Bus-Linked DIN Rail Actuators for One-Touch Status Display

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical/electronic installation systems in buildings require cumbersome and time-consuming manual operation to activate and deactivate display elements for multiple actuators, necessitating frequent activation to monitor load output statuses, which is inefficient and energy-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A bus-connected actuator system where a single manual actuation of a first actuating element can activate and control the display elements of all actuators, utilizing a logic unit and microcontroller to broadcast control signals via a KNX bus system, allowing simultaneous status overview of load outputs with optional manual control and energy-saving standby mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If display elements are activated temporarily to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but user operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiduser operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of display elements across multiple actuators into a single unified control mechanism. By combining individual actuator controls with a central control unit, a single actuation of any first actuating element triggers simultaneous display activation across all actuators, eliminating the need to manually activate each display separately and resolving the contradiction between energy saving and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed with universal functionality to manage display elements of multiple actuators through a single control interface. This multi-functional control mechanism allows one actuating element to perform the function of activating all displays simultaneously, maintaining energy-saving temporary activation while dramatically improving operational convenience

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

2Loss of energy

If display elements are deactivated automatically after a short time, then energy is saved, but the user must repeatedly activate them to monitor status

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy wasteVSAvoidactivation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the timing and activation functions across all actuators through a centralized control mechanism. When any first actuating element is actuated, the control unit simultaneously activates display elements on all actuators and coordinates their automatic deactivation after the predetermined time period, reducing both energy waste and the time users spend repeatedly activating displays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary coordination of display activation across all actuators through the control unit. By pre-establishing the simultaneous activation protocol and automatic timing mechanism, the system eliminates the need for users to spend time individually activating each display, while maintaining energy-saving automatic deactivation after the set period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3731039B1Electric/electronic installation system
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 INSTA ELEKTRO GMBH
  • EP3731039B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3731039B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An electrical/electronic installation system for buildings is proposed, comprising at least two actuators interconnected via a bus system, each designed as a DIN rail device, each having multiple load outputs intended for influencing connected loads, each load output being assigned at least one display element, and each actuator having multiple first actuation elements intended for the on-demand, manual influencing of the connected loads, and at least one second actuation element being provided for programming and/or influencing an actuator's internal logic unit, and in each case, triggered by the actuation of one of the first actuation elements via the logic unit of each actuator, at least one display element of the respective actuator can be influenced.For the purpose of creating an electrical/electronic installation system for buildings in which the activation of the display elements associated with the load outputs of all actuators of the electrical/electronic installation arrangement is carried out by a single manual actuation of a single first actuation element of any actuator, the logic unit of each actuator is connected to each other via the bus system for the purpose of simultaneously influencing display elements of several actuators, and the logic unit of each actuator has an actuation element evaluation stage and a display element activation stage.