Equipment management system

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing equipment management systems are unable to effectively condition the indoor air environment before a person enters the room while minimizing energy loss, as they primarily rely on assumptions about occupancy rather than precise detection of a person's return time.

Innovation Solution

An equipment management system comprising indoor environment control devices, a control terminal, and a mobile communication device that communicates via a public line to detect the user's home-return time, allowing for precise conditioning of the air environment using outside air and minimizing energy loss by activating or deactivating indoor environment control devices accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the system conditions the air environment continuously to maintain comfort, then the indoor air quality and temperature comfort are improved, but energy loss increases due to unnecessary operation when no person is present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindoor air environmentVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting the user's return time in advance and conditioning the indoor air environment before the user actually returns home. The prediction unit estimates when the user will return based on historical data and patterns, and the control unit activates the air conditioning system accordingly, so the comfortable environment is ready when needed without continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses self-service by automatically detecting occupancy status through sensors and predicting user return times without requiring manual input. The prediction unit and control unit work autonomously to determine when air conditioning should be activated, eliminating the need for continuous manual control while optimizing energy usage based on actual occupancy patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the system activates air conditioning in advance to prepare the environment, then the comfort upon user return is improved, but energy loss increases due to premature operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort upon returnVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting the user's return time in advance and conditioning the indoor air environment before the user actually returns home. The prediction unit estimates when the user will return based on historical data and patterns, and the control unit activates the air conditioning system accordingly, so the comfortable environment is ready when needed without continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring occupancy sensors and comparing actual occupancy status with predicted return times. The control unit adjusts the air conditioning operation based on this feedback, activating the system only when prediction indicates user return is imminent, thereby optimizing the balance between comfort preparation and energy conservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the system relies on occupancy sensors to detect presence, then the control accuracy is improved, but the system cannot condition the environment before a person enters the room

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupancy detection accuracyVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting the user's return time in advance and conditioning the indoor air environment before the user actually returns home. The prediction unit estimates when the user will return based on historical data and patterns, and the control unit activates the air conditioning system accordingly, so the comfortable environment is ready when needed without continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary approach by introducing a prediction unit that bridges the gap between occupancy detection and actual user return. The prediction unit analyzes sensor data and historical patterns to estimate future occupancy, acting as an intermediary that enables proactive environmental control before the occupancy sensor directly detects the user's presence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10760810B2Equipment management system

Publication Date: 2020.09.01 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

Equipment management system including two or more indoor environment control devices controlling the air environment in an indoor space; and control terminal connected to each of indoor environment control devices and configured to send and receive information to and from them. Control terminal includes external communication unit that communicates with mobile communication device connected through a public line; condition acquiring unit that acquires information related to an operating condition of indoor environment control devices from mobile communication device through external communication unit; operating condition determination unit that determines an operating condition of indoor environment control devices based on information acquired by condition acquiring unit; and control unit that operates indoor environment control devices under the operating condition determined by operating condition determination unit.