# US 2024/0329618 A1 · Fault Detection In Buildings

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2024/0329618 A1
- Document ID: US20240329618A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/616,533
- Filed: 2024-03-26
- Published: 2024-10-03
- Earliest claimed: 2023-03-29
- Assignees: Siemens Schweiz AG
- Applicants: Siemens Schweiz AG
- Inventors: Ivo Brand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240329618A1

## CPC

- G05B 15/02: electric
- G05B 19/4063: Monitoring general control system (G05B19/4062 takes precedence)
- G05B 19/408: characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
- G05B 2219/21126: Signal processing, filter input
- G05B 2219/2614: HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
- G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method of detecting faults in a structure. An example method includes: obtaining from an actuator a first signal indicative of a test operating mode and from a first and second sensor respective signals indicative of a time series of test readings; producing a test operating mode in response; searching for the test operating mode in a first list, and searching for sensors in a second list; if the test operation mode is in the first list and sensors are in the second list, determining a test numerical measure between the first time series and the second time series, including a predefined constant when the first time series matches the second and otherwise deviating from the predefined constant; and determining a test deviation of the measure from the predefined constant, and if the deviation exceeds a threshold, producing a fault.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of detecting faults in a structure having a data network connecting a first actuator, a first sensor, and a second sensor, the method comprising:
obtaining via the data network from the first actuator a first signal indicative of a test operating mode and from the first sensor and the second sensor respective signals indicative of a time series of test readings;
producing a test operating mode in response;
searching for the test operating mode in a first list, and searching for the first sensor and the second sensor in a second list;
if the test operation mode is found in the first list and the first sensor and the second sensor are found in the second list, determining a test numerical measure between the first time series of test values and the second time series of test values, the test numerical measure including a predefined constant when the first time series of test values matches the second time series of test values and otherwise deviating from the predefined constant; and
determining a test of the test numerical deviation measure from the predefined constant, and if the test deviation exceeds a test threshold value: producing fault data based on the test deviation and using the fault data to alert a user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, the method comprising one or more iterations of:
determining a distance between the first time series of test values and the second time series of test values;
rescaling the determined distance between the first time series of test values and the second time series of test values; and
adding the rescaled distance between the first time series of test values and the second time series of test values to or subtracting the rescaled distance between the first time series of test values and the second time series of test values from the test numerical measure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, the method comprising one or more iterations of:
applying a moving window filter to the first time series of test values to obtain a first filtered test value;
applying the moving window filter to the second time series of test values to obtain a second filtered test value;
determining a distance between the first filtered test value and the second filtered test value;
rescaling the determined distance between the first filtered test value and the second filtered test value; and
adding the rescaled distance to or subtracting the rescaled distance from the test numerical measure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein each iteration comprises:
comparing the determined distance to a distance threshold value; and
if the determined distance exceeds the distance threshold value, using a first multiplicative factor to rescale the determined distance;
otherwise, using a second multiplicative factor to rescale the determined distance;
wherein the first multiplicative factor is different from the second multiplicative factor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, the method comprising, if the test deviation exceeds the test threshold value:
producing the fault data based on the test deviation and based on at least one of: the at least one first actuator, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the test numerical measure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, the method comprising:
obtaining via the data network from the first actuator one or more signals indicative of an initial operating mode and from each of the first sensor and the second sensor signals indicative of a time series of initiation readings;
producing an initial operating mode from the signals indicative of an initial operating mode and/or of an initial operating state and a first time series of initiation values in response; and
determining an initial numerical measure between the first time series of initiation values and the second time series of initiation values, the initial numerical measure including the predefined constant when the first time series of initiation values matches the second time series of initiation values and otherwise deviating from the predefined constant.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, the method comprising one or more iterations of:
determining a distance between the first time series of initiation values and the second time series of initiation values;
rescaling the determined distance between the first time series of initiation values and the second time series of initiation values; and
adding the rescaled distance between the first time series of initiation values and the second time series of initiation values to or subtracting the rescaled distance between the first time series of initiation values and the second time series of initiation values from the initial numerical measure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, the method comprising one or more iterations of:
applying the moving window filter to the first time series of initiation values to obtain a first filtered initiation value;
applying the moving window filter to the second time series of initiation values to obtain a second filtered initiation value;
determining a distance between the first filtered initiation value and the second filtered initiation value;
rescaling the determined distance between the first filtered initiation value and the second filtered initiation value; and
adding the rescaled distance between the first filtered initiation value and the second filtered initiation value to or subtracting the rescaled distance between the first filtered initiation value and the second filtered initiation value from the initial numerical measure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, each: iteration comprising:
comparing the determined distance to the distance threshold value; and
if the determined distance exceeds the distance threshold value, using the first multiplicative factor c1 to rescale the determined distance;
otherwise using the second multiplicative factor c2 to rescale the determined distance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, the method comprising:
producing the initiation data based on the initial numerical measure and based on at least one of: the at least one first actuator, the first sensor, the second sensor, an initial deviation of the initial numerical measure s from the predefined constant;
forwarding the initiation data to the user;
after forwarding the initiation data, receiving from the user a choice signal indicative of an affirmative or a negative choice made by the user;
producing a binary choice value indicative of the affirmative choice or of the negative choice from the choice signal; and
if the binary choice value is affirmative, adding the initial operating mode and/or the initial operating state to the first list.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, the method comprising determining the test threshold value as a function of the initiation data.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, the method comprising:
determining a measure of change of the first time series of initiation values; and
if the measure of change exceeds a change threshold value, forwarding the initiation data to the user and/or to the operator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, the method comprising:
determining an or the initial deviation of the initial numerical measure from the predefined constant and comparing the initial deviation to an initial threshold value; and
if the initial deviation is less than the initial threshold value, adding the initial operating mode and/or the initial operating state to the first list.