Wireless Signal Transmission Device for Caravan Component Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing signal transmission systems in mobile homes, caravans, and boats lack efficient wireless communication solutions for real-time monitoring and control of electrical and electronic components, often requiring physical connections and incurring costs when using cellular networks, and may not function in areas with poor coverage.

Innovation Solution

A signal transmission device with a transmitting and receiving unit that establishes a local wireless data connection, such as Bluetooth or WLAN, to transmit data from components to mobile terminals without a display, allowing integration into existing data buses and enabling bidirectional communication for control and regulation, thus providing real-time status updates and control functions wirelessly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a display device with screen is used to show component status information, then information display capability is improved, but device complexity and installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the display function from the signal transmission device by using a mobile terminal's display instead. The transmitting and receiving unit only handles data transmission and reception, while the mobile terminal displays the component status information. This separation reduces the complexity of the signal transmission device while maintaining full information display capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary between the signal transmission device and the user. It receives data from the transmitting and receiving unit via wireless connection and presents the information through its display interface, thereby eliminating the need for a built-in display in the signal transmission device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If wireless data transmission is implemented without cellular network, then cost and reliability are improved, but communication range and infrastructure requirements are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication range
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the cellular network infrastructure (external mechanical/system dependency) with a local wireless data connection system. By using Bluetooth or WLAN technology, the system achieves reliable communication without depending on external cellular towers, thereby improving reliability while maintaining adaptability through local networking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If physical cable connections are used for data transmission, then connection stability is improved, but ease of operation and installation flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidinstallation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless data transmission system using Bluetooth or WLAN. This eliminates the need for physical cable connections while maintaining stable communication through established wireless protocols, thereby improving installation flexibility and ease of operation without sacrificing connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electrical and electronic components are networked together, then system functionality is improved, but device complexity and wiring requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidwiring requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal data bus system (CI bus) that can connect multiple different electrical and electronic components through a common communication protocol. This allows various components (refrigerators, heaters, lighting, etc.) to be networked together without requiring separate wiring for each connection, thereby improving system functionality while reducing overall wiring complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces extensive physical wiring requirements with wireless data transmission for accessing component status information. While the CI bus provides structured connectivity for system functionality, the wireless transmission layer eliminates the need for additional cables between the data bus and the user interface, reducing overall wiring complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3447746B1Signal transmission device for a device, in particular for a mobile home, caravan, motor caravan or a boat, and system comprising such a signal transmission device, and trailer and vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 REICH KG REGEL UND SICHERHEITSTECHN
  • EP3447746B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3447746B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3447746B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a signal transmission device (10) for a device, in particular for a caravan, motorhome, or boat, comprising a transmitter and receiver unit (12) which includes: at least one receiver element (14) configured to receive data characterizing at least one state of at least one part of the device; and at least one transmitter element (16) configured to establish at least one local wireless data connection (18) with at least one mobile device (20) via radio technology and to wirelessly transmit the resulting data characterizing the at least one state to the mobile device (20) via the data connection. The invention further comprises a system with a signal transmission device (10), a trailer, and a vehicle.Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the transmitting and receiving unit (12) of the signal transmission device (10).