Indoor air quality sensor calibration systems and methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor air quality (IAQ) systems face challenges in accurately calibrating sensors and maintaining consistent readings across multiple IAQ sensor modules within the same room, leading to potential user distrust due to measurement discrepancies.
Innovation Solution
The proposed IAQ system includes a feature where two or more IAQ sensor modules measure parameters like particulate matter, VOCs, and carbon dioxide. These modules calculate an average of their readings and determine offsets to adjust their measurements, ensuring they align closely, thereby normalizing their readings. Additionally, the system accounts for sensor drift over time by determining drift offsets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple IAQ sensor modules are deployed in the same room, then measurement coverage and reliability are improved, but measurement consistency and user trust deteriorate due to reading discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines readings from multiple IAQ sensor modules by calculating an average value when sensors are located within a predetermined distance of each other and within the same room. This merging approach maintains the reliability benefits of multiple sensors while improving measurement consistency by presenting a unified, averaged reading to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives raw readings from multiple sensors, applies calibration offsets, and generates adjusted readings. This intermediary layer mediates between the physical sensors and the user interface, resolving measurement discrepancies through automated offset application and averaging before presenting data to users.
2Measurement precision
If sensor calibration is performed to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but system complexity increases due to offset determination and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically determining offsets between sensor modules and applying adjustments without requiring manual intervention. The sensors service themselves by comparing readings, calculating offsets, and applying corrections autonomously, which improves measurement precision while minimizing the complexity burden on users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration actions by determining offsets between sensor modules during initial setup or when sensors are first deployed within a predetermined distance of each other. This preliminary action establishes the foundation for consistent measurements before normal operation begins, reducing the need for ongoing complex calibration procedures.
3Reliability
If sensor drift compensation is implemented to maintain accuracy over time, then long-term measurement reliability is improved, but computational requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic drift compensation by determining drift offsets at scheduled intervals or under specific conditions rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains long-term measurement reliability by regularly updating calibration data while minimizing processing time requirements by avoiding constant computational overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
An IAQ sensor module includes: a sensor configured to measure an amount of an item in air, the item being one of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide; a minimum module configured to selectively store the amount of the item as a minimum value of the amount when a mitigation device has been on for at least a predetermined period, the mitigation device being configured to decrease the amount of the item in the air when on; a storing module configured to selectively store the minimum value as an initial minimum value; an offset module configured to determine a drift offset for the sensor based on a difference between the minimum value and the initial minimum value; and an adjustment module configured to determine an adjusted amount of the item in the air at the IAQ sensor module based on the amount and the drift offset.