Smoke Ventilation Serial Bus Architecture to Reduce Cabling Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smoke ventilation systems require extensive and costly cabling due to a star topology connection between the system controller and window actuators, limiting flexibility and increasing installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a common serial bus for both power supply and communication lines between control points and the system controller, allowing for reduced cabling and more flexible system configuration, with the association of control points to building areas determined programmatically rather than by physical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a star topology with separate connections to each control point and window actuator is used, then reliable communication and power supply are ensured, but the cabling cost and installation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power supply lines and communication lines into a single common bus structure. Control points are connected to the system controller through this shared bus, eliminating the need for separate dedicated connections for each control point. This merging approach maintains system reliability while dramatically reducing cabling complexity and installation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The common bus serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both power supply and communication pathways to multiple control points. This multi-functional design allows the same physical infrastructure to support both electrical power delivery and data transmission, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining reliable operation.
2Reliability
If separate ports are provided in the system controller for each power supply and communication line, then direct and reliable connections are established, but the number of required ports increases, limiting system scalability
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control points share common power supply and communication ports on the system controller through the common bus architecture. Instead of requiring dedicated ports for each control point, the system uses shared ports that serve multiple devices, thereby reducing the total port count and enabling easier system expansion without proportionally increasing controller complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controller is designed with modular communication capabilities that can handle multiple control points through a single interface. The controller segments the communication tasks, managing multiple control points through the common bus without requiring proportional increases in physical ports, thus maintaining scalability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the association of control points to building areas is determined by physical termination of connecting lines, then direct mapping is achieved, but the system flexibility for reconfiguration and addition of control points is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a virtual mapping system where control points are associated with building areas through software configuration rather than hardwired physical connections. The system controller maintains a virtual representation of the building layout and control point associations, allowing flexible reconfiguration without physical reinstallation. This virtual copying approach decouples the physical from the logical system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control point to building area associations are made dynamic and reconfigurable through software. Rather than fixed physical mappings, the system allows associations to be changed, added, or removed through programming, enabling the system to adapt to changing building layouts or requirements without physical reinstallation work.
Data Source
AI summary
A smoke ventilation system comprising a system controller connected to window actuators of different building areas, and control points associated with the window actuators of different building areas, the system controller comprises a power supply module powering the window actuators and the control points, wherein the control points are connected to the system controller by a common serial bus comprising power supply and communication lines for communicating serial control signals to activate the associated window actuators of a building area.