Sensor Unit Coding Rails Automate Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional building system technologies require detailed specification and communication of each control or functional element's position within the sensor unit to the central unit, making it cumbersome for commissioning and requiring manual updates, and they often necessitate additional bus couplers for complex installations.

Innovation Solution

A sensor unit with integrated operating or functional elements, such as displays, rotary-push elements, and blind switching elements, uses coding rails and processing units to automatically determine and communicate the position of each element, allowing for simplified commissioning and flexible placement without the need for detailed positional specification, and enables combination of multiple base devices for unified control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If detailed position specification and manual communication of each control element's position to the central unit is implemented, then reliable system control is achieved, but commissioning becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem control reliabilityVSAvoidcommissioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor unit automatically determines the position of each operating or functional element using coding rails and processing units, and communicates this information to the central unit without requiring manual specification. The system performs self-identification and self-registration, eliminating the need for commissioning personnel to manually configure each element's position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration with an automated electrical/electronic system. Coding rails with electrical contacts and processing units automatically detect element positions through electrical connections, substituting the manual mechanical process of position specification and communication with an automated sensing and data transmission system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional bus couplers are used for complex installations, then system functionality is enhanced, but device complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidnumber of bus couplers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple base devices and their associated operating or functional elements into a single integrated sensor unit. Instead of using separate bus couplers for each element, the sensor unit consolidates these functions, reducing the total number of bus couplers needed in the system while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor unit is designed as a universal module that can accommodate various types of operating or functional elements (buttons, rotary elements, displays, etc.) within a single unit. This multi-functional design reduces the need for multiple specialized bus couplers, as one sensor unit can replace several individual devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If manual updates of element positions are required, then system accuracy is maintained, but ease of operation during installation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidinstallation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual position specification with an automated electrical sensing system. Coding rails with electrical contacts automatically detect the position of each element through electrical connections, providing precise position determination without requiring manual measurement or specification by installation personnel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The processing units automatically detect element positions through the coding rails and provide feedback to the central unit. This automated feedback mechanism ensures accurate position information is transmitted without manual intervention, combining precision with operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP1993010B1Sensor unit

Publication Date: 2013.05.01 ABB AG(DE)

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AI summary

A sensor unit with a base carrier (1) for the installation of several operating or functional elements (4), such as single or multiple push-button elements (7), blind switching elements (11), rotary push-button elements (6), display or indicator element (5), is proposed, wherein the base carrier (1) is provided with electrically conductive rails (17), such as supply rails (18), communication rails (19) and coding rails (20), wherein each operating or functional element (4) is connected to the electrically conductive rails (17) via first contact units (22, 23, 24) or first contact groups (28), wherein at least one base unit (38) is connected to the electrically conductive rails (17) via second contact units (25, 26, 27) or a second contact group (29), and wherein processing units (30, 31) are provided in the at least one base unit and in the operating or functional elements (4).which, based on the information obtained via the coding rails (20), independently perform position detection and address assignment of each individual operating or functional element (4) within the sensor unit (41, 42, 43, 44).