Self-Powered Home Sensor Energy-Adaptive Transmission Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Self-powered home automation sensor devices face challenges in energy management, particularly in ensuring a long operating life when little energy can be converted, such as at night, and must be simple, inexpensive, and compact while being compatible with existing receivers.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a self-powered home automation sensor device with a microcontroller that adjusts its operation based on available energy, switching to a low-energy mode by extending transmission periods, reducing data transmission frequency, and using a voltage converter only when necessary, allowing better energy anticipation and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor transmits status signals periodically to ensure operational monitoring, then the reliability of the system is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transmission frequency adjustment where the sensor adapts its status signal transmission rate based on available energy levels. When energy is abundant, transmission frequency increases to maintain high reliability; when energy is scarce, frequency decreases to conserve power. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's reliability characteristic variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter (frequency/duty cycle) based on energy availability conditions. By monitoring energy reserves and adjusting the transmission duty cycle accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between reliability and energy consumption, allowing flexible operation across different energy states.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor minimizes transmission frequency to reduce energy consumption, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the reliability of operational monitoring deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the sensor continuously monitors its own energy status and adjusts transmission frequency accordingly. The receiver also provides feedback about signal reception status, allowing the system to maintain adequate monitoring reliability even at reduced transmission frequencies by adapting to actual system needs rather than using fixed intervals.
3Productivity
If the sensor uses high energy consumption operation modes, then the productivity of data transmission is improved, but the operating life of the device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission with variable intervals based on energy availability. Instead of continuous high-rate transmission, the system uses periodic bursts adapted to energy reserves, maintaining necessary data transmission productivity while extending operating life through reduced average power consumption.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor adapts transmission frequency based on energy availability, then the energy management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service energy management where the sensor autonomously monitors its own energy status and adjusts its transmission behavior without external control. The device serves itself by detecting energy levels and automatically adapting operation, avoiding the need for complex external control systems while achieving efficient energy management.
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 enhances energy savings and compatibility with existing systems by adapting energy consumption to available energy levels, ensuring extended operation and compatibility with previous-generation receivers.
Implementation Method 1
comprise a means of storing electrical energy, such as a battery, and optionally means for converting energy (for example solar energy) into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
The method of operation applies to a self-powered home automation sensor device for detecting the existence of and/or for measuring the intensity of a first physical phenomenon, comprising a means of converting an effect of a second physical phenomenon into electrical energy and a means of determining the instantaneous power of this second physical phenomenon that can be converted into electrical energy, wherein a normal, first mode of operation of the device or an energy-saving second mode of operation of the device is activated according to a value defined on the basis of the determination of the instantaneous power that can be converted into electrical energy.