Indoor Air Quality Sensor Baseline Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air quality monitoring systems fail to provide residents with authentic, spatiotemporally explorable data on indoor air quality, neglecting the impact of human activity and lacking comparison with outdoor values, and do not allow users to effectively assess the effectiveness of air pollution remediation techniques.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based system that utilizes indoor air quality sensors transmitting data to a back-end data center for spatiotemporal analysis, combining with outdoor data to provide users with interactive, graphical displays on mobile devices, enabling users to annotate interventions and assess their impact on air quality over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If instantaneous air quality readings are provided, then real-time air quality information is available, but the data is dominated by human activity influence and fails to provide authentic measures of home air quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary statistical analysis to establish baseline air quality values that represent the home's air quality when unoccupied. This baseline is computed in advance and stored, allowing the system to filter out human activity influence from real-time readings while maintaining authentic measurement of the home's inherent air quality characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces statistical analysis and baseline comparison as an intermediary layer between raw sensor readings and the final air quality information presented to users. This intermediary processing layer filters out human activity dominance by comparing current readings against established baselines, thereby revealing the authentic home air quality state
2Ease of operation
If direct feedback control of air handling units is provided, then air quality control is achieved, but residents are not provided with interactive, spatiotemporally explorable data to empower experimentation and observation
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments air quality data into multiple temporal resolutions (instantaneous, short-term, long-term) and spatial locations, allowing residents to explore air quality information at different scales. This segmentation enables interactive investigation of air quality patterns without compromising the simplicity of control operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds temporal and spatial dimensions to air quality data presentation, transforming simple control feedback into multi-dimensional explorable data. Residents can navigate through time (different time periods, durations) and space (different locations in the home) to understand air quality patterns, thereby gaining empirical knowledge without complicating control operations
3Productivity
If indoor and outdoor measured values are used for ventilation control, then ventilation commands are generated, but indoor/outdoor air pollution differentials are not presented to residents in explorable formats
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by presenting indoor/outdoor air pollution differentials to residents in interactive, explorable formats. This feedback loop allows residents to observe the effectiveness of ventilation and air purification interventions by comparing indoor readings against outdoor baseline values, thereby enabling data-driven decision-making while maintaining efficient ventilation control
4Quantity of substance
If existing air pollution monitoring techniques are used, then air quality data is collected, but interfaces and analytical methods for assessing effectiveness of interventions are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes baseline air quality values before interventions are implemented. These pre-computed baselines serve as reference points against which post-intervention readings can be compared, enabling residents to assess the effectiveness of air purification and ventilation interventions without requiring complex analytical methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides feedback mechanisms that present air quality data in contexts that enable intervention effectiveness assessment. By comparing post-intervention readings against pre-established baselines and presenting differentials in explorable formats, the system empowers residents to evaluate whether their interventions (air purifiers, HVAC cleaning, behavioral changes) are achieving desired air quality improvements
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 users to understand and improve indoor air quality by providing actionable insights into air quality trends, allowing for effective comparison with outdoor pollution and assessing the efficacy of interventions, thus empowering residents to enhance air quality in their homes.
Implementation Method 1
particles are counted, typically in particles per liter, by measuring the scattering of collimated light in a dark chamber off individual particles
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-based systems and methods characterize indoor air quality in a particular building having multiple locations therein. The system comprises a back-end data center, at least one indoor air quality sensor located inside the particular building, and a graphical display device. The indoor air quality sensor(s) transmits time-stamped air quality readings collected by it to the data center via a computer network. The data center computes spatiotemporal air quality measures for the particular building based on the time-stamped air quality readings from the indoor air quality sensor(s) and transmits the computed spatiotemporal air quality measures to the graphical display device for display to the user/resident.