Bluetooth-Based Occupancy Detection for Adaptive HVAC Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HVAC systems in buildings are manually controlled, making it inconvenient to adaptively adjust environmental conditions based on dynamic changes in the number of people in a spatial region, leading to inefficient energy use and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses Bluetooth signals from living organisms to automatically control air terminal devices in a spatial region by determining the quantity and density of people, allowing for real-time adjustment of environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual control of air terminal devices is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to occupancy changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to occupancy changesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service control where the HVAC system automatically adjusts air terminal devices based on detected occupancy. The Bluetooth signal detection and automatic control mechanisms allow the system to serve itself without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction by providing adaptability through automated occupancy-based control while maintaining relative simplicity in the control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated electronic control system using Bluetooth signal detection. This substitution introduces adaptability through sensor-based occupancy detection and automated control algorithms, while the electronic system maintains manageable complexity through standardized communication protocols and centralized control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual control of air terminal devices is used, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity in responding to occupancy changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to occupancy changesVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by continuously detecting Bluetooth signals from occupied devices and automatically adjusting air terminal devices in response. This closed-loop feedback mechanism dramatically improves productivity in responding to occupancy changes, while the automated nature of the feedback loop eliminates the need for manual operation, maintaining ease of operation through set-and-forget functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The automated control system performs self-service by automatically detecting occupancy through Bluetooth signals and adjusting HVAC parameters without requiring user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by achieving rapid response to occupancy changes through automated detection and control, while maintaining ease of operation through elimination of manual control tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional thermostats are used for control, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to dynamic occupancy changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintelligent adaptive control capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating Bluetooth signal detection, occupancy analysis, and HVAC control into a unified platform. This universal control system provides intelligent adaptive control capabilities while managing complexity through consolidated architecture that handles multiple functions (detection, analysis, control) within a single system framework rather than separate dedicated devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes conventional mechanical thermostat control with an electronic system based on Bluetooth signal detection and digital processing. This substitution enables intelligent adaptive control by replacing simple temperature sensing with sophisticated occupancy-aware control algorithms, while the electronic architecture manages complexity through software-based control logic and standardized communication interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3480530B1Biosome counting and device controlling for a predetermined space region
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 CARRIER CORP
  • EP3480530B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3480530B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3480530B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to statistics on living organisms in a predetermined spatial region and device control and belongs to the technical field of intelligent control over devices in buildings. A living organism statistical system in a predetermined spatial region according to the 5present invention includes Bluetooth modules that can be carried by living organisms and configured to broadcast a Bluetooth signal to the predetermined spatial region, and a living organism statistical device mounted in the predetermined spatial region and configured to receive Bluetooth signals from one or more of the Bluetooth modules and obtain quantity information of living organisms in the predetermined spatial region based on the received Bluetooth signals. The 10present invention can implement automatic determination of quantity information of living organisms in a predetermined spatial region, and therefore, the present invention can dynamically control one or more air terminal devices of an HVAC system in a self-adaptive manner according to changes in the quantity information.