device itself. The invention also concerns a method for the adaptive control of the electric apparatus as a function of a continuous detection over time of a subject (S) in the space (11), preventing incorrect presence/absence detection signals.