Indoor Temperature Feedback for Adaptive Sunshade Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for managing solar protection in buildings are inefficient as they rely heavily on external climatic conditions and do not adapt well to internal thermal needs, leading to suboptimal thermal comfort and increased energy consumption, especially during inter-seasonal periods.

Innovation Solution

A method for automatically controlling solar protection based on real-time interior temperature measurements, adjusting control modes to maintain a comfort temperature range through a sliding adjustment of control parameters, independent of calendar seasons, and accounting for thermal inertia and external conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If solar protection control is based on external climate variations, then thermal comfort can be maintained, but the system cannot account for thermal inertia and performs poorly during inter-seasonal periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal comfort maintenanceVSAvoidadaptability to inter-seasonal periods
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring indoor temperature and using it to adjust solar protection control. The system measures actual indoor temperature conditions and feeds this information back to the control unit, which then adjusts the solar protection position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to thermal inertia and perform reliably during inter-seasonal periods when external climate-based rules fail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by autonomously adjusting solar protection based on measured indoor temperature conditions without requiring external climate data or manual intervention. The control unit automatically determines optimal solar protection positions using only indoor temperature measurements and stored reference data, making the system self-sufficient and highly adaptable to varying seasonal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual control of solar protection is used, then the system is simple to operate, but it is not energy-efficient and cannot adjust when building is unoccupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual operation simplicityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically controlling solar protection based on measured indoor temperature conditions. The control unit autonomously determines when to adjust solar protection positions to maintain thermal comfort, eliminating the need for manual operation while significantly reducing energy consumption. The system serves itself by using indoor temperature measurements to trigger appropriate solar protection adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated electronic control system. Instead of requiring physical manual adjustment of solar protection, the system uses electronic sensors to measure indoor temperature and electronic actuators to automatically position the solar protection. This substitution of mechanical manual control with automated sensing and actuation systems improves energy efficiency while maintaining simplicity of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If automated control with multiple sensors and weather forecasts is used, then control precision improves, but the system complexity and information processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and uses only the essential measurement - indoor temperature - from among many possible sensors and data sources. By focusing solely on indoor temperature measurement and eliminating the need for multiple external sensors and weather forecast processing, the system achieves sufficient control precision with minimal complexity. The control unit extracts the critical information needed for solar protection control without being burdened by extraneous data processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by focusing measurement and control efforts specifically on indoor temperature conditions rather than attempting to measure or control all possible environmental parameters. The control strategy is locally optimized for the specific condition of maintaining thermal comfort through solar protection adjustment based on indoor temperature, rather than implementing a comprehensive multi-parameter control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4446827A1Method for managing a home automation installation
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
  • EP4446827A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4446827A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4446827A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Method for managing a home automation system (100) of a building (1) comprising a motorized sunshade (3), a management unit (102) for a position taken by the sunshade (3), and a measuring device (104) for an internal temperature of the building, the method comprising: - a control step (S1) over a first period of time (J1); - a measurement step (S2) of the internal temperature of the building; - an evaluation step (S3) of an offset value; - an adjustment step (S4) in which a second control mode (Mi(J2)) for a second period of time (J2) is determined.