Sensor Device Placement via Proximity and Load Stimulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Advanced lighting control systems are not widely adopted in the commercial market due to high installation and setup costs, and existing methods for configuring sensor devices on a structure's floor plan are not secure or reliable, allowing non-structure devices to be mistakenly placed.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that use a mobile computing device to communicate with fixed sensor units via a communication channel, stimulating their sensors to identify and place devices on a floor plan based on proximity-dependent information, including loading a power metering device with a specific load to enhance device identification and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing methods are used to place devices on the floor plan, then device placement is simple, but reliability and security are poor allowing non-structure devices to be mistakenly placed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice placement reliabilityVSAvoidconfiguration process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by stimulating sensors and loading power metering devices with specific loads before final device placement. This pre-verification process ensures that only devices belonging to the structure are placed, improving reliability while maintaining a manageable configuration process through automated guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensor devices communicate device identifiers and proximity-dependent information back to the mobile computing device. This feedback loop enables verification of device authenticity and accurate placement on the floor plan, enhancing both reliability and security without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If sensor devices are stimulated and power metering devices are loaded with specific loads for identification, then device identification accuracy improves, but installation and setup costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidinstallation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the mobile computing device to automatically stimulate sensors and load power metering devices during the configuration process. This automated approach improves identification accuracy while reducing the need for expensive manual installation and setup, as the system guides users through the process without requiring specialized expertise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If proximity dependent information is used to estimate device location, then placement accuracy improves, but additional triggers and sensors increase system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice placement accuracyVSAvoidsensor and trigger complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies multi-functionality by using existing sensor devices to provide multiple functions: detection, identification, and proximity measurement. The same sensors that detect device presence also provide proximity-dependent information for location estimation, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high placement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3130203B1Configuring a plurality of sensor devices of a structure
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 BUILDING ROBOTICS INC
  • EP3130203B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3130203B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3130203B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods and apparatuses for commissioning a set of devices of a structure are disclosed. One method includes communicating, by a mobile computing device, with one or more of the set of devices, communicating, by each of the one or more of the set of devices, a device identifier, and placing each of the one or more of the set of devices on a floor plan of the structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device. One system includes a plurality of sensor units and a mobile device. The system further includes a processor operative to place each of the one or more of the plurality of sensor units on a floor plan of a structure based at least in part on proximity dependent information of the device.