Floorplan Load Control Interface With Historical Energy Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current load control systems are inefficient and unintuitive, making it difficult for users to monitor and control electrical loads, as they lack the ability to display information for multiple devices simultaneously, require unnecessary navigation, and fail to provide detailed historical energy usage data, leading to inefficient energy management.
Innovation Solution
A load control system comprising electrical load control devices and a computing device with a graphical user interface that receives data from sensors and devices, providing graphical representations of load control information, allowing users to control and monitor multiple devices, access historical data, and receive alerts for energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current load control systems are used to monitor and control electrical loads, then basic control functionality is provided, but user interaction is inefficient and unintuitive, making it difficult to monitor and control multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building into multiple floor plans, each displayed as a separate graphical representation. Users can navigate between floors and select specific rooms to monitor, breaking down the complex task of monitoring multiple devices into manageable segments organized by location.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical user interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays the status of multiple load control devices, allows users to control devices, provides historical energy usage data, and sends alerts. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate interfaces for each function, improving ease of operation.
2Loss of information
If traditional control interfaces are used, then individual device control is possible, but information for multiple devices cannot be displayed simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from displaying information in a single dimension (one device at a time) to multiple dimensions by showing multiple floor plans and rooms simultaneously on the graphical interface. Users can view status information for multiple devices across different locations at the same time, eliminating information loss.
3Loss of energy
If detailed historical energy usage data is collected, then energy management capability is improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system collects historical energy usage data from load control devices and provides feedback to users through the graphical interface, including visual indicators of energy consumption and alerts for inefficient usage. This feedback mechanism enables users to make informed decisions to reduce energy waste without requiring complex manual analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors and analyzes energy usage data, generating alerts and recommendations without requiring user intervention. The load control devices and graphical interface work together to self-service the energy management function, reducing the complexity burden on users while maintaining detailed energy tracking.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control functions are provided, then system versatility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to unnecessary navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple control functions (monitoring, controlling, historical data access, and alerting) into a single integrated graphical user interface. Users can access all these functions without navigating through multiple separate interfaces or menus, improving ease of operation while maintaining full versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A load control system may comprise an electrical load control device and/or a computing device. The electrical load control device may control, for example, motorized window treatments (e.g., shades), lighting controls, and/or sensors (e.g., occupancy, radio window, daylight, etc.). For example, a load control device comprising a motorized window treatment may control the position of a covering material in the window treatment. The computing device may comprise a processor and/or a graphical user interface (GUI). The computing device may be a server and/or a user device, such as a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular phone, tablet, or laptop computer). The computing device may be configured to provide graphical representations that may be displayed on a GUI based on load control information.