Heating thermostat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating thermostats are difficult to use and have limited ability to monitor room parameters due to single sensors being easily shaded, leading to inefficient temperature control and user frustration.
Innovation Solution
A heating thermostat with an interactive touch-sensitive screen for user-friendly parameter setting and at least two sensors with wide detection fields, ensuring comprehensive environmental parameter detection regardless of installation position, along with a data processing unit for adaptive temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor is used for detecting room parameters, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to shading from installation position
Solution Approach 1:
The single sensor is divided into multiple sensors (at least two sensors with detection fields). This segmentation allows the system to overcome the shading problem by having multiple detection zones that collectively cover the entire room, ensuring that at least one sensor remains unshaded regardless of installation position.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors are arranged in different spatial positions and orientations around the housing. By distributing sensors in multiple dimensions (different locations and angles), the system ensures comprehensive room coverage where at least one sensor maintains an unshaded detection field regardless of how the thermostat is installed.
2Device complexity
If an input unit with multiple menus and rocker switches is used, then the heating parameters can be adjusted, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to confusing navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical rocker switches and multi-menu navigation system are replaced with a touch-sensitive screen interface. This substitution allows users to直观ly see and select parameters on a graphical display, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple menu levels and press physical switches, thereby significantly improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive screen displays visual representations of heating parameters and controls that mimic familiar smartphone or tablet interfaces. This copying of familiar UI patterns from consumer electronics makes the thermostat intuitive to use, reducing the learning curve and operational complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the thermostat is installed in a wall niche for compactness, then the device fits better in standard locations, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to sensor shading
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the sensing function across multiple sensors positioned at different locations on the housing, the system maintains accurate room parameter detection even when installed in compact wall niches. The distributed sensor arrangement ensures that at least one sensor remains accessible to room air flow despite the confined installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors are positioned asymmetrically around the housing in strategic locations that maximize their detection fields. This asymmetric arrangement, combined with appropriate detection angles (0° to 360°), ensures comprehensive room monitoring regardless of the thermostat's installation orientation or position within the wall niche.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user experience through intuitive settings and comprehensive parameter detection, preventing shading issues and improving energy efficiency by accurately monitoring and controlling room temperature.
Implementation Method 1
The input unit is designed as an interactive, touch-sensitive screen, in particular a touchscreen
Implementation Method 2
The heating thermostat according to the invention further comprises at least two sensors arranged on or in the housing, each having a detection field for detecting ambient parameters
Implementation Method 3
The sensors are preferably designed as motion sensors, infrared sensors, radar sensors, temperature sensors or ultrasonic sensors
Implementation Method 4
The heating thermostat according to the invention further comprises a data processing unit for, on the one hand, implementing the control commands entered via the screen or touchscreen and, on the other hand, the ambient parameters of the heating thermostat detected by the at least two sensors
Implementation Method 5
To implement the control values calculated in the data processing unit, the heating thermostat additionally comprises a control unit for the heating thermostat, for example, for the degree of opening of the thermostat valve
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a heating thermostat comprising, arranged on or in a housing: an input unit designed as an interactive, touch-sensitive screen, in particular a touchscreen; at least two sensors with detection fields for detecting environmental parameters of the heating thermostat; a data processing unit; a control unit; and a detection unit for heating parameters of a heating unit directly associated with the heating thermostat, in particular a radiator and/or underfloor heating and/or a higher-level heating system, wherein the sensors are arranged relative to the input unit or the screen such that, regardless of the installation position of the heating thermostat, the detection fields are aligned in such a way that substantially complete detection of all environmental parameters is achieved; and a heating system comprising several consumers and at least one heating thermostat assigned to each consumer.