Room Setback Control Using Mobile Presence and Door State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current occupancy sensors, such as motion detectors, are inadequate for accurately determining room occupancy in situations where occupants are motionless or in rooms with blind spots, limiting efficient energy management and increasing operational costs in multi-room facilities.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a combination of door state, motion activity, and mobile device location to determine room occupancy states, allowing for intelligent control of energy-consuming devices like HVAC, lighting, and TV, using intelligent thermostats, motion sensors, and mobile devices to adjust energy settings based on occupant presence and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If motion detectors are used as occupancy sensors, then general occupancy detection is possible, but accurate occupancy detection fails when occupants are motionless or in blind spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple occupancy detection methods (motion detection, door state monitoring, mobile device location tracking) into a unified system. The controller integrates data from these different sources to determine occupancy status, ensuring accurate detection even when individual methods fail, such as when occupants are motionless or in blind spots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mobile devices as intermediary elements that occupants carry throughout the facility. These devices communicate location information to the system, serving as a reliable mediator to confirm occupancy status regardless of the occupant's physical position or movement state within the room.
2Loss of energy
If setback temperatures are applied to reduce HVAC expenses, then energy consumption decreases, but occupancy accuracy must be maintained to avoid comfort issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors occupancy status through multiple sensors and mobile device communications, providing real-time feedback to the controller. This feedback mechanism ensures that setback temperatures are applied only when the room is truly unoccupied, preventing both energy waste and comfort issues that would arise from incorrect occupancy detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control that adjusts setback levels based on real-time occupancy detection. When occupancy is detected through any method (motion, door state, mobile device), the system dynamically modifies the setback temperature settings, ensuring energy efficiency during unoccupied periods while maintaining comfort when occupants are present.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and mobile devices are integrated for accurate occupancy detection, then occupancy accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a universal device that handles multiple functions: processing data from motion sensors, door state monitors, and mobile device communications. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single coordinating unit rather than requiring separate systems for each detection method, making the overall system more manageable despite its sophisticated capabilities.
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
This approach provides accurate occupancy detection, enabling more efficient energy management by adjusting energy consumption levels based on actual occupancy, reducing waste and operational costs while maintaining guest comfort.
Implementation Method 1
motion activity within the room or rooms
Implementation Method 2
a location of a mobile device associated with the room or collection of rooms
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for managing energy consumption in multi-room facilities are provided. In particular, intelligent mechanisms for determining a location of a mobile device associated with a room and then for managing energy settings, especially setback controls, of that room are provided. Some logic for implementing these mechanisms may be provided in a mobile device and in-room device, such as a motion detector, thermostat, HVAC controller, door, lock, television, set top box, etc.