Sensor System Energy Profile Control for Early Deviation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor systems face issues with unintentionally higher energy consumption due to external disturbances, unauthorized intrusions, or incorrect configurations, which are often detected too late, affecting battery life and system integrity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving an energy measuring device to detect and compare measured energy consumption profiles with expected profiles, identifying deviations to trigger control commands for correcting energy usage, using a digital twin model to predict and maintain optimal energy states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the sensor system is designed to be scalable and adapt energy consumption to circumstances, then energy efficiency is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to external disturbances that cause unintentionally higher energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddetection timing
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously measuring the actual energy consumption profile of the sensor system and comparing it against expected profiles. When deviations are detected, the system generates alerts to notify operators. This closed-loop feedback enables early detection of unintentional energy consumption increases caused by external disturbances, incorrect configurations, or unauthorized intrusions, allowing timely corrective actions to be taken.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If energy consumption monitoring is implemented continuously, then detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption detection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial monitoring by focusing energy consumption measurements on critical phases of the sensor system's operation rather than continuously monitoring all aspects. The system measures energy consumption during specific operational phases and compares these partial measurements against expected profiles for that phase. This approach achieves sufficient detection accuracy to identify deviations while minimizing the additional energy consumption required for monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the sensor system operates in low-power mode, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to detect energy consumption deviations in real-time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoiddetection speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring of energy consumption at strategically selected intervals during the sensor system's operation. Rather than continuous real-time monitoring, the system measures energy consumption at periodic checkpoints during critical operational phases. This periodic approach maintains energy efficiency by keeping monitoring activities minimal while still enabling timely detection of significant energy consumption deviations that indicate problems requiring attention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4230965B1Control of a sensor system
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4230965B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4230965B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling a sensor system (1), comprising the steps of: - scanning (S1) a measured energy consumption profile of the sensor system (1) by an energy measuring device, - retrieving (S2) expected energy consumption profiles, - comparing (S3) the measured energy consumption profile with the expected energy consumption profiles, - identifying (S4) the nearest energy consumption profile from the expected energy consumption profiles, - defining (S5) at least one control command based on the nearest energy consumption profile, and - controlling (S6) the sensor system (1) by executing the at least one control command. The invention also relates to an associated system.