Multi-Sensor Temperature Detection for Open Window and Door Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor systems for detecting open windows or doors in buildings are often expensive, require regular maintenance, and lack cost-effective and low-maintenance solutions for energy efficiency and unauthorized entry monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A sensor system utilizing multiple temperature sensors arranged strategically within a room, connected to a processing and evaluation unit that performs wireless communication, signal conditioning, and statistical analysis to detect temperature differences and determine the state of room openings, with energy self-sufficiency through batteries or energy harvesting, allowing for variable update rates and adaptive limit value adjustments based on external conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless sensor solutions with independent power supplies are used to detect open windows, then detection capability is improved, but cost and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidcost and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple temperature sensors with a single processing and evaluation unit, merging detection functions into one integrated system. This reduces the number of independent powered units needed, lowering overall system cost and maintenance requirements while maintaining detection capability through collaborative sensing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The processing and evaluation unit serves multiple temperature sensors simultaneously, performing signal conditioning, processing, and window/door detection functions for the entire sensor array. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for each sensor to have its own processing unit, reducing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple temperature sensors are arranged separately in a room to detect air currents, then detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the detection function across multiple temperature sensors positioned at different locations in the room, allowing each sensor to monitor local temperature variations. The processing unit then integrates these segmented measurements to achieve comprehensive and accurate detection of air currents from open windows or doors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processing and evaluation unit acts as an intermediary that receives raw temperature data from multiple sensors, performs signal conditioning and processing, and generates the final detection result. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing complex processing functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If temperature sensors are used to detect open windows through temperature changes, then cost is reduced, but reliability decreases due to false alarms from drafts

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidfalse alarm rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary signal conditioning and processing of temperature data before final evaluation. By pre-processing the temperature signals from multiple sensors and analyzing patterns in advance, the system can distinguish between normal drafts and actual window/door opening events, reducing false alarms while maintaining low cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The processing and evaluation unit continuously monitors temperature data from multiple sensors and uses statistical evaluation to adapt to environmental conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn normal temperature variations and adjust its detection thresholds, thereby reducing false alarms caused by drafts while maintaining sensitivity to actual openings.

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

Enables simple, cost-effective, and low-maintenance detection of open windows or doors, improving energy efficiency and security by accurately identifying the state of room openings with reduced battery drain and adaptable performance to environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor system comprises at least two temperature sensors, which are arranged separately from one another in a building space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Implementation Method 2

the processing and evaluation unit performs a statistical analysis or analysis of the temperature values of at least one of the temperature sensors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStatistical analysis of temperature data:

Data Source

PatentEP3376189B1Sensor system for detecting air or heat flows due to open window, doors and/or other closable openings in a building room
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3376189B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376189B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A sensor system is proposed for detecting air or heat flows occurring in building rooms, caused by open windows, doors and/or other closable openings in a building, with at least one, preferably two or more temperature sensors (10) which are located in a room of the building, for example on the walls, on the floor, on the ceiling and/or on the window, are arranged separately from one another. The sensors (10) are connected to a processing and evaluation unit (20) which, when at least one open clearing opening is detected, carries out a comparison of the temperature values ​​determined by the sensors (10) in at least one detection unit (22, 23), the detection unit (22, 23) provides the temperature difference determined therefrom for further processing and/or display and/or the processing and evaluation unit (20) carries out a statistical evaluation of the temperature values ​​of at least one of the temperature sensors in an integrated analysis module (24) and/or the processing and Evaluation unit (20) in an integrated analysis module (25) carries out an approximated integral and/or base transformation and from this detects a non-closed spatial opening.