Wireless Pairing Control for Battery-Free Home Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home automation apparatuses with limited energy sources face energy drain during pairing procedures, preventing normal operation due to high energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A control device that converts incident signals into electric current to power its operations, eliminating the need for internal energy sources like batteries, using a wireless emitter/receiver and converter to send configuration signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If home automation apparatuses emit radiofrequency waves at maximum intensity for pairing, then pairing can be initiated successfully, but the energy source of the apparatuses is drained, preventing normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control device as an intermediary that has its own energy source. This control device initiates pairing by emitting radiofrequency waves at maximum intensity, while the low-energy home automation apparatuses only receive signals and respond. The intermediary control device absorbs the energy consumption burden, allowing the apparatuses to pair without draining their limited energy sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pairing function into two distinct roles: a control device with full energy capabilities that handles signal emission and initiation, and home automation apparatuses with limited energy that handle only reception and response. This functional segmentation allows the energy-intensive operations to be performed by the control device while preserving the limited energy of the apparatuses.
2Ease of operation
If home automation apparatuses use internal energy sources like batteries for configuration, then configuration signals can be sent, but the device size increases and ecological footprint expands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the control device provides energy to the home automation apparatuses during configuration. The apparatuses receive power wirelessly from the control device through energy transfer, eliminating their need for internal batteries or energy storage components. This allows configuration capability while maintaining compact device size and reducing ecological footprint by removing battery components.
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 efficient configuration and pairing of home automation devices without draining their energy sources, reducing device size and ecological footprint while ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a converter configured to convert the incident signal into electric current and to power the processing logic unit using said electric current
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a control device for transmitting a control signal to a receiver device in a home-automation installation, comprising a wireless transmitter/receiver configured to receive an incident signal originating from a transmission device, an actuating unit configured to receive a configuration instruction, a processing logic unit suitable for deciding on the transmission of the control signal by the wireless transmitter/receiver, and configured to receive a configuration instruction originating from the actuating unit; and generating at least one configuration message to be transmitted to the receiver device; the wireless transmitter/receiver also being configured to transmit the at least one configuration message to the receiver device.