Universal Sensor Backplane for Plug-In Building Control Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building management systems require professional intervention for adding new sensors or devices, involving significant effort and re-engineering, making it difficult for building owners to enhance capabilities without a service call.
Innovation Solution
A wall mountable universal backplane that automatically discovers and enrolls compatible building control sensors, allowing users to add devices without extensive re-engineering or software redesigns, using a controller that assigns local addresses and communicates with sensors to integrate them into the building management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new sensor or device is added to a building management system using traditional methods, then the system capability is enhanced, but professional technician intervention and significant re-engineering effort are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular components: a universal backplane unit installed in the building and portable sensor devices. The backplane contains the controller and communication interface, while sensors are separate plug-and-play devices. This segmentation allows sensors to be independently added without requiring professional re-engineering of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplane is designed as a universal interface that can accept multiple types of building control sensors and devices through standardized receiving bays. The controller automatically discovers and adapts to different sensor types, enabling the system to enhance capability without requiring specialized installation procedures for each device type.
2Reliability
If traditional building management system integration methods are used, then system functionality is maintained, but significant re-engineering and software redesign are required
Solution Approach 1:
The universal backplane acts as an intermediary between the building management system and various sensors/devices. It handles all communication protocols and data formats, translating between different sensor types and the BMS. This intermediary approach maintains system functionality while eliminating the need for complex re-engineering when adding new devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automatically discovers newly connected sensors, identifies their types and functions, and configures them without requiring manual software redesign or professional intervention. The system performs self-service configuration through automatic device detection and parameter assignment.
3Ease of operation
If automatic device discovery is implemented, then ease of adding devices is improved, but automated identification and configuration processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are pre-configured with identification data and communication parameters before being connected to the backplane. This preliminary preparation enables the controller to quickly discover and identify devices without requiring complex automated configuration processes, achieving ease of operation with minimal automation overhead.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and system for adding sensors/devices to a building management system. An illustrative universal backplane for accepting a plurality of building control sensors may include a housing configured to be secured relative to a wall of a building and a plurality of universal sensor receiving bays each including the same mechanical and electrical interface for selectively receiving one of a plurality of compatible building control sensors. Each of the plurality of compatible building control sensors may be compatible with the mechanical and electrical interface of the universal sensor receiving bays. The backplane may further include a controller operatively coupled to each of the plurality of universal sensor receiving bays, the controller configured to automatically discover each of the compatible building control sensors, if any, received by the plurality of universal sensor receiving bays and a communication module operatively coupled to the controller for communicating with a building control system.