Patent Application
20200190791
The present invention relates to a building arrangement, in particular a “smart” home arrangement, in which the layout of the building may be customised.
Current housing has not changed in a significant way in the past 100 years. Although the construction industry has seen certain advances in building materials and techniques, the general approach to the structure and layout of residential buildings and the building process itself has remained, to a large extent, unchanged. This established process is still very slow, costly and is now struggling to support the changing needs of home buyers and developers driven by a number of important market factors.
Firstly, the rapid pace of technological development during this period has meant users now demand a much greater degree of sophistication in home technology. By 2020 there is expected to be 50 billion devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), linking home technology devices together to enhance the way in which a user interacts with their home and allowing an increased personalisation of their home environment. For example, smart heating, lighting, security systems and power monitoring are now widely available, allowing automation and adaptability of home services to a user's needs. However, despite the smart technology itself being widely available, the incorporation of such technology into the average home has been limited. One major barrier is that the cost of such equipment and that associated with integration and maintenance in existing homes is still prohibitively high for the average home owner.
Traditionally, home builders have approached construction and technology as two distinct aspects of the home. Current “smart” home technology generally involves retrofitting new technology to existing buildings, interfacing new devices with existing systems which were never designed for this purpose. For example, the arrangement of existing incoming utilities such as water, gas and the distribution of electrics may limit the extent to which new smart technology may be integrated into a home. Similarly conventional building materials and the room layout may affect the interaction of devices across the home. Therefore, although there is a demand for such “smart” home products, the barriers related to installing these devices in existing housing are prohibiting significant uptake in the market. There is accordingly a need for a new approach to home building which facilitates integration with current and future smart home technology.
Secondly, the home increasingly has to support a greater variation in activities which current building practices and home layouts do not adequately cater for. This is true both in terms of the number of requirements a home must provide at any one time—for example, home working, entertaining, exercise in addition to conventional living spaces—and the change in requirements over time, for example as the family grows or to support periodic changes in working patterns between the home and the office. Furthermore these requirements of a home may be very different depending on the occupant and so vary from household to household. Current practices of constructing uniform residential buildings often do not support this variation in the provisions required of a home. Furthermore the time and cost involved in renovating, restructuring or adapting buildings means it is a significant undertaking to alter existing homes to meet the needs of a user over time.
Data shows that currently the average time spent between moving house is increasing—likely partially due to the rising expense of purchasing a new home. Now more than ever a single home must therefore be able to support the change in requirements over a longer time period. Similarly, with more people requiring more varied use of their home, a residential building may have to provide a working environment, entertainment space and privacy interchangeably over a shorter time scale. This is not a primary consideration in the building of conventional homes which are constructed for longevity, aiming to provide a durable single layout. There is accordingly a further need for a new approach to home building and renovation to support the greater variation in requirements of the home.
A further possible reason for the increasing average time between moving homes is the cost, time and effort associated with moving house. This is particularly true with smart homes when the previously installed technology has to be reinstalled at the new property and the previously purchased devices may not be compatible with the new building. A great degree of effort must therefore be expended to equip the new house with the technology and configure it to the desired settings to meet the requirements in the new property. There is accordingly a related need for a building arrangement which makes the process of moving house more straightforward and less costly and time consuming.
Thirdly, an increasing awareness of the environmental impact of our daily lives has resulted in a demand for housing and home technology that allows users to monitor and mitigate this impact. Conventional homes and building materials are often not focussed on efficient use of energy and as such are limited in the degree to which they may be modified to reduce their carbon footprint. There is a demand for homes to be built with a focus on mitigating the environmental impact of daily life both through the choices made in the building process and the integration of green technology.
A fourth factor motivating a change in approach to conventional home building and renovation is driven by both the home buyer and a motivation for developers. In the conventional approach to home building, contact with the original developer generally ends at the point of sale, after which the user must develop or modify aspects of the building themselves, via time consuming and costly projects with various contractors. There is a need for a new approach in which the user has more of a role in developing their house to their own specific requirements. Furthermore this process must be simplified with homes built with a view to future changes and renovation. From the perspective of the original developer, it is also of interest to maintain a relationship with the buyer to provide the upgrades to the building periodically as the user's needs change.
