Occupancy-Sensing Control Panel for Remote Energy Device Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current alarm systems and energy management technologies lack the ability to efficiently monitor and control energy-consuming devices based on user presence, occupancy patterns, and environmental conditions, leading to suboptimal energy usage and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes sensors to monitor user presence, occupancy patterns, and environmental data to automatically control energy-consuming devices such as thermostats and lighting systems, adjusting settings based on predefined rules and user profiles to optimize energy conservation and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If alarm systems are equipped with basic sensor monitoring capabilities, then security function is provided, but energy management and device control capabilities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm system control panel is enhanced to serve multiple functions: traditional security alarm control plus energy management and device control. The control panel analyzes sensor data (motion, temperature, humidity) and communicates with energy-consuming devices (thermostats, lighting, appliances) to provide integrated security and energy management in a single system, eliminating the need for separate systems.
2Loss of energy
If manual control of energy-consuming devices is used, then device operation is simple, but energy conservation is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables energy-consuming devices to be automatically controlled based on sensor data analysis without requiring manual user intervention. The control panel autonomously determines when to adjust thermostats, switch lighting, or control appliances by analyzing motion detection, temperature, and humidity data, thereby achieving energy conservation while maintaining user convenience through automated decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data (motion, temperature, humidity) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust device settings. The control panel analyzes real-time sensor inputs and communicates control commands back to energy-consuming devices, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes energy usage based on actual environmental conditions and occupancy patterns.
3Productivity
If automated control based on sensor data is implemented, then energy optimization is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is pre-configured with user-defined preferences, schedules, and control parameters during installation. These preliminary settings enable the control panel to automatically make intelligent decisions about device control without requiring complex real-time calculations or user intervention during operation. The system has already processed and stored optimal control strategies in advance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If remote monitoring capabilities are added to alarm systems, then security monitoring is enhanced, but ability to control energy devices is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The remote communication interface of the alarm system is extended to provide dual functionality: traditional security monitoring and remote device control. The control panel can both receive security alerts and send control commands to energy-consuming devices, allowing users to monitor and control devices remotely through the same interface used for security purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for providing remote device (e.g., thermostat, lighting, appliance, etc.) control and/or energy monitoring. A system monitors sensor data captured by one or more sensors that sense attributes relevant to user presence at one or more monitored properties and status of one or more energy consuming devices associated with the one or more monitored properties. The system analyzes the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to a set of one or more rules and performs an operation related to controlling the one or more energy consuming devices based on the analysis of the monitored sensor data and the monitored device status with respect to the set of one or more rules.