Wireless Device Housing Detection via Actuator Signal Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing housing devices for wireless communication devices lack convenience in detecting when the device is not housed, leading to potential operational inconveniences in remote control systems.

Innovation Solution

A housing device with an actuator, communication device, and control device that monitors the change in physical quantities like drive voltage level to detect if the wireless communication device is housed, and notifies the user via a mobile device if the change exceeds a threshold, without altering the actuator's hardware configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a housing device houses a wireless communication device for remote control, then remote control functionality is improved, but the ability to detect device absence is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote control functionalityVSAvoiddevice absence detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The control device monitors the physical quantity (drive voltage level) during actuator operation and provides feedback to determine device absence. When the monitored value exceeds a threshold, the system notifies the user that the wireless communication device is absent, resolving the detection difficulty while maintaining remote control functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical detection methods with electrical field-based detection by monitoring drive voltage levels during actuator operation. This substitution enables automatic device absence detection without adding mechanical sensors or hardware changes to the housing structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a mechanism is added to detect device absence, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice absence detectionVSAvoidhousing device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs multiple functions: it controls the actuator for remote operation and simultaneously monitors drive voltage levels to detect device absence. This multi-functionality avoids adding separate detection hardware, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing device uses its own existing actuator and control circuitry to detect device absence. The control device monitors the physical quantity during normal actuator operation, allowing the system to self-diagnose device presence without external detection equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12614444B2Housing device, control device, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and method of detecting wireless communication device in the housing device

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 KK TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO

AI summary

A housing defines a space in which a wireless communication device for remotely controlling a controlled device with actuation of a movable member is to be housed. An actuator is configured to actuate the movable member with motions. A communication device is configured to receive a trigger signal. A control device is configured to move the actuator in accordance with the trigger signal. The control device is configured to cause a notification device to perform notification of a fact that the wireless communication device is not housed in the space, in a case where an amount of change per unit time of a physical quantity that changes in accordance with the motions of the actuator exceeds a first threshold value.