Considering these market factors, there accordingly exists a need for a home building arrangement which enables increased integration with smart technology whilst managing costs for the user. There is a further need for a home arrangement which supports varied use of the home and may be customised in a straightforward and cost effective manner to support changes in requirements both in the long term and short term. A related need exists in providing a home arrangement which makes the process of moving house more straightforward. A further need exists in that a home arrangement must be designed to enhance efficient use of energy and reduce the buildings carbon footprint. Finally there is a need for a home arrangement built to a standard which is easy and cost effective to update and renovate, while allowing the occupant to play an active role in the process.
The present invention seeks to provide a building arrangement in which the incoming services are arranged such that smart technology may be readily integrated in a cost effective manner and in such a way as to be easily updated with future improvements to current devices. A further important aim of the present invention is to provide a building arrangement in which the room layout is customisable such that it may be modified on a day-to-day basis by the residents. It is intended that this may be achieved by straightforward action of the user such that the various areas of the living space may be modified to the current requirements of that particular time. A related aim is that the present invention should provide a building arrangement which is easy to update and provides a standard framework in which new components may be developed by third parties to integrate and renovate the home. The present invention further seeks to provide an energy efficient building arrangement with a reduced carbon footprint.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a column within a surrounding living space, the column providing a hub comprising a conduit configured such that external services may be routed through the column, the external services comprising one or more of water, electricity, gas, sewage and data connection; and one or more moveable modules, attachable to the hub, wherein the one or more attachable modules may be moved while attached to the hub to change their arrangement in the living space; wherein one or more of the moveable modules are configured to connect with one or more of the external services via their attachment to the hub and are moveable while maintaining a connection to the external services via their attachment.
With the above building arrangement according to the present invention, the column provides a conduit for all external services entering the building. This allows a common hub for all services allowing easy connection to all components of the building in the surrounding living space. Furthermore since all external utilities are routed through a common location, the installation of further smart home technology is facilitated allowing the control and management of the delivery of the services from a single location. Similarly, existing smart technology is straightforward to access and upgrade allowing technology to be regularly updated to keep pace with the rapid development of smart home technology.
Preferably the column is provided at a substantially central location in the living space, allowing easy access to the service hub from all sides of the column.
It is advantageous if all external services, such as water, gas, electricity, waste water, sewage and internet connection are routed via the hub. The connection of the services may then be distributed throughout the building via connection with the hub. In this way, central control and management of the use of the services may be provided in a single location, for example via a control unit in the hub. The control unit may facilitate monitoring and control of the use of each service, allowing the use of the services to be adapted and efficiently controlled.
By providing moveable modules which interface with the central hub, the layout of the living space may be customised by movement of the modules to increase and decrease the amount of living area devoted to particular functions. In this way, the layout of the rooms is flexible and may be changed to meet the changing needs of an occupant. For example a bathroom module and a kitchen module may be moveable around the central hub to change their orientation in the living space. For example they may be moved around the hub toward each other to a similar area to increase an area devoted to entertaining when required or they may be moved to enlarge an office area when home working space is required. The movement of the modules is preferably facilitated by their connection to the hub, allowing straightforward movement of the modules while providing structural support.
The moveable modules are configured to connect to one or more external services routed through their attachment to the hub. Preferably the moveable modules have one or more of an electrical outlet configured to connect to an electrical supply routed via the hub; a water outlet configured to connect to a water supply routed via the hub; a sewage inlet configured to connect to a sewage outlet routed via the hub; a gas outlet configured to connect to a gas supply routed via the hub; and a data point configured to connect to a data connection routed via the hub.
In this way the moveable modules may utilise the services to provide the various functionality required of conventional rooms. For example a bathroom module may connect to the water, sewage and electrics to provide the necessary washing, toilet and lighting facilities. A kitchen module may connect to the gas, electric and water services routed through the hub to provide lighting, cooking and washing facilities for example.
The modules may be moved while connected to one or more external services routed through the hub. In this way a module may be moved to a required location in a straightforward manner without any need to disconnect or alter the connections to the external services. In some examples the connection of services may be via their attachment to the hub column.
