Distributor Relay Logic for Apartment Doorphone Wiring Flexibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing doorphone systems for apartment houses do not fully utilize existing wiring, leading to inefficient device arrangements and limited flexibility in selecting optimal device configurations based on wiring states.

Innovation Solution

A doorphone system that combines daisy chain and star-type wiring, utilizing a distributor with a relay unit and controller to match key numbers from a lobby interphone to room monitors, allowing for optimal device arrangement according to existing wiring configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a distributor is connected to one monitor using existing two-wire cable wiring, then installation is simple and cost-effective, but the wiring cannot be fully utilized and device arrangement flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice arrangement flexibilityVSAvoidwiring configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor incorporates a relay unit that can dynamically switch connection states between multiple monitors based on received signals, transforming a static wiring configuration into a dynamic one that adapts to different communication needs while utilizing the same physical infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational state parameter of the distributor from a fixed single-monitor connection to a controllable multi-monitor connection state, allowing the same physical wiring to serve different device arrangements by changing connection states rather than physical configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If distributors are connected in daisy chain type with star-type wiring to multiple monitors, then device arrangement flexibility is improved, but wiring complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice arrangement flexibilityVSAvoidwiring structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor internally segments multiple two-wire cable connections through separate relay circuits, allowing each monitor to be independently controlled while sharing the same physical wiring infrastructure, thus achieving star-type wiring functionality without proportionally increasing wiring complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relay unit acts as an intermediary between the single incoming two-wire cable and multiple monitors, enabling the distributor to create multiple logical connections from a single physical connection point, thereby simplifying the overall wiring structure while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3367652B1Distributor, doorphone system, and communication method
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3367652B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3367652B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3367652B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a doorphone system for an apartment house, it is possible to select optimum equipment arrangement according to the state of existing wiring. In the case of receiving a signal indicating a key number from an incoming AM signal identifier, a state controller determines whether or not the key number matches any one of the key numbers of room monitors stored in a connection destination storage. In a case where the key numbers match, the state controller determines that the room monitor of a communicating counterpart is connected to the own device, switches a connection destination of a first relay to a third relay side, connects the second relay, connects the third relay to the terminal corresponding to the matched key number, and opens a communication path between the room monitor of the communicating counterpart and a lobby interphone.