Appliance Activation via Presence and Object Recognition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance activation methods are inefficient, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and reduced user comfort, as they often require manual switching and fail to differentiate between intended appliances, activating multiple devices unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses presence detection and object recognition via sensors and cameras to automatically activate only the relevant household appliance based on the user's presence and carried objects, utilizing a wireless interface for efficient communication between appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If manual switching is used for household appliances, then user control is simple, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary activation and user comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables appliances to activate themselves automatically by detecting the user's presence and the objects they are carrying, eliminating the need for manual switching. The control device reads presence signals from sensors and object signals from cameras, then autonomously provides activation signals to the appropriate appliance, allowing the system to serve itself without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical switching with automated detection and control systems. Sensors detect user presence, cameras identify carried objects, and control devices process this information to automatically activate appliances, substituting the mechanical act of manual switching with an automated electronic control system.
2Ease of operation
If all appliances are activated when a user is detected, then user convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary activation of multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different activation decisions to different appliances based on local conditions. Instead of uniformly activating all appliances when a user is detected, the control device evaluates the specific object carried by the user and provides activation signals only to the locally relevant appliance, ensuring each appliance's activation is tailored to the specific user need.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the activation parameter from a binary state (all appliances on/off) to a selective state based on object recognition. The control device processes object signals to determine which specific appliance should be activated, changing the activation parameter from a general presence-based trigger to a specific object-based decision for each appliance.
3Device complexity
If automatic activation is implemented without object recognition, then system complexity is reduced, but activation accuracy decreases leading to wrong appliance activation
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions: it reads presence signals from sensors, detects object signals from cameras, evaluates the object signals to identify carried objects, and provides activation signals to appropriate appliances. This multi-functional approach allows a single control device to handle both presence detection and object recognition, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high activation accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for activating a household appliance (100) from a plurality of household appliances (100, 125, 130, 135), wherein the household appliances (100, 125, 130, 135) are interconnected via an interface. The method comprises a reading step, a detection step, and a provision step. The reading step is performed to read a presence signal representing a person (105) detected by a sensor (115) in the vicinity of one of the household appliances (100, 125, 130, 135). The detection step is performed to detect an object signal representing an object (110) carried by the person (105) and detected by a camera (120). The provisioning step is performed to provide an activation signal to activate at least one household appliance (100, 125, 130, 135). The activation signal is provided using the object signal.