Electrochromic Window Monitoring for Adaptive Multi-Site Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electrically tintable windows, such as electrochromic windows, are increasingly deployed, there is a need for sophisticated control and monitoring systems to manage large installations effectively, as they generate a significant amount of data and require advanced techniques for managing performance, user preferences, and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A site monitoring system that analyzes data from remote sites with switchable optical devices, learns user preferences, and adapts control logic to meet customer goals, including identifying and correcting performance issues, predicting occupancy, and optimizing energy usage by integrating with HVAC and lighting systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If switchable optical devices are widely deployed in large installations, then the coverage and applicability of the system is improved, but the complexity of control and monitoring systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is divided into multiple independent monitoring devices, each responsible for specific switchable optical devices at remote sites. Each monitoring device independently collects data, generates fingerprints, and monitors performance metrics for its assigned devices, allowing the system to scale to large installations without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital fingerprints (copies) of switchable optical devices that capture their electrical characteristics and performance profiles. These fingerprints serve as reference models for detecting anomalies and performance degradation, enabling automated monitoring without requiring complex physical inspection systems.
2Reliability
If sophisticated control and monitoring systems are implemented to manage large installations, then the reliability of performance management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system continuously collects electrical data from switchable optical devices, compares actual performance against stored fingerprints and expected performance regions, and generates alerts when deviations are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable performance management by automatically detecting and reporting issues without requiring complex manual inspection procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically analyzing electrical data from switchable optical devices, comparing it against stored fingerprints, and identifying performance issues without external intervention. The monitoring devices autonomously generate notifications when devices operate outside expected performance regions, reducing the need for complex centralized control.
3Measurement precision
If data from multiple remote sites is collected and analyzed, then the measurement precision of performance monitoring is improved, but the quantity of data to be managed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates compact digital fingerprints that encapsulate the essential electrical characteristics of each switchable optical device. These fingerprints serve as condensed representations of device performance, allowing precise comparison and anomaly detection without requiring storage and processing of large volumes of raw electrical data from multiple remote sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system transforms raw electrical data into standardized performance metrics and compares them against expected performance regions defined by device fingerprints. By changing the parameter representation from raw data to normalized performance indicators, the system achieves precise multi-site monitoring while managing data quantity efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A site monitoring system may analyze information from sites to determine when a device, a sensor, a controller, or other structure associated with optically switchable devices has a problem. The system may, if appropriate, act on the problem. In certain embodiments, the system learns customer/user preferences and adapts its control logic to meet the customer's goals.