Programmable Timing Mechanism for Sensor Life Cycle Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor device timing mechanisms inaccurately calculate the life cycle due to not considering the time from manufacture to installation, and lack remote and multi-calculation options for indicating the end of life cycle, especially when users are away from the device.
Innovation Solution
A programmable timing mechanism in a control device that calculates the life cycle time period from either the date of manufacture or installation, allowing for remote communication and initiating an end-of-life indicator, with options for multiple calculation methods and integration with alarm systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a built-in timer is used to indicate end of life after 6 years, then the timing mechanism is simple, but the life cycle calculation is inaccurate because it does not account for manufacturing to installation time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing the manufacturing date at the time of device production and storing it in memory. This pre-captured data is then used by the timing mechanism to accurately calculate the true operational life cycle, resolving the contradiction between simple timing and accurate calculation.
2Ease of operation
If remote life cycle indication is implemented, then user notification capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel serves as an intermediary device that receives data from the sensor device and displays the life cycle status to the user. This mediator approach enables remote indication capability without significantly increasing the complexity of the sensor device itself, as the computational and display functions are offloaded to the control panel.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for indicating an end of a life cycle time period for a device which may include a sensor device or detector for measuring an environmental condition. A control device communicates with the device and includes a programmable timing mechanism for measuring a life cycle time period. The control device initiates an end of life cycle indicator such as a fault message after the life cycle time period has elapsed. The life cycle time period may be measured from a date of manufacture of the device. The life cycle time period may also be measured from a date of installation of the device when the date of manufacture of the sensor device is unknown. In the case of sensor devices or detectors an environmental condition for measuring by the detector may include carbon monoxide levels in an enclosed area where the device is a respective carbon monoxide detector.