Inductive Power Coupling for Modular Building Management Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems require qualified electricians for installation, maintenance, and repair due to mains-powered components, leading to higher labor costs and complications with regulatory compliance, as well as the challenge of adopting new technology due to retrofitting costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of inductive coupling to separate mains-powered components from non-mains powered components, allowing for easier and more affordable installation of the latter. This is achieved by a control panel inductively powering and wirelessly communicating with an input-output block, and a distributed device being separated into a base module and a secondary module, where the base module inductively powers the secondary module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mains-powered components are used in building management systems, then power supply reliability is improved, but installation and maintenance complexity increases requiring qualified electricians
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate modules: a mains-powered base module that provides power through inductive coupling, and a battery-powered secondary module that can be easily installed and maintained. This segmentation allows the complex mains-powered components to be isolated in a fixed location while the distributed devices become simple to handle
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical wiring connections with inductive coupling for power transfer and wireless communication for data exchange. This eliminates the need for physical electrical connections at distributed devices, removing the requirement for qualified electricians while maintaining reliable power supply
2Reliability
If qualified electricians are required for installation and maintenance, then system safety is improved, but labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wired electrical connections with inductive power transfer and wireless communication, eliminating the need for qualified electricians to perform electrical work. Ordinary technicians can now install and maintain distributed devices without electrical training, significantly reducing labor costs while maintaining system safety through isolated mains-powered components
Solution Approach 2:
The base module automatically provides power to secondary modules through inductive coupling when they are brought into proximity, eliminating the need for manual electrical connections. The system is designed to be self-configuring and easy to deploy without specialized electrical knowledge
3Adaptability or versatility
If new technology is integrated into existing systems, then system functionality is improved, but retrofitting costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The modular architecture with separable base and secondary modules allows incremental deployment and easy replacement of distributed devices with new technology versions. The base module remains fixed while secondary modules can be independently upgraded without affecting the entire system or requiring expensive rewiring
Solution Approach 2:
The base module is designed as a universal platform that can support multiple types of secondary modules through inductive coupling and wireless communication. This allows different distributed devices (sensors, actuators, controllers) to be integrated into existing systems using the same communication protocol and power transfer mechanism
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
This approach reduces the need for qualified electricians during installation and maintenance, lowers labor costs, and simplifies the integration of new technology by allowing low-voltage technicians to handle distributed devices while electricians focus on control panels.
Implementation Method 1
The base module includes an inductive power supply and an inductive power transmitter, and the secondary module includes a power receiver and an inductive power receiver
Data Source
AI summary
Mains-powered components of a building management system can be separated from non-mains powered components, allowing for easier and more affordable installation of the latter. In one embodiment, distributed devices of the building management system include a base module and a secondary module. The base module inductively powers the secondary module, which performs a function of the building management system (e.g. generating sensor data). The secondary module is easily attached to and removed from the base module via an attachment mechanism (e.g. snapfit) without rewiring the device. In another embodiment, a control panel inductively powers one or more input-output blocks, which provide an interface between distributed devices and the control panel. The input-output blocks are easily attached to and removed from the control panel via the attachment mechanism.