System, method and apparatus for wireless control of an actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high installation and maintenance costs of wireless sensor networks limit their penetration into the marketplace due to the need for customized and static sensor solutions that do not easily adapt to changing application requirements, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs when new sensors or features are introduced.
Innovation Solution
A plug-and-play universal sensor interface allows sensor module units to be deployed separately from wireless nodes, enabling flexible and scalable sensor network configurations without requiring significant redeployment or reconfiguration of existing infrastructure, thereby reducing costs and enabling seamless evolution of sensor applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless sensor networks use customized and static sensor solutions, then sensor functionality is tailored to specific applications, but installation and maintenance costs increase and adaptability to changing requirements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal sensor interface that can accommodate multiple sensor types and generations through a standardized connection mechanism. This allows a single wireless sensor network infrastructure to support diverse sensing applications without requiring customized deployment for each sensor type, thereby reducing installation and maintenance costs while improving adaptability to changing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic reconfiguration of sensor networks by allowing sensor module units to be easily added, removed, or replaced at the universal interface. This dynamic capability permits the network to adapt to changing application objectives without downtime or significant redeployment expenses, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and cost.
2Ease of operation
If wireless sensor networks are deployed with integrated sensors, then initial setup is simplified, but flexibility to add new sensors or features later is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor system into separate sensor module units that interface with the wireless node through a universal connection. This segmentation allows the wireless infrastructure to be deployed initially with basic sensors while enabling easy addition of new sensor modules later without affecting the core network operation, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving future flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal sensor interface is pre-configured in the wireless node during manufacturing, enabling simple initial deployment. However, the interface is designed to accommodate future sensor modules that can be added without reconfiguring the preliminary infrastructure, thereby resolving the contradiction between initial simplicity and future adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensor networks require significant redeployment for new applications, then customized solutions are achieved, but downtime and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The universal sensor interface enables a single wireless node to support multiple sensor types and applications through standardized connections. This eliminates the need for significant redeployment when changing applications, as sensors can be swapped at the universal interface without affecting network infrastructure, thereby achieving customized solutions without downtime or expense.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a standardized template for sensor connections through the universal interface, allowing different sensor modules to be copied and interchanged without modifying the underlying wireless network architecture. This copying approach enables rapid application changes without redeployment, resolving the contradiction between customization and time/expense loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless sensor network at a monitored location can be configured to generate sensor channel(s) of data to assess operational conditions at the monitored location. Inputs based on the sensor channel(s) of data are provided to a host system for analysis of a demand to one or more resources at the monitored location. Response messages can be generated based on the demand analysis and transmitted to actuator(s) at the monitored location to effect an adjustment to the operational conditions.