Wireless Window Alarm Detecting Glazed Unit Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alarm systems for double-glazed windows are complex and costly to produce, prone to errors, and can damage the tightness of the sealed space due to physical connections, leading to low reliability and inconvenience in use.
Innovation Solution
A wireless alarm system with a humidity sensor and a movement sensor that compares current humidity readings to a stored value, triggering an alarm if a predetermined threshold of humidity change is detected, allowing for remote adjustment and 2-way wireless communication to avoid damaging the sealed space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a humidity sensor is physically connected to a controller in a wire mode, then the alarm system can detect humidity changes, but the physical connection may damage the tightness of the closed space and influence the opening and closing of the door or window
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire connection system with a wireless communication system. The alarm apparatus communicates humidity data and alarm signals to the controller through wireless transmission, eliminating physical connections that would compromise the sealed space's integrity while maintaining reliable data transmission for accurate humidity monitoring
2Reliability
If absolute humidity or air pressure detection is used, then the alarm system can detect closed space damage, but the detection principle is extremely complex resulting in high production difficulty and high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from complex absolute humidity or air pressure measurement to relative humidity measurement. Relative humidity sensors are simpler, more reliable, and less expensive while still providing effective damage detection capability. The sensor compares relative humidity changes over time to detect sealed space breaches, achieving the same reliability goal with reduced complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive relative humidity sensors instead of costly absolute humidity or pressure sensors. These simpler sensors can be easily replaced if needed and provide sufficient functionality for detecting sealed space damage, reducing both production costs and system complexity while maintaining effective monitoring capability
3Reliability
If absolute humidity or air pressure detection is used, then the alarm system can detect closed space damage, but the readings may change with temperature resulting in incorrect readings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent switches from temperature-sensitive absolute humidity or pressure parameters to relative humidity, which is inherently temperature-compensated. Relative humidity readings automatically account for temperature variations, providing stable and accurate measurements that reliably indicate sealed space damage without false positives from thermal effects
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors including gyro sensor and pressure sensor are installed, then the system can detect various changes in the window unit, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary sensors from the system. Instead of installing multiple sensors including gyro and pressure sensors, the invention uses only a humidity sensor to detect sealed space damage. This extraction of essential functionality eliminates complex components while maintaining the core capability of detecting window unit damage through humidity changes in the enclosed space
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
The system effectively reduces production complexity and costs, maintains the tightness of the sealed space, and improves reliability by using wireless communication and precise humidity monitoring, providing accurate damage detection without influencing the window's operation.
Implementation Method 1
a humidity sensor; and a movement sensor in which, when the movement sensor detects movement of the glazed unit, the humidity sensor compares the current detected humidity in the glazed unit with a previously stored detected humidity
Implementation Method 2
The movement sensor may be a vibration sensor, or alternatively an acoustic sensor
Implementation Method 3
the latter being arranged to detect sound waves of those frequencies that occur if a glass pane is drilled into
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
An alarm (100) for detecting damage to a multiple glazed unit (50) comprises: a humidity sensor (12); and a movement sensor (11). When the movement sensor (11) detects movement of the glazed unit (50), the humidity sensor (12) compares the current detected humidity in the glazed unit (50) with a previously stored detected humidity, and if the humidity has changed by a predetermined threshold, a damage alarm is triggered.