Personalized Heating System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating systems are inefficient, especially in large indoor or outdoor environments, as they waste energy heating unnecessary areas and require multiple units to maintain comfort as individuals move.
Innovation Solution
A personalized heating system that uses sensors, actuators, and a processor to direct a focused beam of heat towards a specific target person, adjusting intensity based on their profile and movement patterns, utilizing a heat source and collimator to maximize efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a space heater is used to warm a large indoor space, then the ambient temperature for the person is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly and heat is wasted in areas where no people are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform heating of the entire space to localized heating of specific target areas where people are present. The system uses sensors to detect people's locations and directs heating elements to provide heat only to those specific zones, making the heating quality spatially variable rather than uniform throughout the space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the heating function by dividing the space into multiple target areas based on detected people's locations. Instead of treating the entire space as a single heating zone, the system creates separate heating zones for each detected person or group, allowing independent control and optimization of heat delivery to each segment.
2Temperature
If a space heater is used to warm a large indoor space, then the ambient temperature for the person is improved, but heat dissipates to areas where no people are present causing energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by concentrating heat delivery to specific target areas where people are detected rather than distributing heat uniformly throughout the entire space. This localized approach prevents heat from dissipating into unoccupied areas, reducing energy waste while maintaining comfortable temperatures for occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary action by using sensors to detect and track people's locations in advance, then proactively directing heat to those predicted locations before people move. This anticipatory approach ensures heat is delivered to the correct areas before heat dissipation occurs, minimizing energy loss.
3Temperature
If multiple space heaters are used to maintain comfort as a person moves, then the person's comfort is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the heating system adaptive and movable rather than static. The heating elements can dynamically adjust their position and orientation to track and follow people as they move through the space. This dynamic capability allows a single heating device to replace multiple fixed heaters, reducing system complexity while maintaining continuous comfort for moving occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements universality by designing a heating device that can serve multiple functions and multiple people sequentially rather than requiring dedicated heaters for each location. The movable and adjustable heating unit can be repositioned to serve different people at different locations, making one device universal enough to replace multiple specialized heaters.
4Temperature
If a person is located outdoors, then the heating system must be positioned very close to the person, but heat dissipates into the environment requiring the heater to operate at high levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by concentrating heat delivery precisely at the person's location using directional heating elements and positioning mechanisms. This focused local heating approach minimizes heat spread to the surrounding outdoor environment, reducing energy dissipation while maintaining effective heating at the target location even when the heater is positioned at a distance.
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
Reduces energy usage by targeting heat only where needed, enhancing comfort and reducing energy costs by delivering customized heat to specific locations with high efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The collimator may be configured to focus the heat into the beam of heat
Implementation Method 2
The collimator may comprise a parabolic reflector, and the emitter base may be positioned to emit heat toward a concave surface of the parabolic reflector
Data Source
AI summary
A personalized heating system is disclosed. The system includes: a heat source; one or more actuators configured to set a direction of heat emitted by the heat source; one or more sensors that capture sensor data about an environment; a processor; and programming instructions that are configured to, when executed, cause the processor to perform various functions. The functions include processing the sensor data and identifying a target person in the environment, along with a first target area for the target person. The system will cause the one or more actuators to set the direction of heat emitted by the heat source toward the first target area. The system will then cause the heat source to generate heat and directing heat as a heat beam toward the first target area.