Illuminator-Based Building Heating With Temperature-Responsive Radiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heating systems rely on fossil fuels, leading to high greenhouse gas emissions and inefficient energy consumption, and there is a need for more sustainable and cost-effective methods to maintain indoor temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A building automation system that utilizes illuminator devices for both illumination and temperature control, adjusting their radiation output based on temperature, user presence, and energy sustainability to optimize heating and reduce carbon footprint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional heating systems based on fossil fuels are used to maintain indoor temperatures, then convenient indoor temperatures can be established and maintained, but greenhouse gas emissions increase and energy efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindoor temperatureVSAvoidgreenhouse gas emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The illuminator devices are designed to perform multiple functions: providing illumination and providing heating. By making the heating function available in the illuminator devices, the patent eliminates the need for separate fossil fuel-based heating systems, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining indoor temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the illumination function and heating function into a single integrated system (the illuminator devices). This merging allows the building automation system to control both lighting and heating through a unified approach, optimizing energy usage and reducing reliance on separate fossil fuel heating systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Temperature

If dedicated heater devices are installed to maintain target temperatures, then temperature control is reliable, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget temperature maintenanceVSAvoidnumber of heater devices
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The illuminator devices are designed to perform multiple functions: providing illumination and providing heating. By making the heating function available in the illuminator devices, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated heater devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the illumination function and heating function into a single integrated system. This merging allows the building automation system to control both lighting and heating through existing illuminator devices, eliminating the need for additional dedicated heater devices and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of energy

If illuminator devices are used for both illumination and heating, then energy efficiency improves and carbon footprint decreases, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The building automation system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor temperature conditions and energy sustainability data in real-time. This feedback enables the control system to dynamically adjust the operation of illuminator devices for heating, optimizing energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprint while managing control complexity through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts the operation of illuminator devices based on real-time temperature conditions and energy sustainability data. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint by adapting heating output to actual needs, rather than operating at fixed levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Temperature

If illuminator devices increase radiation output to heat spaces, then temperature maintenance improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindoor temperature maintenanceVSAvoidenergy consumption by illuminator devices
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The building automation system uses feedback from temperature sensors and energy sustainability data to intelligently control when and how much the illuminator devices should increase their radiation output for heating. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy consumption is optimized by only increasing heating output when and where needed, rather than operating continuously at high levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts the radiation output of illuminator devices based on real-time temperature conditions and energy sustainability considerations. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain indoor temperatures effectively while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption by adapting heating output to actual environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The system efficiently maintains indoor temperatures while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging illuminator devices for both lighting and heating, optimizing energy use based on real-time and predictive energy sustainability data.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of illuminator devices (301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306) configured to emit radiation in at least the form of visible light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiation emission: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

at least a subset of said plurality of illuminator devices are configured to emit radiation in the form of infrared radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation emission: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 3

the control system is configured to, in response to finding said measured temperature to be less than said threshold temperature, make at least some of said plurality of illuminator devices increase their amount of emitted radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation heating: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP4694578A1Devices, systems, and methods for decreasing the carbon footprint of heating
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HELVAR OY AB
  • EP4694578A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4694578A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4694578A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A building automation system comprises a plurality of illuminator devices (301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306) configured to emit radiation in at least the form of visible light, and a control system (307) coupled to said plurality of illuminator devices and configured to control operation of said plurality of illuminator devices. The control system (307) is configured to receive first information (316), which is temperature information indicative of temperatures within indoor spaces in which at least some of said plurality of illuminator devices (301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306) are located, and to control the operation of said plurality of illuminator devices (301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306) on basis of at least the first information (316).