HVAC Camera and Microphone Control for Occupancy-Aware Climate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional HVAC systems rely solely on temperature, humidity, and air quality sensors, failing to adapt to specific user preferences or environmental conditions, leading to inefficient energy consumption and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
Integration of image sensors and microphones into HVAC systems to capture and analyze data for recognizing user presence, activities, and environmental conditions, allowing the controller to dynamically adjust settings such as temperature, ventilation, and air quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional sensors (temperature, humidity, air quality) are used to control HVAC systems, then basic climate control is achieved, but the system cannot adapt to user presence or specific environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces image sensors and microphones as intermediary devices that detect user presence and activities without direct user interaction. These sensors capture visual and audio data, which the controller then processes to determine whether users are present and what activities they are engaged in, enabling the HVAC system to adapt accordingly.
2Use of energy by moving object
If HVAC systems operate based on fixed schedules and sensor data, then energy consumption is manageable, but energy efficiency is reduced due to inability to respond to actual user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors user presence and activities through image sensors and microphones, providing real-time feedback to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts HVAC operations - such as modifying temperature settings when users are present versus absent - thereby optimizing energy efficiency while responding to actual user needs and preferences.
3Ease of operation
If image sensors and microphones are added to detect user presence, then user-specific climate control is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes data from traditional sensors (temperature, humidity, air quality) and integrates this with data from image sensors and microphones. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle various sensing inputs and make comprehensive climate control decisions without requiring separate dedicated processing units for each sensor type.
4Ease of operation
If the system continuously monitors multiple data sources (image, audio, environmental sensors), then user comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously processing all sensor data at full capacity, the system employs periodic monitoring and processing. The controller activates intensive processing only when needed - such as when user presence is detected or when environmental conditions warrant adjustment - thereby maintaining user comfort through responsive climate control while minimizing energy consumption during periods of stable conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system has an input configured to receive at least one of a first heating setting, a first ventilation setting, a first cooling setting, a first humidity setting, and a first air quality setting, at least one of an image sensor and a microphone connected to at least one component in the HVAC system, the image sensor and/or microphone being configured to capture data from a first zone, and a controller connected to the input and at least one of the image sensor and the microphone, the controller configured to control at least one of the first heating setting, the first ventilation setting, the first cooling setting, the first humidity setting, and the first air quality setting in response to receiving the data from at least one of the image sensor and the microphone.