Controller modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building control systems are model-free, making them difficult to manage and optimize as complexity increases, lacking self-knowledge for programming and interconnection governance between components, and limited in understanding resource connections to controllers.
Innovation Solution
A module with a circuit board, processor, and memory that provides functions to resource connectors, allowing for voltage, current, and power monitoring, and a display screen for monitoring results, enabling easy setup and management of resources within electrical controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a model-free approach is used for building controls, then implementation is simple, but management and optimization become difficult as system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-identification and self-characterization automatically. When a resource connects to the controller, it automatically provides its identification data and operational characteristics without requiring manual configuration or programming, enabling the system to manage itself
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives feedback from resources about their operational status, performance metrics, and connection state. This feedback mechanism enables automatic optimization and management decisions based on real-time system conditions
2Device complexity
If traditional controllers are used without integrated monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but voltage, current, and power monitoring capabilities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The controller integrates multiple previously separate functions into a single unified device: resource connection interface, identification processing, and electrical parameter monitoring (voltage, current, power). This consolidation eliminates the need for separate monitoring devices while capturing comprehensive operational data
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration is used for resource setup, then adaptability to different resources is improved, but setup time and user effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
Resources automatically provide their own identification data and operational characteristics to the controller upon connection. This self-characterization eliminates the need for manual configuration while maintaining full adaptability to different resource types through automatic parameter detection
4Reliability
If deep understanding of resource connections is required, then connection reliability is improved, but system complexity and programming difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Resources automatically communicate their identification data, operational characteristics, and connection status to the controller. This self-characterization provides deep understanding of connections without requiring complex programming, as the system automatically captures and processes all necessary connection information
Data Source
AI summary
A module is described which is slidably attachable to a controller. Resource wires are connected to the module through resource connectors, The module has a circuit board that can perform actions. The module can modify the function of its resource connectors. These modifications may be to meet the requirements of resources that are to be connected to the module. The module may be able to monitor voltage, current, or power, or check for faults on the wire. The results of such monitoring may be displayed on a screen associated with the controller.