Prefabricated Modular Unit Assembly With Integrated Communication Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular building systems lack a seamless method for data communication and real-time monitoring between prefabricated modular units, making it difficult to perform maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
Innovation Solution
A prefabricated modular unit assembly that incorporates a main communication control means and an auxiliary communication control means, enabling mutual wired and wireless communication between units, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of essential systems like communication, electricity, heating/cooling, and water supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If modular units are simply physically connected using bolts, then assembly is straightforward and fast, but information communication, electricity, communication, plumbing, and identification between units cannot be organically connected or controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges physical connection and information communication functions into a single integrated terminal member. The terminal member combines bolt holes for mechanical fastening with communication slots for data exchange, electrical contacts for power supply, and identification tags for asset management, eliminating the need for separate connection mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal member is designed as a universal interface that handles multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical fastening through bolt holes, data communication through communication slots, electrical connection through contacts, and identification through attached tags. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace multiple separate systems.
2Device complexity
If modular units lack integrated communication and monitoring systems, then device complexity is reduced, but real-time monitoring and maintenance capability are severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where sensors mounted on modular units continuously monitor parameters such as temperature, humidity, and equipment status. This monitored information is transmitted through the communication slots to a central management system, enabling real-time detection of anomalies and predictive maintenance scheduling without requiring complex manual inspection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal member acts as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between simple modular unit structures and complex monitoring requirements. It provides standardized interfaces for sensors, actuators, and communication protocols, allowing sophisticated monitoring and maintenance capabilities to be added to relatively simple modular units through standardized attachment points.
3Ease of manufacture
If components in modular units cannot be identified and tracked, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but repair and replacement efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual identification methods including colored tags and coded patterns attached to terminal members and components. These visual markers enable rapid identification of component types, statuses, and locations during maintenance operations, allowing workers to quickly locate and replace specific parts without requiring complex scanning or database queries, thus maintaining low manufacturing costs while improving repair efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a structure in which modular units completed by using a plurality of frames are assembled, and provides a prefabricated modular unit assembly including: a first modular unit including a main communication control means, which transmits/receives data through wired/wireless communication between the modular units so that same can be controlled; and a second modular unit including an auxiliary communication control means for transmitting/receiving to/from a main communication control means of the first modular unit.