Screening Device Controller With Temporal Interruption Scheme
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Solution Overview
Problem
Controllers for screening devices, which operate based on climate sensors, are unpredictable, leading to discomfort, security concerns, and energy inefficiencies due to unpredictable operation and noise from motor-driven systems, and users often forget to enable or disable them, resulting in reduced comfort and increased energy loss.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling screening devices that register climate characteristics using sensors and implement a user-defined temporal interruption scheme to manage the operation of screening devices, allowing for manual editing and predefined schemes based on time, room type, or device type, ensuring continuous operation with automatic resumption and energy conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the screening device is controlled continuously based on climate sensors, then energy savings and thermal comfort are improved, but user comfort is reduced due to unpredictable operation and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic interruption schemes where climate-based control is suspended during specified time periods (e.g., nighttime hours). This allows the screening device to remain stationary during quiet periods, reducing noise disturbance to users, while maintaining active climate response during daytime hours when operation is less disruptive.
2Ease of operation
If the screening device control is interrupted manually, then user comfort is improved by reducing noise, but energy loss occurs if the user forgets to re-enable control
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically resumes climate-based control after an interruption period expires or when specific conditions are met (e.g., morning hours arrive). This self-resumption mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually re-enable control, ensuring energy savings continue without user intervention while still providing noise reduction during interruption periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through LEDs or display elements that indicate when control is interrupted and when it will resume. This feedback mechanism informs users of the current control state, reducing anxiety about forgotten settings while maintaining the benefits of automatic resumption for energy efficiency.
3Temperature
If the screening device operates based on sensor values, then thermal comfort and energy efficiency are improved, but security is reduced due to unpredictable operation patterns
Solution Approach 1:
By interrupting automated control during nighttime hours and maintaining fixed positioning, the screening device creates predictable, regular operation patterns. This predictability enhances security by establishing consistent visual boundaries, while climate-based control during daytime maintains thermal comfort through responsive shading adjustments.
4Ease of operation
If the screening device is motor-driven and automatically controlled, then ease of operation is improved, but noise is generated that disturbs user comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The controller suspends automated motor-driven operation during nighttime interruption periods, eliminating noise generation during quiet hours. Climate-based control remains active during daytime when motor operation noise is less disruptive, thus resolving the contradiction between automatic control convenience and noise disturbance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A screening device controller using sensor data to control a screening to provide privacy, comfort and security. The controller is configured to interrupt the control in accordance with a defined temporal interruption scheme. A method, device and software product is provided.