Air conditioner control system, sensor device control method, and program
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance of multiple wireless measurement terminals is laborious due to batteries dying at different times, leading to uneven replacement schedules.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner control system that includes an integrated controller and relay device, which coordinates sensor devices to enter a sleep mode based on remaining battery charge levels, ensuring that at least two devices deplete their batteries simultaneously, allowing for synchronized replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple wireless measurement terminals are deployed to monitor environmental conditions, then measurement coverage and reliability are improved, but maintenance complexity increases due to batteries dying at different times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor devices into a single coordinated system where the relay device centralizes control functions. By merging the battery management and sleep time control functions into the relay device, the system reduces maintenance complexity while maintaining reliable environmental monitoring across multiple locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of sensor devices by dynamically adjusting sleep times based on battery charge levels. The relay device calculates optimal sleep times for each sensor to synchronize battery depletion, transforming the maintenance schedule from unpredictable individual failures to coordinated replacement cycles.
2Measurement precision
If sensor devices operate continuously in normal mode, then measurement precision and response time are improved, but battery consumption increases leading to frequent replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic operation by putting sensor devices into sleep mode during intervals when measurements are less critical. The relay device activates sensors only when environmental conditions require monitoring or when battery charge levels permit continuous operation, creating a periodic measurement pattern that reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate monitoring precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic operation modes where sensor devices can switch between normal mode and sleep mode based on real-time conditions. The relay device dynamically adjusts the operational state of each sensor considering battery charge levels, environmental conditions, and priority requirements, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and energy consumption.
3Reliability
If batteries in sensor devices are replaced individually as they fail, then operational reliability is maintained, but maintenance labor increases due to unsynchronized replacement schedules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by proactively managing battery life through controlled sleep periods. The relay device calculates and enforces sleep times that will cause batteries to deplete simultaneously, allowing maintenance personnel to replace all batteries in a coordinated manner before any single device fails, thus maintaining reliability while reducing maintenance labor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-service battery management system where the relay device automatically monitors battery charge levels and adjusts sleep times to synchronize depletion. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention to coordinate battery replacements, allowing the system to maintain operational reliability while minimizing maintenance effort through automated synchronization.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
An air conditioner control system (100) comprises air conditioners (101_1 to _5) configured to condition an environment in a target space, an integrated controller (102) configured to control the air conditioners (101_1 to _5) based on control parameter data, sensor devices (104_1 to _5) configured to measure the temperature of the target space and transmit measurement data, and wireless master devices (103_1 and _2) configured to create control parameter data based on the measurement data. The wireless master devices (103_1 to _2) each determine sleep times so that at least two sensor devices (104_1 to _5) run out of battery charge around the same time according to the remaining charge amount of each of the sensor devices (104_1 to _5). The sensor devices (104_1 to _5) each will be in the sleep mode in which power consumption is lower than in the normal mode according to the sleep time decided by the wireless master devices (103_1 and _2).