Building Controller Light Ring for Intuitive Fault Status Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building control systems often lack intuitive status indicators, making it time-consuming and error-prone for users to identify operational status and troubleshoot faults, leading to increased maintenance costs and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A status indicator with a light ring that uses color and animation to quickly convey the operational status of building control devices, distinguishing between no faults, non-critical, and critical issues, allowing users to intuitively identify and address problems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a dot matrix display with multiple keys is used to indicate system status and faults, then the information provided is comprehensive, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for manual navigation and decoding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes in the light ring to indicate different system statuses and fault types. Different colors represent different operational states, allowing users to quickly identify issues without manual navigation or decoding of complex displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic flashing patterns of the light ring to convey different types of information. Various flash rates and patterns indicate different fault conditions, enabling intuitive status communication without requiring a complex display interface.
2Device complexity
If individual LEDs with programmed flash sequences are used to indicate system status, then the device complexity remains low, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need to decode cryptic flash sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses distinct colors in the light ring to represent different fault types and operational states. This color-coding system eliminates the need for users to decode cryptic flash sequences, as each color intuitively communicates a specific status or issue type.
Solution Approach 2:
The light ring is divided into multiple segments or zones that can be independently activated. Different segments correspond to different fault types or system components, allowing users to quickly identify specific issues without complex decoding while maintaining a simple overall structure.
3Device complexity
If no status indicator is provided to reduce device complexity, then the device complexity remains low, but the loss of time increases due to extended troubleshooting duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a color-changing light ring that provides immediate visual feedback about system status and fault types. This allows users to quickly identify and address issues without extensive troubleshooting, significantly reducing downtime while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The light ring system provides self-diagnostic information, enabling users to independently identify and troubleshoot faults without requiring complex instrumentation or expert intervention. The intuitive visual cues allow end-users to perform basic diagnostics and reduce troubleshooting time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The light ring status indicator simplifies fault identification and troubleshooting, reducing maintenance costs and downtime by providing a clear and intuitive visual representation of the system's status.
Implementation Method 1
a status indicator visible from outside of the housing, where the status indicator includes a light ring
Data Source
AI summary
A relatively simple status indicator for a building control device that helps the user more quickly and intuitively identify the operation status of the building control system and more quickly troubleshoot faults and/or other problems that may occur within the building control system. This may help reduce the cost of maintain the building control system and may help reduce unwanted downtime of the building control system.