Wireless MEMS Humidity Sensing for Building Comfort Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC systems primarily focus on maintaining space temperature, neglecting the importance of relative humidity in determining human comfort, and are hindered by high costs associated with comprehensive sensing of both temperature and humidity levels.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of wireless MEMS microsystems that measure and communicate both temperature and relative humidity, calculating a combined heat index to adjust air flow rates in buildings, reducing labor and material costs through wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive sensing of both temperature and humidity 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, each independently measuring temperature and humidity. This segmentation allows comprehensive monitoring without requiring a single complex centralized system, reducing overall cost while maintaining measurement precision across all zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional wired mechanical sensing systems with wireless microsystems. Each microsystem contains integrated temperature and humidity sensors that communicate wirelessly, eliminating the need for complex wiring infrastructure and reducing installation costs while maintaining comprehensive measurement capabilities.
2Area of stationary object
If wireless microsystems are deployed throughout the building, then measurement coverage is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes wired connections with wireless communication for the microsystems. Each microsystem transmits temperature and humidity data wirelessly to the HVAC controller, eliminating the need for physical wiring throughout the building. This approach expands measurement coverage to numerous locations without proportionally increasing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The microsystems are designed as self-contained units that autonomously measure environmental parameters and transmit data without requiring manual wiring or complex installation infrastructure. This self-service capability simplifies deployment while achieving comprehensive building-wide measurement coverage.
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 approach allows for cost-effective, comprehensive comfort control in buildings by considering both temperature and humidity, enhancing 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
the network device is operable to communicate the parameters to one or more controllers that can adjust flow rate of heated or cooled air to a room based on the heat index
Implementation Method 4
Each microsystem is preferably operable to calculate and communicate a combined temperature and relative humidity index and communicate the heat index wirelessly to a network device
Data Source
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AI summary
An arrangement includes a plurality of wireless microsystems (12). Each microsystem (12) is operable to measure at least relative humidity and temperature, and to communicate temperature and relative humidity information wirelessly to a network device (16). The network device (16) is operable to communicate the temperature and relative humidity information to at least a first processor (17, 18) configured to cause a change in a building control condition based on the information.