Motorized Door Positioning With Proximity Sensing for Fire Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an apparatus or system that can remotely operate a door to open or close in response to various triggers, such as smoke detectors or home security systems, to enhance fire safety and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A door positioning system comprising a baseplate, motor, circuitry, proximity sensors, and a drive wheel that can be remotely activated to reposition a door, with energy harvesting capabilities and integration with smart home technology to automate door positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a door closing device is remotely operated to open or close a door in response to a signal, then fire safety and convenience are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door positioning system is divided into separate functional modules: a motor assembly for driving the door, a sensor assembly for detecting door position and external signals, a control circuit for processing signals and coordinating operations, and a power management system. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability for fire safety applications.
Solution Approach 2:
A control circuit serves as an intermediary between the remote signaling system (smoke detectors, security systems) and the motor assembly. This intermediary processes incoming signals, determines appropriate door positioning actions, and coordinates the motor's operation, thereby enhancing fire safety response while managing system complexity through centralized intelligent control.
2Extent of automation
If a motor and drive wheel system is used to reposition the door, then automated door positioning is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assembly is designed with multi-functionality to perform multiple operations: driving the door open, closing the door, positioning it at intermediate angles, and holding it in position. By consolidating these functions into a single motor-driven system rather than multiple separate mechanisms, the automated door positioning capability is achieved while reducing manufacturing complexity compared to more elaborate mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect door position and external signals (smoke, security alerts) and feed this information to the control circuit, which autonomously determines and executes the appropriate door positioning action without requiring manual intervention or complex mechanical linkages, thereby achieving automation with manageable manufacturing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If proximity sensors are used to determine door position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical position detection methods (such as limit switches or mechanical encoders) are replaced with proximity sensors that use electromagnetic fields or other non-contact sensing mechanisms. This substitution provides more precise door position detection while reducing mechanical complexity, as the sensors can accurately detect position without physical contact or complex mechanical linkages, thereby improving measurement precision while managing device complexity.
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
The system effectively automates door positioning in response to signals, enhancing fire safety and home security by ensuring doors are closed or opened as needed, while also providing convenience and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a motor; circuitry electrically coupled to the motor
Implementation Method 2
at least one proximity sensor electrically coupled to the circuitry and configured to determine the door position with respect to a door frame
Implementation Method 3
the drive wheel including an external surface, the external surface of the drive wheel configured to rotatably contact a ground surface
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a baseplate configured to be coupled to a door configured to be positioned in an open door position, a closed door position, and a plurality of door positions in between the open position and closed position; a motor; a circuitry electrically coupled to the motor and configured to be in communication with a remote computing device; at least one proximity sensor electrically coupled to the circuitry and configured to determine the door position with respect to a door frame; a drive wheel coupled to the motor and the circuitry, the drive wheel comprising an external surface, the external surface of the drive wheel configured to rotatably contact a ground surface; and wherein the motor is configured to be remotely activated by the remote computing device to engage the drive wheel to rotatably contact the ground surface to reposition the door responsive to receipt of a signal.