Movable temperature adjusting device and method for operating the movable temperature adjusting device.

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature adjusting devices are unable to react to the specific heating and/or cooling demands of individual users, often relying on central systems that may not provide sufficient or timely adjustments to meet personal comfort needs.

Innovation Solution

A movable temperature adjusting device equipped with identifying means (such as face recognition, voice recognition, or RFID) and sensing means (like temperature, biometric, and infra-red sensors) that can determine a user's heating and/or cooling demand, and operate heating and/or cooling means accordingly, potentially communicating with a central HVAC system to optimize temperature adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a central heating/cooling system is used, then heating and cooling can be provided to multiple users, but the system cannot adjust temperature according to individual user demands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature adjustment adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the central heating/cooling system into multiple independent movable temperature adjusting devices, each capable of autonomous operation and individual user identification. This segmentation allows each device to adapt to specific user demands while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces movable temperature adjusting devices that can dynamically adjust temperature settings based on real-time user identification and demand sensing. The system transitions from static central control to dynamic distributed control, enabling adaptability to changing user requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If central heating/cooling systems are used, then heating and cooling can be provided, but the response time to individual user needs is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature adjustment speedVSAvoidresponse time delay
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs identifying means to recognize users in advance and sensing means to detect heating/cooling demands before the user actively requests adjustment. This preliminary detection enables the movable temperature adjusting device to initiate temperature control actions immediately, eliminating response delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables temperature adjusting devices to autonomously identify users, sense their thermal demands, and execute temperature control without manual intervention. This self-service capability accelerates the response time by removing communication and control delays between user and system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If centralized temperature control is used, then system management is simplified, but energy consumption increases due to insufficient targeted adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidtemperature control convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements localized temperature control through movable temperature adjusting devices that operate independently in specific user zones. Each device adjusts temperature based on local user demands detected by identifying and sensing means, avoiding the energy waste of uniform centralized temperature adjustment across all areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates sensing means that continuously monitor user presence and thermal demands, providing real-time feedback to the temperature control system. This feedback mechanism enables precise, demand-driven temperature adjustments, reducing energy consumption by avoiding heating/cooling when no user is present or when demand is low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 device provides personalized temperature control, ensuring user comfort by adapting to individual preferences and health conditions, reducing energy consumption, and bridging the gap between central system response times, while also being able to communicate with other devices for coordinated temperature management.

Implementation Method 1

Heating means can for example be an electric heater

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

cooling means can for example be a fan or a peltier element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3415828B1Movable temperature adjusting device and method for operating the movable temperature adjusting device.
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC R&D CENTRE EUROPE BV
  • EP3415828B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3415828B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3415828B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention is a movable temperature adjusting device, comprising heating and/or cooling means, identifying means configured to identify a user, and sensing means configured to sense at least one quantity indicative of a heating and/or cooling demand of the user, wherein the movable temperature adjusting device is adapted to operate the heating and/or cooling means based on the heating and/or cooling demand of the user.