The building arrangement of the present invention may be installed in an existing building or it may be part or a purpose built construction. In this way the hub and moveably modules may be retrofitted to a homeowners existing home with the existing service lines adapted to run through the hub. Preferably the building arrangement is a purpose built construction with the hub forming a central column around which the walls, floor and ceiling of the home are built.
The column may take any cross-sectional shape but preferably the column is circular in cross section such that the attached moveable modules may move in a straightforward manner via rotation about the hub.
Preferably movement of the modules about the hub column is provided by a central rotating joint inside the column; and a rotating arm for each moveable module, wherein each rotating arm is connected to the rotating joint at the centre of the column and extends to the external side of the column to connect to the moveable module, such that rotation of the arm about the central rotating joint provides the rotation of the module around the hub. In preferable embodiments the rotating joint in around or below the floor level of the living space, with the arms extending through the column wall above floor level or passing under floor level and connecting with the modules. In this way the arms may be substantially concealed and the internal space of the hub may be utilised. Where there are multiple modules the rotating arm of each may be connected in a vertically displaced position to the rotating joint such that they may rotate independently. The rotating arms may pass through the hub walls via circumferential slots in the hub column to allow them to connect to the modules on the outer side. Preferably the movement of the modules may be provided by actuators configured to drive the rotating arms about the central rotating joint. In this way a resident may control the movement of the modules between orientations using a control device. The weight of the modules may be supported by omnidirectional bearings or wheels for example.
Preferably the building arrangement further comprises a service line for each of the external services routed through the hub. Preferably the moveable modules are configured to connect with one or more of the external incoming services via a service line for carrying each external service, the service line connected to a main supply at a first inlet end within the column and running along the rotating arm to a connection with a corresponding service outlet of the moveable module at the second, outlet end. This allows the modules to remain connected to the services via the rotating arm as they move around the hub.
In certain preferable embodiments one or more of the service lines comprises: a fixed portion configured to connect to the mains supply at one end, the second end extending to meet the rotating joint; one or more rotating arm portions which connect to the corresponding outlet of the moveable module at one end and extend along the rotating arm to meet the rotating joint at the other end; and one or more rotating connection portions which connect the fixed portion to a rotating portion, wherein the rotating connection portion is configured to allow the portions to rotate relative to one another whilst maintaining a sealed connection to provide the passage of the service. This arrangement allows rotation of the portion of the service line which connects to the hub along the arm, while the fixed portion remains stationary such that it may connect to the mains.
Preferably one or more of the service lines comprises: a flexible tube extending from a connection to the main supply of the service, along the rotating arm to the corresponding outlet in the moveable module, wherein the length and flexibility of the tube is such that a connection between the outlet and mains supply is maintained as the arm rotates. In this way, the service line may remain connected to the moveable module as it rotates, the displacement of the module facilitated by sufficient slack and flexibility in the service line allows a straightforward construction. The tube may be fully flexible or a portion, for example the portion running along the arm, may be flexible with the initial length a fixed connection.
In certain embodiments the building arrangement further comprises a rain water collector supported above the column. This may provide a water reservoir or be connected to a separate reservoir unit. This allows rain water to be harvested above the hub and routed into the hub to be connected to the water systems, for example a grey water system.
In preferable embodiments the building arrangement further comprises a foundation unit comprising a support base with a predetermined configuration of connection points to which the main supply of external services may be connected, the connection points connecting to the service lines. This may provide structural support to the hub. Furthermore the arrangement of connections allows easy connection to the mains in a repeatable process. Connection of the mains services to the building arrangement is therefore straightforward. Preferably the hub column may be formed from two cap rings, connected by columns or beams with the intervening spaces filled with an interconnecting array of tubes and nodes to provide the wall structure of the hub. In this way a lightweight high strength and easy to assemble hub structure is provided. Preferably a purpose built building arrangement may be constructed by positioning a series of radial beams around the column to define the surrounding structure of the building arrangement. Two arrays of radial beams may be provided, one emanating around each end cap ring, to provide ceiling and floor support. In this way the radial beams provide support to the structure but also may be used to distribute the data/electricity cables throughout the building via routing of cables along them. Upper and lower beams may be connected by pillars at the periphery of the building.
This provides the structure of the building in a straightforward to assemble manner which is much more cost and time effective compared to conventional housing.
