Sanitary Control Network With Single-Cable Power and Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing networked plumbing systems are complex and costly to install due to the need for separate cables for data and power transmission, lacking a stable and efficient networking solution for sanitary components.
Innovation Solution
A single cable system is implemented using a data bus conductor arrangement and a feed conductor arrangement routed parallel in the cable, with converters to convert voltage and protocol between RS-485 and I2C buses, allowing for stable data transmission and power supply to sanitary items, simplifying installation and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cables are used for data and power transmission in networked plumbing systems, then stable data transmission and power supply are achieved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate data transmission cable and power supply cable into a single integrated cable system. The cable contains both a data bus conductor arrangement (with differential signal lines for RS-485 communication) and a feed conductor arrangement (with power lines for 230V mains voltage), eliminating the need for separate cable installations while maintaining reliable data transmission and power supply to plumbing control units.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cable serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both data communication (via RS-485 protocol on the data bus conductors) and electrical power transmission (via the feed conductors for 230V mains voltage). This multi-functional cable design simplifies installation infrastructure while ensuring stable operation of networked plumbing systems.
2Reliability
If separate cables are used for data and power transmission, then stable networking is achieved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data bus conductors and power feed conductors into a single cable assembly, reducing material costs and installation labor. The integrated cable eliminates the need for separate routing and termination of data and power cables, directly reducing installation complexity and cost while maintaining stable networking through proper conductor arrangement and shielding.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion between RS-485 and I2C is implemented, then compatibility with various control elements is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol converter as an intermediary device that translates between the RS-485 protocol (used for stable long-distance data transmission over the integrated cable) and the I2C protocol (commonly used in microcontrollers and control elements). This converter enables compatibility with various inexpensive control elements while maintaining the simplicity of the single-cable infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol converter changes the data transmission parameters (protocol type, signal levels, communication format) to bridge between RS-485 and I2C standards. This parameter transformation allows the system to use common, inexpensive control elements with I2C interfaces while maintaining stable communication through the RS-485 based integrated cable system.
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 simplifies installation and reduces costs by enabling a single cable solution for both data and power transmission, while maintaining stable connections and allowing for the use of common, inexpensive control elements, supporting various sanitary items with efficient data exchange and power supply.
Implementation Method 1
The voltage converter converts the voltage from 18 to 48 volts to a lower voltage of 2.5 to 15 volts, so that a converted voltage can be provided at the second converter-side interface
Implementation Method 2
the gateway comprises a voltage converter which converts the mains voltage of 230 volts into a lower voltage, which lower voltage is provided to the first cable at the first gateway-side interface. The lower voltage is in the range of 18 to 48 volts, especially 24 volts.
Implementation Method 3
the converter has a power supply interface through which the converter is supplied with a 230-volt mains voltage. The voltage converter converts the 230-volt voltage into a lower voltage in the range of 4 to 24 volts. The lower voltage is preferably 12 volts.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A sanitary system comprises at least one sanitary article (1a, 1b, 1c) with each sanitary article controller configured to interact with the sanitary article (1a, 1b, 1c), wherein the sanitary article controller has a sanitary article-side interface (S1), a gateway (2) wherein the gateway has a gateway-side interface (G1), at least one converter (3, 3') arranged between the gateway (2) and the sanitary article controller, having a first converter-side interface (K1, K1') and a second converter-side interface (K2, K2'), a first cable (4) providing a connection between the first gateway-side interface (G1) and the first converter-side interface (K1, K1'), and a second cable (5) providing a connection between the second converter-side interface (K2, 2') and the sanitary article-side interface (S1), wherein the cables (4,5) each comprising a data bus conductor arrangement for transmitting data and a power supply conductor arrangement for transmitting electrical energy, and wherein the converter (3, 3') comprises a data converter configured for data conversion and a voltage converter configured for voltage conversion.