Wireless Magnetic Camera for Connected Bathroom Appliance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for intelligent bathroom devices that can communicate and be controlled wirelessly through mobile applications, enabling personalized settings and efficient communication between appliances and users, while also providing feedback on water usage and monitoring potential issues.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising intelligent bathroom appliances, a server, and a communication network that allows for wireless control and data analysis, including a wireless magnetic camera integrated with a mirror, which can capture photos and provide user-specific settings and feedback on water usage, with sensors to monitor and report on device status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bathroom devices are equipped with wireless communication and control capabilities, then user convenience and personalization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bathroom system is divided into independent appliances (shower, bathtub, toilet, sink, camera) that can be controlled individually through a mobile application. Each appliance maintains its own control logic while communicating wirelessly with the user's device, allowing complex functionality to be distributed across multiple simple components rather than consolidated in one complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
A mobile application serves as an intermediary between the user and the bathroom appliances. The application handles complex communication protocols, data processing, and control logic on the user's device, allowing the appliances themselves to remain relatively simple while still providing sophisticated wireless control capabilities through the intermediary software layer.
2Reliability
If sensors and communication modules are added to bathroom appliances, then monitoring and feedback capabilities are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera appliance serves multiple functions: it captures images for user identification, monitors bathroom activity for safety/security, and can provide visual feedback about water usage. By making the camera multi-functional, the patent avoids the need for separate sensors and communication modules for each function, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines identification, monitoring, and communication functions into existing appliance structures. For example, the camera is integrated with the mirror or wall mounting structure, and the same communication module used for control also handles data transmission for monitoring, eliminating the need for separate hardware components and reducing overall manufacturing cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user data is collected and analyzed by a server, then personalized service is improved, but data privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes and analyzes user data locally on the user's mobile device rather than transmitting detailed personal information to a remote server. The mobile application performs identification, preference storage, and control logic locally, ensuring that sensitive data remains on the user's device where it is protected by device-level security measures while still enabling personalized service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data processing and analysis functions from the server environment and places them on the user's mobile device. This extraction removes sensitive personal data from potentially vulnerable server storage and transmission channels, reducing privacy risks while maintaining the ability to provide personalized services through local data processing.
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
Enables seamless wireless control and communication of bathroom devices, personalizes user experiences, and provides efficient monitoring and feedback on water usage, enhancing user convenience and reducing water waste.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet coupled to the back surface, wherein the magnet is configured to removably couple the camera to a ferromagnetic material
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system that includes a camera having a main body having a front surface and a back surface; a lens disposed within the main body and configured to view objects in front of the front surface; a magnet coupled to the back surface, wherein the magnet is configured to removably couple the camera to a ferromagnetic material; a shutter adjustably coupled to the main body, so that the shutter is moveable relative to the lens between a closed position and an open position; and a controller disposed within the main body and configured to control operation of the camera.