Wireless Coupling Across Building Barriers for Mesh Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems for building infrastructure face significant signal loss and range reduction due to building materials like reinforced concrete and environmental factors, necessitating costly wired connections for exterior devices, which also impact thermal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wireless mesh network system using high-gain, high-directivity antennas and inductive coupling across barriers to maintain signal integrity and power transfer without physical holes, enabling seamless communication and power supply across building divisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired connections are used to control building infrastructure devices outside the building, then reliability of control signal transmission is improved, but thermal efficiency of the building deteriorates due to through-holes in walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wired mechanical connections (cables through walls) with wireless electromagnetic field-based communication. The coupling device uses wireless signals to transmit control signals across barriers, eliminating the need for physical through-holes that compromise thermal insulation while maintaining reliable control signal transmission to exterior devices.
2Ease of manufacture
If wireless links are used to control building infrastructure devices beyond one room, then ease of installation is improved, but signal loss increases due to barrier attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device acts as an intermediary between the wireless mesh network inside the building and exterior devices. It receives control signals from the interior wireless network, processes them, and transmits them across barriers to exterior devices, thereby bridging the signal loss problem caused by barrier attenuation while maintaining installation simplicity.
3Length of stationary object
If high-power wireless transmitters are used to overcome barrier attenuation, then attainable range is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication path into two parts: low-power wireless mesh communication within rooms, and targeted high-gain transmission only at the coupling device location where barriers are present. This segmentation allows the majority of the network to operate at low power while achieving extended range only where necessary through the coupling device's directed high-gain antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device concentrates transmission power and uses high-gain antennas only at specific locations where barriers require signal penetration. Rather than increasing power throughout the entire network, the system applies high-power transmission locally only at the coupling device, minimizing overall energy consumption while achieving the necessary communication range.
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 provides enhanced spatial coverage and cost-effective control of building infrastructure systems by maintaining signal quality and power supply across barriers, reducing installation costs and maintaining thermal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the first coupling device (2) is configured to communicate in the first subsystem (4) and to transmit and receive signals to the second subsystem (5) using wireless communication via the barrier (6)
Implementation Method 2
A wireless mesh network system using high-gain, high-directivity antennas and inductive coupling across barriers to maintain signal integrity and power transfer without physical holes
Data Source
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AI summary
A building infrastructure system comprises at least a first and a second subsystem. The first and the second subsystem each comprise plural infrastructure devices that each include a communication node connected in a wireless mesh communication network topology to other communication nodes. The first and the second subsystem are arranged at different sides of a barrier, e.g. a building barrier such as a wall, ceiling plate or window of the building. At least the first subsystem comprises a first coupling device for connecting the first subsystem and the second subsystem, and the first coupling device is configured to communicate in the first subsystem and to transmit and receive signals to the second subsystem using wireless communication via the barrier. The disclosure also concerns a wireless coupling device for the building infrastructure system.