Biometric air conditioning control system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biometric air conditioning control systems require frequent occupant input and sharing of sensitive biometric data, and struggle to handle multiple occupants with varying comfort levels, especially distinguishing between primary and transitory occupants.

Innovation Solution

A biometric air conditioning control system that includes a local electronic device and a mobile device with sensors and processors to measure and compare ambient and biometric parameters, using a beacon signal for authentication and profile matrix data to adjust temperature and humidity settings based on occupant comfort levels, with the mobile device capable of learning and processing gestures to determine occupant intent and comfort preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the system uses biometric sensors to automatically detect occupant comfort levels, then the need for frequent manual occupant input is reduced, but the system requires collecting and processing sensitive biometric data which raises privacy concerns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant input frequencyVSAvoidbiometric data privacy risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a local thermostat device as an intermediary that processes biometric data locally rather than transmitting raw biometric information to remote servers. The thermostat acts as a mediator between the mobile device and the HVAC system, performing computations and making control decisions based on processed biometric data while maintaining data privacy at the edge device level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements local processing of biometric data at the thermostat device rather than centralized cloud processing. This local quality approach ensures that sensitive biometric information remains within the local network environment, reducing exposure to external privacy risks while still enabling automated comfort control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system is designed to handle multiple occupants with different comfort preferences, then the system becomes more versatile, but it becomes more complex to determine which occupant's preferences to prioritize

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-occupant supportVSAvoidoccupant identification and prioritization logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing occupant profiles and preferences in advance through the mobile application. During operation, the system automatically identifies occupants based on their mobile devices and applies pre-configured preferences without requiring real-time complex decision-making about priority, thus simplifying the runtime complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies of occupant profiles and preferences stored in the mobile application and thermostat. These profile copies enable the system to recognize and differentiate between multiple occupants, applying the appropriate pre-saved preference set to each identified occupant without requiring complex real-time analysis of individual preferences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If the system continuously monitors biometric parameters to maintain optimal comfort, then occupant comfort is improved, but energy consumption of the monitoring system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort maintenance accuracyVSAvoidsensor and processing energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring of biometric parameters rather than continuous monitoring. The mobile device and thermostat periodically exchange comfort data and update HVAC settings at intervals, maintaining adequate comfort levels while significantly reducing the energy consumption associated with constant sensing, data transmission, and processing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10935265B2Biometric air conditioning control system

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 CARRIER CORP

AI summary

A biometric air conditioning control system includes a local electronic device, an ambient air parameter sensor, a mobile device, a storage medium, and a processor. The electronic device is located in an area and includes a transceiver and a near field communication device configured to broadcast a beacon signal via the transceiver. The parameter sensor is configured to measure and output measured air parameter information. The mobile device includes a human interface device, a transceiver configured to receive the beacon signal, a biometrics sensor configured to output a measured biometric information of the occupant relative to occupant comfort. The storage medium stores thermal profile matrix data, authentication data associated with the beacon signal, and a software-based application. The processor executes the application using the profile matrix data, the authentication data, occupant comfort level information inputted by the occupant via the HID, the biometric information, and the air parameter information.