Wireless Home Energy Control Platform with Circular Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current home automation solutions lack an integrated, user-friendly platform for wireless control and monitoring of energy consumption across multiple appliances, leading to inefficiencies and lack of transparency in energy usage, with existing systems either being too complex or limited to specific functionalities and not providing intuitive control over household energy management.
Innovation Solution
A control system comprising a controlling device with a transceiver, processor, and memory, wirelessly connected to controlled devices that include electricity meters, on-off switches, dimmers, and thermostats, allowing for remote control and data transmission of energy consumption, integrated with a user-friendly graphical interface for easy operation and energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If high-end home automation solutions with broadband functionalities are implemented, then appliance control and media broadcast capabilities are improved, but installation complexity and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the home automation functionality into separate controlled devices (one for each appliance) and a central controlling device. Each controlled device handles specific appliance control independently, eliminating the need for complex centralized installation while maintaining versatile control capabilities across multiple appliances.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlling device is designed to work with multiple types of appliances through a universal interface. It can control lighting, heating, entertainment systems, and other energy-consuming devices using the same wireless communication protocol and user interface, providing versatile control without requiring separate complex systems for each appliance type.
2Ease of operation
If low-end home automation solutions for specific appliances are used, then installation ease and cost are improved, but integration with other home automation solutions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Each controlled device is designed as a universal module that can be installed on any energy-consuming appliance. They all communicate using the same wireless protocol with the controlling device, enabling easy individual installation while maintaining full integration capability with other appliances and home automation systems through the central controller.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate electronic devices are gathered from multiple vendors to achieve home automation, then specific functionality is improved, but system complexity and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple separate controlled devices into a unified network managed by a single controlling device. All appliances communicate through the same wireless protocol and are controlled from a single user interface, combining the functionality of multiple devices while presenting a simplified unified system to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlling device serves as a universal interface that can control multiple different types of appliances through standardized commands. It provides a single point of control for lighting, heating, entertainment, and other appliances, eliminating the need for users to manage multiple separate control systems.
4Loss of information
If comprehensive monitoring of energy consumption is implemented, then energy transparency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines energy consumption monitoring into the existing controlled devices that are already installed on each appliance. The controlling device aggregates energy data from all controlled devices and presents it in a unified display, providing comprehensive energy transparency without requiring separate monitoring hardware for each appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled devices serve dual functions: they control appliance operation and simultaneously monitor energy consumption. This multi-functionality provides comprehensive energy monitoring across all appliances without adding separate dedicated monitoring systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a controlling device and a control system. In particular, it provides an integration platform with intuitive functionality to wirelessly control energy consumption and to create transparency on the sources of energy consumption. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a controlling device comprising: a transceiver configured to receive data signals and to transmit control signals wirelessly; a processor configured to generate the control signals and to extract data to be stored from the data signals; a memory for stori ng the data; a circular display; and input means; wherein the input means are arranged around the circular display and are adapted to enable a user to select a desired function from a plurality of functions of the controlling device comprising one or more of the following functions: receiving, handling, and displaying of data signals and handling and transmitting of control signals.