Distributed Intelligent Receptacles for Building Control Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized building control systems face issues such as complete system failures due to controller failures, difficulties in overcoming communication, sensor, or actuator failures, and limitations in scalability and power efficiency, making them expensive to expand and operate.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed building control system with controllable receptacles that include switches, motion sensors, transceivers, and controllers, allowing for logical groupings of building fixtures to operate independently and share sensor information, thereby distributing intelligence and redundancy across the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized control system is used, then control decisions can be made centrally, but the system fails completely when the controller fails and requires excessive power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized control system into multiple distributed intelligent fixtures, each with its own controller. Each fixture can independently make control decisions and operate autonomously, eliminating the single point of failure in centralized systems. The fixtures communicate with each other through a mesh network, distributing both control functions and communication pathways throughout the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized control system is used, then control decisions can be made centrally, but expansion becomes expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Each intelligent fixture is self-configuring and automatically joins the network when powered on. The fixtures autonomously discover each other and establish communication pathways without requiring manual configuration or centralized setup. This self-service capability dramatically simplifies system expansion, as new fixtures can be added independently without affecting existing devices or requiring system-wide reconfiguration.
3Reliability
If redundant control points are introduced, then system reliability improves, but complexity and additional failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function into every fixture in the system, creating redundancy inherently rather than adding separate redundant components. Each fixture serves as both a controlled device and a control point for itself and neighboring fixtures. This approach provides reliability through distribution without the complexity of traditional redundancy schemes, as the redundant functionality emerges naturally from the distributed architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses and systems of a controllable receptacle are disclosed. One apparatus includes at least one switch, wherein the at least one switch connects an input power connection received by the controllable receptacle to a receptacle output when the at least one switch is closed, a motion sensor for sensing motion, a transceiver for communicating with other devices, and a controller. For an embodiment, the controller operative to determine an association of the controllable receptacle with a motion group, wherein the motion group comprises a plurality of devices, wherein the controller communicates with at least one of the plurality of devices, determines that the controllable receptacle is to be activated based on the motion sensor sensing motion or a motion sensor of a device of the motion group sensing motion, and closes the at least one switch when determining the controllable receptacle is to be activated.