Wireless MEMS Comfort Sensing for Temperature-Humidity HVAC Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building control systems primarily focus on maintaining space temperature, neglecting the importance of relative humidity, which is crucial for human comfort, due to the high costs associated with sensing both temperature and humidity on a comprehensive scale.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of wireless MEMS microsystems that measure and communicate both temperature and relative humidity, calculating a combined heat index to adjust HVAC systems efficiently, reducing labor and material costs by eliminating the need for extensive wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive temperature and humidity sensing is implemented, then comfort control accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building into multiple zones with individual microsystems, allowing comprehensive monitoring without requiring a single expensive centralized system. Each microsystem independently measures temperature and humidity in its local zone, enabling distributed precision measurement that reduces overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional wired mechanical sensing systems with wireless microsystems that communicate via wireless networks. This substitution eliminates complex wiring infrastructure costs while maintaining measurement precision, directly addressing the cost barrier to comprehensive humidity and temperature sensing.
2Area of stationary object
If wireless microsystems are deployed extensively, then measurement coverage is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical wiring connections with wireless communication protocols, allowing microsystems to be deployed extensively throughout the building without the installation complexity of running wires to each sensing point. This enables broad measurement coverage while keeping installation relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless microsystems are designed to be self-contained units that automatically configure and communicate with the network without requiring complex installation procedures. Each unit independently establishes its wireless connection and begins providing measurements, reducing the need for professional installation expertise.
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
This solution enables cost-effective, comprehensive comfort control in buildings by accurately measuring and adjusting temperature and humidity levels, improving occupant comfort and reducing energy consumption by optimizing HVAC operations based on the heat index.
Implementation Method 1
each microsystem operable to measure at least relative humidity and temperature
Implementation Method 2
each microsystem operable to measure at least relative humidity and temperature
Implementation Method 3
Each microsystem is preferably operable to calculate and communicate a combined temperature and relative humidity index
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement includes a plurality of wireless microsystems. Each microsystem is operable to measure at least relative humidity and temperature, and to communicate temperature and relative humidity information wirelessly to a network device. The network device is operable to communicate the temperature and relative humidity information to at least a first processor configured to cause a change in a building control condition based on the information.