Method and control apparatus for switching a night mode of a heating system and/or an air-conditioning system on and off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and air conditioning systems struggle to adapt their night mode switching times to individual user behavior, leading to inefficient energy usage and uncomfortable temperatures due to fixed time schedules that do not account for variable sleep patterns.
Innovation Solution
A method and control apparatus that utilize a smartphone to detect user activity and rest states, adjusting the night mode of a heating and/or air conditioning system accordingly, allowing for flexible and precise timing based on user behavior without manual input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed time schedule is used to switch night mode, then the system operation is simple, but the switching times do not adapt to variable user sleep patterns leading to energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from smartphone sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor) to detect user activity states and automatically adjusts night mode switching times accordingly. The control apparatus receives activity data from the smartphone and modifies heating/cooling schedules based on detected rest or activity states, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to user behavior patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the heating/air conditioning system to automatically determine optimal night mode switching times through smartphone-based activity detection without requiring manual user input or programming. The smartphone's built-in sensors self-service the function of detecting user states, eliminating the need for complex user setup while achieving adaptive scheduling.
2Device complexity
If a fixed time schedule is used to switch night mode, then the control logic is simple, but the switching times are inaccurate relative to actual user behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone acts as an intermediary device between the user and the heating/air conditioning system. It captures user activity data through its sensors and transmits this information to the control apparatus, which then adjusts the night mode timing. This intermediary approach adds measurement precision without requiring direct complexity in the heating system's control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual timing mechanisms with electronic sensor-based detection. Instead of using fixed schedules or manual user input, the system uses smartphone sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor) to electronically detect user activity states, substituting physical timing mechanisms with electronic sensing and processing.
3Loss of energy
If night mode is switched on too early or too late, then energy consumption increases, but user comfort decreases due to inappropriate temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors user activity states through smartphone sensors and provides feedback to the control apparatus. When the smartphone detects that the user has entered a rest state (through inactivity patterns detected by accelerometer, gyroscope, and proximity sensors), the system automatically switches night mode on at the precise moment, ensuring both energy efficiency and user comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for switching on and off a night mode of a heating and/or air conditioning system, wherein an energy consumption of the heating and/or air conditioning system is reduced when the night mode is switched on and increased when the night mode is switched off. It is provided according to the invention that with a smartphone an activity of a user of the smartphone is detected, that with program code an activity state of the user is inferred when an activity is noticed and a state of rest of the user is inferred in the absence of activity, wherein the program code is stored in a non-volatile data memory, and that electronic control means switch on or off the night mode as a function of whether a state of rest or an activity state of the user has been noticed. The invention also relates to a corresponding control apparatus.