Multi-Sensor Occupancy Detection for Building Energy Parameter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Homeowners face inefficiencies and costs due to maintaining high furnace settings and lighting when away, as current systems lack accurate occupancy detection to adjust parameters optimally.
Innovation Solution
A system using multiple sensors (e.g., motion detectors, video cameras, mobile devices) to determine occupancy reliability, generating a predictive schedule, and adjusting building parameters like temperature and lighting based on this schedule to conserve resources when unoccupied and ensure comfort when occupied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the furnace is kept operating at a high level to maintain comfort temperature, then the comfort level is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by adjusting building parameters (lowering temperature, turning off lights) before the occupancy period ends, based on the predictive schedule that anticipates when occupants will return. This allows the system to prepare in advance, reducing energy consumption during unoccupied periods while ensuring comfort is restored promptly upon return.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensor types (motion detectors, video cameras, mobile device detections) to continuously monitor occupancy status and update the predictive schedule. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt parameter adjustments dynamically, maintaining comfort when needed while reducing energy consumption during confirmed unoccupied periods.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensor types are used to determine occupancy reliability, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by using a centralized control unit that processes inputs from multiple different sensor types (motion detectors, video cameras, mobile device detections) through a unified occupancy determination process. This multi-functional approach allows diverse sensors to work together under a single system framework, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through standardized processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives data from multiple sensor types, processes this information through the predictive schedule, and generates unified occupancy determinations. This intermediary role simplifies the system architecture by providing a central coordination point that manages the complexity of integrating multiple sensor types while maintaining high measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for controlling parameters in a building. According to at least one embodiment, a method for controlling parameters in a building includes using a first sensor type to determine whether the building is occupied and using a second sensor type to determine how reliable the first sensor type determines occupancy.