Pressure-Sensing Floor Mat for Wireless Presence Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floor mats lack interactive features that can effectively communicate user presence or actions to remote devices, limiting their functionality beyond basic cleaning purposes.
Innovation Solution
A floor mat system equipped with a microprocessor, pressure sensor, transmitter, and various sensors and emitters that activate appliances, lighting, and scent release when a user steps on the mat, using Bluetooth technology for wireless communication with a remote receiver to perform tasks such as activating doorbells or lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional floor mats are used for basic cleaning purposes, then the structure remains simple and cost-effective, but the functionality is limited and cannot communicate user presence or actions to remote devices
Solution Approach 1:
The floor mat is transformed from a single-function cleaning tool into a multi-functional system that combines pressure sensing, wireless communication, and remote device control capabilities, allowing it to serve both traditional cleaning purposes and interactive control functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the floor mat with electronic components including pressure sensors, microprocessors, and transmitters, creating an integrated system where the mat base houses all control electronics while maintaining the mat's primary cleaning function
2Adaptability or versatility
If pressure sensors and electronic components are integrated into the mat base, then the mat can detect user presence and activate remote devices, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: the mat base containing electronic components, the mat top surface for user interaction, and separate sensor strips that can be positioned at different locations to detect various user actions
Solution Approach 2:
A microprocessor acts as an intermediary between the pressure sensors and the transmitter, processing sensor signals and controlling the wireless transmission of activation commands to remote devices, thereby simplifying the overall control architecture
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mat activates multiple functions such as lighting, appliances, and scent release, then the user experience is enhanced, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mat uses periodic pressure detection to trigger functions only when needed, rather than continuous operation, and the system can be designed to deactivate functions after a set period of inactivity to conserve energy
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor strips automatically detect user presence and trigger appropriate functions without requiring additional power-intensive processing or user input, enabling the system to respond efficiently only when activated by genuine user interaction
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 interactive user experiences by allowing the mat to communicate user presence and actions to remote devices, enhancing functionality beyond cleaning, such as triggering appliances, lighting, and scent release, while maintaining a clean and safe interface with the ground surface.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor operatively connected to the microprocessor. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor first strip, a pressure sensor second strip, and a pressure sensor third strip intersect and operatively connect at a point close to an intersection of a mat first edge and a mat anterior edge in the mat base
Implementation Method 2
the transmitter is designed to operatively communicate with a remote receiver. In some embodiments, the user places the foot upon the mat top surface. In some embodiments, the system is activated via the pressure sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A floor mat system features a mat base. A mat top surface is designed to interface with a foot or a shoe sole of a user, and a mat bottom surface is designed to interface with a ground surface. The system features a microprocessor operatively connected to a power source. The microprocessor and the power source are located in the mat base. The system features a pressure sensor located in the mat base operatively connected to the microprocessor. The system features a transmitter located in the mat base operatively connected to the microprocessor. The transmitter is designed to operatively communicate with a remote receiver.