In-line Coupling Device for Remote Appliance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical appliances require manual operation or short-range remote control, limiting their control and monitoring capabilities, especially in scenarios where internet connectivity is not available or when modifying the appliance's design is impractical.
Innovation Solution
An in-line device integrated within an intermediary coupling unit between the power supply and the electrical appliance, equipped with sensors and a processor, allows for remote control and monitoring through a communication module, enabling control signals to be transmitted over the internet or other communication protocols, and can monitor power consumption and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation at the in-line device is used to control the electrical appliance, then the device structure remains simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the user must be physically present at the in-line device location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication module as an intermediary between the user and the electrical appliance. This module receives control signals from remote devices (such as smartphones or computers) and transmits them to the appliance, enabling remote operation without requiring the user to be physically present at the in-line device. The communication module acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between the user's remote location and the appliance's control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The in-line device is designed with multi-functional capabilities, combining traditional manual switching functions with remote control functionality. The device can operate both as a simple manual switch and as a smart device with internet connectivity, allowing it to serve multiple purposes and adapt to different user needs without requiring separate devices for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electrical appliance is modified to enable internet connectivity for remote control, then remote monitoring capability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates because the solution requires modifying the appliance design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the internet connectivity and remote control functionality from the electrical appliance itself and places it in a separate in-line device. This allows the appliance to remain unchanged and unmodified, while the in-line device provides the smart features. The extraction principle enables compatibility with existing non-internet enabled devices by moving the complexity to an external component that can be added without modifying the original appliance design.
3Loss of information
If no monitoring capabilities are included in the basic in-line device, then the device complexity remains low, but the loss of information deteriorates because power consumption and condition data are not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated in-line device: manual switching, remote control via communication module, and monitoring via sensor module. The sensor module combines power consumption monitoring, temperature sensing, and other condition detection capabilities into one unified system. This merging approach allows the device to provide comprehensive information about appliance status and power usage without requiring multiple separate devices, thereby reducing overall system complexity while improving information availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A control and monitoring device integrated in an intermediary coupling unit, said intermediary coupling unit being configured to couple an electrical appliance to a power supply, said control and monitoring device comprising a control module configured to change a status of the electrical appliance; a sensor configured to monitor a condition of said electrical appliance and/or an environment thereof; and a processor configured to instruct the control module to change a status of the electrical appliance based on an output of the sensor. Complementary devices and methods of operating such devices are also presented herein.