HVAC Device Self-Locating System for Hidden Equipment Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating building equipment in a building management system can be challenging, especially for service technicians unfamiliar with the building or when equipment is hidden or obstructed, as existing methods lack efficient and precise location determination.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a mobile device with location-sensing electronics to request and determine the location of building management system (BMS) devices, including an HVAC system, using GPS, altimeters, and wireless signal strength to provide accurate positioning, and an augmented reality interface to visually overlay the location of BMS devices within the building environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional manual locating methods are used by service technicians, then no additional equipment is required, but the time to locate building equipment increases significantly and accuracy decreases when equipment is hidden or obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary tool between the service technician and the building equipment. The mobile device contains a database of equipment locations and provides guidance to technicians, acting as a mediator that bridges the gap between the technician and hidden equipment without requiring the technician to manually search through buildings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of physically searching for equipment with an electronic/digital system. The mobile device uses electronic databases, GPS coordinates, and digital interfaces to locate equipment, substituting the mechanical approach of manual inspection and physical navigation with automated electronic location determination.
2Measurement precision
If service technicians manually search for building equipment, then no technology infrastructure is needed, but measurement precision of equipment location decreases and search time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service location determination where the mobile device automatically queries its internal database and determines equipment locations without requiring manual intervention. The device autonomously provides location information, directions, and guidance to the technician, eliminating the need for manual searching and improving both precision and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device provides continuous feedback to the service technician regarding equipment location, directional guidance, and navigation instructions. This feedback loop allows the technician to quickly locate equipment by following real-time directional information rather than performing random or systematic manual searches, significantly improving location precision and reducing search time.
3Area of stationary object
If building equipment is installed in hidden or obstructed locations, then space utilization improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring equipment location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy or representation of the physical building layout and equipment locations within the mobile device's database. This digital twin or virtual model allows the system to locate and guide to hidden equipment without requiring the technician to physically see or access the equipment immediately, as the digital copy contains precise location information regardless of physical obstructions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for locating building equipment in a building management system (BMS) are provided. An HVAC system includes an HVAC controller and an HVAC device. The HVAC device includes processing circuit including a memory and a processor. The processing circuit automatically determining a location of the HVAC device reporting the location of the HVAC device to the HVAC controller.