Sensor Device Fault Identification via Segmentation and Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disaster protection monitoring systems cannot identify which specific analog sensor device is faulty among multiple sensors, only displaying the overall failure degree, making it difficult for users to pinpoint the issue.

Innovation Solution

A sensor device with a sensing unit, abnormality detecting unit, and notifying unit that senses disasters, detects abnormalities, and notifies users with identification information, such as MAC addresses or registered numbers, to facilitate the identification of faulty devices within the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the disaster protection monitoring system displays only the overall failure degree, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ability to identify specific faulty sensor devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoididentification information of faulty device
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the overall system failure information into individual sensor device failure information. Each sensor device is assigned a unique identification (such as a room number or device ID), and the system displays failure information segmented by each device rather than showing only aggregate system failure degree. This allows users to identify which specific sensor device is faulty while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular information presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the system monitors multiple analog sensor devices, then the coverage of disaster protection is improved, but the difficulty of identifying which specific device is faulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisaster protection coverageVSAvoidfault identification difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having each sensor device transmit its identification information along with failure status to the display device. When a failure occurs, the system provides feedback information that includes both the fact of failure and the specific identification of the faulty device. This feedback mechanism enables users to quickly identify which of the multiple monitored sensor devices is faulty, reducing the difficulty of fault detection while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the system displays aggregate failure information, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity of fault diagnosis deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoidfault diagnosis efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning unique identification information to each sensor device during system setup and registration. This identification information is stored and prepared in advance, so that when a failure occurs, the system can immediately display the specific device identification without requiring additional manual investigation. This preliminary preparation maintains simple system operation while significantly improving fault diagnosis productivity by eliminating the need to manually check each device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4443406A1Sensor device, disaster protection system, notification method, and program
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4443406A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4443406A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4443406A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present disclosure is to facilitate identification of a sensor device having an malfunction by a user. A sensor device (2) includes a sensing unit (20), an abnormality detecting unit (252) and a notifying unit (24). The sensing unit (20) is configured to sense an occurrence of a disaster, such as a fire. The abnormality detecting unit (252) is configured to detect a malfunction of the sensor device (2). The notifying unit (24) is configured to give a notification, e.g. by voice, of the identification information on the sensor device (2) when the abnormality detecting unit (252) detects the malfunction.