Environmental control system and carrier medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current environmental control systems in offices do not effectively utilize user position and direction information to enhance communication and productivity among employees, failing to adapt the environment to promote efficient collaboration and creative output.

Innovation Solution

An environmental control system that acquires user position and direction information to dynamically control environmental factors such as tone and image displays, optimizing the workspace for improved communication and productivity by adjusting settings based on user interactions and behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If environmental control is performed based on user position and direction information, then communication efficiency and productivity are improved, but system complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The environmental control unit integrates multiple functions including position detection, direction detection, and environmental control (lighting, temperature, audio) into a single system. This multi-functional approach improves communication efficiency by coordinating all environmental factors based on user behavior, while the centralized architecture helps manage system complexity through unified control logic.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user position and direction information, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust environmental parameters. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to user needs in real-time, improving productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through automated decision-making algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If real-time environmental adjustments are made based on user interactions, then creative output is enhanced, but energy consumption increases due to continuous monitoring and control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecreative outputVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The environmental control unit performs adjustments at periodic intervals based on changes in user position and direction, rather than continuously. This periodic action approach maintains creative output by responding to significant user interactions, while reducing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary continuous monitoring and adjustment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If multiple environmental parameters are controlled simultaneously, then user comfort and productivity are improved, but control precision becomes more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different control strategies to different environmental parameters based on their specific requirements. For example, lighting control may respond to user position with high precision, while temperature control operates on a broader scale with less stringent precision requirements. This localized quality approach maintains overall productivity while preserving control precision for each parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4372492A1Environmental control system and carrier medium
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4372492A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4372492A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4372492A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An environmental control system for controlling an environment of a space in which a user performs an activity includes a user information acquisition unit (34) to receive position information and direction information of a user. The environmental control system further includes an environmental control unit (36, 37) to control an environment of a space in which the user performs an activity, in accordance with the position information and the direction information of the user.