Wireless Sanitary Control Using Signal-Strength Gated Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling sanitary installations, such as those in kitchen base cabinets, lack safe and convenient control mechanisms, particularly when signal strength is insufficient, leading to inadequate monitoring and potential hazards, especially for children.
Innovation Solution
A system with a control unit and a mobile operating device connected via a continuously maintained wireless connection, where function control is dependent on signal strength, with status signaling and user confirmation to ensure safe operation, especially for safety-critical functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless control is enabled without signal strength verification, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and reliability deteriorate due to potential unintended operation by children or unauthorized persons
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of signal strength threshold to differentiate between authorized user control and unauthorized access. By setting a minimum signal strength threshold, the system ensures that only users in close proximity (authorized users) can control the sanitary installation, while preventing control by children or unauthorized persons who cannot achieve the required signal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the user and the sanitary installation. It mediates the control signals by verifying signal strength before allowing command transmission to the control unit, thus preventing unauthorized operation while maintaining convenience for authorized users.
2Reliability
If control is blocked when signal strength is low, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to control functions when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary verification of signal strength before blocking control functions. By checking signal strength in advance and providing feedback to the user, the system allows control when signal strength is sufficient while preventing control when signal strength is too low, thus maintaining both safety and operational availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device provides feedback to the user about the current signal strength and control availability. This feedback mechanism informs users when control is possible and when it is blocked, allowing them to adjust their position or wait for better signal conditions, thus maintaining ease of operation while ensuring safety.
3Reliability
If continuous wireless connection monitoring is implemented, then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions using the same wireless communication infrastructure: it maintains the wireless connection for control purposes and simultaneously monitors signal strength for safety verification. This multi-functionality allows continuous monitoring without significantly increasing device complexity, as the same hardware resources are utilized for both control and monitoring tasks.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (2) for controlling a sanitary installation (1), in particular a sanitary installation (1) arranged at least partially in a kitchen base cabinet, comprising a control device (3) that can be arranged on a sanitary installation and at least one, in particular mobile, user operating device (4), wherein the control device and the at least one operating device are configured to communicate with each other via a wireless connection, in particular a continuously maintained wireless connection, wherein at least one operating command from the user can be transmitted to the control device by the at least one operating device, wherein at least one function (7) of the sanitary installation can be controlled by the control device based on the received, at least one operating command, wherein the at least one function can be controlled depending on a signal strength of the wireless connection, wherein the control device is configuredto signal the status of the sanitary facility to a user after exceeding and/or falling below a predefined signal strength threshold, and after a predefined time period and/or after confirmation of the signaled status by a user, to provide controllability of at least one function.