Smart Glasses Home Appliance Control via Sensor Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable sensors have not been effectively utilized for controlling home electrical appliances, lacking a convenient method for users to operate these devices.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus control system that uses smart glasses with gesture recognition to allow users to select and control home electrical appliances through a network-connected system, recommending operations based on detected information such as motion, biological, and environmental data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wearable sensors are used to detect user information, then health management and activity management capabilities are improved, but the ability to control home electrical appliances remains unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth management capabilityVSAvoidapparatus control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wearable sensor system is extended to perform multiple functions: not only health monitoring and activity management, but also home electrical appliance control. The sensor detects user information (heartbeat, body temperature, motion) and the system determines both health management recommendations and apparatus control operations based on this data, enabling one system to serve multiple purposes.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple home electrical apparatuses are operated by respective remote controllers or panels, then each apparatus can be controlled independently, but user convenience deteriorates due to the need to operate multiple devices separately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus control capabilityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of multiple home electrical apparatuses into a single unified system. Instead of requiring separate remote controllers or panels for each device, the wearable sensor-based system consolidates control functionality, allowing users to operate multiple apparatuses (air conditioner, air cleaner, heater, etc.) through a single integrated interface that responds to user physiological and motion data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service operation where the home electrical apparatuses can be controlled automatically based on detected user information. The control determination unit analyzes sensor data (heartbeat, body temperature, motion) and autonomously determines appropriate operations for the apparatuses, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If wearable sensors are integrated into home electrical appliance control, then user convenience is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for new control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a control determination unit as an intermediary between the wearable sensor and the home electrical apparatuses. This intermediary component processes sensor data (heartbeat, body temperature, motion information) and translates it into appropriate control commands for the apparatuses, managing the system complexity by providing a clear separation between sensing, decision-making, and execution functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3486746B1Apparatus control system
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3486746B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3486746B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3486746B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

An apparatus control system includes smart glasses (10) worn by a user, a home electrical apparatus that is a target of control, and a controller that controls the home electrical apparatus. In the smart glasses (10), a sensor (13) detects information including at least one of image information, motion information, biological information, or environmental information. A communicator (11) transmits to the controller the information detected by the sensor (13). The controller, based on the information detected by the sensor (13), determines a recommended operation indicating operational content recommended with respect to a recommended apparatus, and transmits the determined recommended operation to the smart glasses (10). The communicator (11) receives the recommended operation transmitted from the controller. The display (12) displays a candidate group for selection of the home electrical apparatus along with a recommended operation received from the communicator (11).