Thermal Sensor Alarm for Occupied Enclosed Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Living beings with limited mobility, such as pets, young children, or elderly individuals, are at risk of being left unattended in enclosed spaces where temperatures can become unsafe, leading to potential harm due to extreme temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing passive thermal sensors to detect the presence of living beings and monitor ambient temperatures within enclosed spaces, activating an alarm and potentially alerting an external entity if the temperature exceeds a safe range for an extended period, thereby preventing harm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive thermal sensors are used to detect living beings and monitor temperature, then the safety monitoring capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into separate sensor modules (first sensor set for living being detection, second sensor set for temperature monitoring) that can independently detect different parameters. This segmentation allows each sensor to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive thermal sensors serve multiple functions: they can detect the presence of living beings through thermal signatures and simultaneously monitor ambient temperature levels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors, thereby improving safety monitoring capability while limiting the increase in device complexity.
2Loss of time
If the system continuously monitors temperature and activates alarm, then the response time to hazards is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors temperature parameters and triggers alarm activation based on predefined temperature thresholds and duration criteria. By changing the monitoring approach from continuous high-power operation to threshold-based event-triggered operation, the system achieves rapid response to hazardous conditions while significantly reducing overall energy consumption during normal monitoring periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic temperature sampling and evaluation against safety thresholds, rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic action allows the system to maintain responsive hazard detection capability while consuming less energy by entering lower-power states between measurement cycles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively notifies external entities of potential temperature-related hazards, allowing for timely intervention to ensure the safety of individuals within enclosed spaces by alerting owners or emergency services.
Implementation Method 1
Passive thermal sensors may detect electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared light, from objects in their field of view
Data Source
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AI summary
Example implementations relate to activating an alarm if a living being is present in an enclosed space having an ambient temperature outside a safe temperature range. In example implementations, it may be determined whether a living being has been present in an enclosed space, and an ambient temperature of the enclosed space has been outside a safe temperature range, for a threshold amount of time. An alarm may be activated if the living being has been present in the enclosed space, and the ambient temperature of the enclosed space has been outside the safe temperature range, for the threshold amount of time.