Motor Assisted Revolving Door Sensor Logic

Solution Overview

Problem

Revolving door systems often actuate unnecessarily due to external forces like wind, leading to energy wastage and increased wear, as they lack effective mechanisms to differentiate between human presence and other stimuli.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising a controller, a door motor, an object sensor, and an operation sensor that only activates the door motor when both the object sensor detects a person's presence and the operation sensor registers movement, preventing actuation by external forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the door system actuates the operator when wind pressure exerts rotational force on the door, then the door can be opened, but unnecessary wear on the door system occurs and energy is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor opening capabilityVSAvoidenergy waste from unnecessary actuation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect door movement and object presence, providing feedback to the controller to determine whether actuation is necessary. The controller receives signals from the door movement sensor and object sensor, and only actuates the door motor when both conditions are met: movement is detected and an object is present near the door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the door motor. It processes signals from the door movement sensor and object sensor, and only sends activation signals to the door motor when both sensors indicate appropriate conditions, preventing unnecessary actuation by wind or other external forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the door system actuates the operator when wind pressure exerts rotational force on the door, then the door can be opened, but increased wear on the door system occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor opening capabilityVSAvoidwear on door system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect door movement and object presence, providing feedback to the controller to determine whether actuation is necessary. The controller receives signals from the door movement sensor and object sensor, and only actuates the door motor when both conditions are met: movement is detected and an object is present near the door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the door motor. It processes signals from the door movement sensor and object sensor, and only sends activation signals to the door motor when both sensors indicate appropriate conditions, preventing unnecessary actuation by wind or other external forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the door system uses a single sensor to detect door operation, then the system is simpler, but it cannot differentiate between human presence and external forces like wind

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoiddetection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is segmented into two independent sensors: a door movement sensor that detects any movement of the door, and an object sensor that detects the presence of objects (such as people) near the door. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between movement caused by wind and movement caused by human presence by requiring both sensors to trigger simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the detection capabilities of two different sensors (door movement sensor and object sensor) into a unified control logic. The controller requires both sensors to detect their respective conditions before activating the door motor, combining their functions to achieve accurate detection of human-initiated door operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11401747B2Motor assisted revolving door system and method with multiple sensors

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 OVERHEAD DOOR CORP

AI summary

A control system for a door includes: a controller; a door motor configured to be operatively connected to the controller; an object sensor configured to be operatively connected to the controller and to detect a presence of an object; and an operation sensor configured to be operatively connected to the controller and to detect movement of a door, and wherein the controller is configured to send a operation signal to the door motor to cause the door motor to operate when the controller detects both: a signal from the object sensor indicating that the operation sensor has detected the presence of and object; and a signal from the operation sensor indicating that the operation sensor has detected movement.