Wireless Building Automation Architecture with Direct Sensor-Actuator Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wired building automation systems incur high installation and maintenance costs due to the need for extensive wiring, which complicates networking and makes manual maintenance expensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A wireless building automation architecture that allows direct communication between sensors and actuators using different wireless communications protocols, enabling distributed control processing and reducing the reliance on intervening controllers, while also providing communication redundancy and regional control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired building automation systems are used, then system reliability and control precision are improved, but installation cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with a wireless communication system. Sensors and actuators communicate control signals wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical wiring between components. This substitution maintains system functionality while dramatically reducing installation complexity and cost, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication network as an intermediary between sensors and actuators. Instead of direct wired connections, control signals are transmitted through wireless protocols, serving as a mediator that enables communication without physical connections. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable control while reducing the mechanical complexity of wiring infrastructure.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive wiring is installed for building automation, then control precision is improved, but installation cost and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes wireless communication for wired connections, eliminating the need for extensive physical wiring installation. Sensors and actuators maintain precise control capabilities while communicating through wireless protocols, thereby reducing installation costs without sacrificing control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless building automation system enables devices to self-configure and self-manage connections without requiring complex wiring installation. The system automatically establishes communication pathways, reducing both installation cost and the skill level required for implementation, while maintaining control precision through intelligent protocol management.
3Device complexity
If manual maintenance is performed for wired systems, then device complexity is reduced, but maintenance cost and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless system incorporates automated monitoring and diagnostic capabilities that provide real-time feedback on device status and communication health. This enables proactive identification of issues before they affect operation, reducing both maintenance time and the need for complex manual troubleshooting procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages connection routing, signal optimization, and device registration without requiring manual configuration. When devices are added or moved, the system self-adjusts communication pathways, eliminating time-consuming manual reconfiguration and reducing maintenance burden while maintaining system complexity at manageable levels.
4Device complexity
If wireless hub and spoke architecture is used, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into autonomous sensor-actuator pairs that can operate independently. Each pair maintains its own control logic and communication capability, eliminating the single point of failure at the central hub. This segmentation improves communication reliability while keeping individual device complexity low through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts communication pathways based on device availability and network conditions. When the central hub is unavailable, sensors and actuators automatically establish direct peer-to-peer connections, maintaining control functionality. This dynamic routing capability ensures communication reliability without requiring complex static network architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
On a first level of the wireless building automation architecture, sensors and associated actuators communicate directly. The sensor performs control processes appropriate for the sensor and regardless of the type of actuator being used. The actuator performs control processes specific to the actuator regardless of the type of sensor being used. By direct wireless communication between sensors and actuators, the opportunity for a failed communications link using a hub and spoke arrangement may be avoided. Communication redundancy is provided by receiving the outputs of sensors at a controller, such as a controller on a second high speed or high bandwidth tier of the architecture. Regional control is implemented in the higher level tier. The higher level tier may override or control operation of components of the lower level tier as needed. The distributed control processing allows for more convenient room level integration. Where a problem is detected, such as a fire, corrective action begins within the immediate region of the sensor generating an alarm signal. The corrective action occurs without routing the alarm signal to upper levels of control processes or across different systems. The alarm signal is also propagated to upper level control systems for generating appropriate responses in other zones. To provide the different zones and avoid interference, the transmit power of the sensors and actuators is controlled as a function of two or more other devices.