Building Management System Wiring Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current building management systems lack efficient tools for comparing actual wiring with target wiring, leading to complex and costly manual verification processes, which can result in malfunctions due to incorrect sensor and actuator connections.

Innovation Solution

A building management system that assigns memory to each sensor and actuator for storing application-specific and position-specific data, with an evaluation unit that automatically generates and compares actual and target wiring diagrams, allowing for automated verification without additional hardware, using an interface module as an adapter plug to connect the evaluation unit to input/output units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual verification of wiring is performed by installers, then wiring correctness can be checked, but the process becomes complex and expensive requiring multiple personnel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring correctnessVSAvoidverification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The building management system performs self-verification by automatically reading data from sensors and actuators connected to I/O units, comparing actual wiring against target wiring diagrams, and generating verification results without requiring external installers or manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical verification process performed by installers is replaced by an automated electronic system that uses data reading, processing, and automatic comparison algorithms to verify wiring correctness

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

2Reliability

If manual verification of wiring is performed by installers, then wiring correctness can be checked, but the process is time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring correctnessVSAvoidverification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically verifies its own wiring configuration by reading data from connected devices and comparing against target diagrams, eliminating the time required for manual verification by multiple installers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The verification process can be performed continuously or at any stage during installation without interrupting the workflow, as the system automatically reads and compares data whenever needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If sensors and actuators are connected to I/O units during installation, then the building management system becomes functional, but wiring errors may occur leading to malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidwiring correctness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback by comparing actual wiring data against target wiring diagrams and generating verification results, allowing installers to correct errors before they cause malfunctions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The verification is performed as a preliminary check during the installation process itself, identifying and correcting wiring errors before the system is fully commissioned and becomes operational

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2264656B1Building management system
Publication Date: 2011.06.29 HONEYWELL TECHNOLOGIES SARL
  • EP2264656B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The building management system (10) has multiple sensors (12), actuators (13), and input or output units distributed over a building. Each sensor or actuator is assigned to a memory (15), in which application specific data of the respective sensor or actuator is stored. An evaluation unit (16) is coupled with each input or output unit. The evaluation unit generates an actual-wiring plan from the selected data.