Smart Ceiling Fan Emulating Natural Breeze via Variable Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fans and ceiling fans generate air flow at a constant speed, which can be perceived as artificial and irritating, causing fatigue and discomfort to users, as they fail to mimic the dynamic and natural changes in breeze speed found in natural wind.
Innovation Solution
A smart ceiling fan with user-customizable and programmable rotation speed, allowing users to select average speed and variance levels via a GUI or control interface, enabling emulation of naturally occurring breezes with dynamic speed changes, and optionally integrating with internet-connected devices for remote control and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fan operates at a constant rotation speed, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the naturalness and comfort of the breeze is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by enabling the fan to transition from constant speed operation to variable speed operation. The controller dynamically adjusts the rotation speed based on pre-defined patterns that simulate natural breeze variations, making the system adaptable rather than fixed, thus resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and naturalness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by using time-varying rotation speed patterns that repeat over time to simulate natural breeze cycles. The controller modifies the rotation speed at predetermined time intervals according to stored breeze patterns, creating periodic variations that mimic natural wind behavior while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fan operates at a fixed rotation speed, then the manufacturing precision and device simplicity are improved, but the adaptability to natural breeze variations is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming the fixed-speed design into a variable-speed system. The controller dynamically adjusts rotation speed based on stored breeze patterns, enabling the fan to adapt to different natural breeze conditions without complicating the manufacturing process, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the rotation speed parameter over time according to pre-defined breeze patterns. The controller modifies the rotational parameter dynamically while maintaining a relatively simple hardware structure, allowing the system to adapt to different natural breeze variations without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Loss of energy
If the fan uses constant speed operation, then the energy consumption is reduced and system simplicity is improved, but the user comfort and fatigue reduction is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing cyclic variations in rotation speed that mimic natural breeze patterns. This creates periodic motion that prevents user fatigue by avoiding monotony, while the automated control system manages energy consumption efficiently without requiring constant high-speed operation, thus resolving the contradiction between energy savings and user comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
Smart ceiling fan, and its method of operation. A fan includes an electric rotor to rotate a set of blades at a rotation speed. A controller operates to enforce a modification to rotation speed of the set of blades, based on a first user-configurable parameter of average rotation speed to be maintained, and further based on a second user-configurable parameter of level of variance of rotation speed; and optionally, also based on a third user-configurable parameter of length of time-interval between two consecutive modifications of rotation speed of the set of blades. The fan operates to automatically emulate a naturally-occurring breeze-like airflow.