In preferably embodiments a central control unit is provided in the hub which manages the supply of services. Preferably this is connected to a metering device which measures the amount of each service being used. Preferably the control unit is further connected to a device controller which controls one or more of movement of the moveable modules; lighting units; audio visual equipment; temperature settings; and security devices; wherein the device controller is connected to the control unit. The control unit is preferably configured to receive data from one or more sensors configured to measure one or more of temperature, humidity, motion, fire, security, air constituents; wherein the data output by the sensors is sent to the control unit and the control unit is configured to use the device controller to control one or more devices in response to the received data. Preferably a user interface is provided to allow, for example, configuration of the control unit and access to data.
The hub may preferably be hollow to provide an internal room, such as a media room, with audio visual equipment and access to the control unit and a display. In this way the hub further provides a private room for a resident to enjoy media, view data and control all aspects of the home system.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a customisable building arrangement comprising a central cylindrical column within a surrounding living space; one or more modular rooms; wherein the modular rooms are rotatably engaged with the column such that the arrangement of the rooms within the living space may be varied by rotating the one or more room modules around the central column. In this way, the arrangement of the home may be varied to support the changing requirements of the home. For example the modular rooms may comprise a kitchen module comprising cooking facilities and a sink, and a bathroom module comprising washing facilities, such that the bathroom and kitchen module may be rotated together to provide a large open living space. The rotation of the modules may be provided by one or more rotating arms, supported by a rotating joint in the centre of the column to provide straightforward reorientation of the modular rooms. The provision of all external services through the column of this aspect is optional.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a software platform for online purchasing of modular smart home components, the platform comprising an online environment in which third parties can upload details of modular smart home components, built to a common standard; wherein a user can access the online environment, enter details of their smart home, and browse and purchase compatible smart home modules. Such a platform allows a home owner to play an active role in development of their home, through the use of standards to which modules are built, allowing them to select and purchase modules which will connect within their smart home with very little labour required. This platform is analogous to an “app store” in which third parties develop modules, for example room modules such as bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, office modules, which are compatible with a certain format of a hub of a smart home.
In a further aspect there is provided a smart home control system comprising: a central control unit; a conduit through which services are routed into the smart home, the services comprising one or more of water, electricity, gas, sewage and data; a smart metering unit configured to manage and monitor the supply of the services through the conduit into the smart home; wherein the control unit is configured to receive data from the smart metering unit regarding the use of the services. The control unit may further be configured to control the metering unit to manage the delivery of the utility services, to control the quantity and distribution of the services to the various components of the home. Since the external services are routed into the smart home via a single conduit, a single smart metering unit, under the control of the central control unit, may effectively monitor and manage the distribution of all the services throughout the home. In this way an increased efficiency in the use of services may be achieved.
The home control system may further comprise a service storage unit comprising means to store each of the incoming services, the service storage unit connected to the smart metering unit, where the smart metering unit is further configured to control the amount of each service being stored and those being delivered through the conduit to the required outlets within the smart home. This further increases the efficient use of services since certain utilities may be stored when not required. The storage units may be supplemented by home generated energy, for example from wind and solar generation and by rain water harvesting.
The home control system may further comprise one or more sensors configured to measure predetermined parameters, for example light, temperature, utility storage, fire, security. The home control system may further comprise a device controller configured to control one or more components of the smart home, for example, audio visual devices, moveable room modules, lighting systems, temperature/climate systems, window shades, access, security and data distribution. The control unit may receive signals from the sensors and control the device controller to adjust the various devices in response to the received data.
The home control system may further comprise one or more user interfaces connected to the central control unit such that a user may control the central control unit to manage the storage and usage of services/utilities and/or the control of the devices.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a building construction method comprising the steps of: installing a cylindrical foundation unit; installing a hub column upon the foundation unit; installing two aligned arrays of radial beams, an upper array at the top of the column and a lower array at the base of the hub column; connecting the distal ends of corresponding upper and lower beams together via pillars; and installing ceiling panels upon the top radial beams and floor panels on the lower radial beams. Using this construction method, a smart home can be constructed in a much shorter time period and much more cost effectively in comparison with conventional building construction processes. Furthermore the column provides a central conduit through which external utility services may be routed into the centre of the home. The radial beams allow for services, for example electricity and data, to be routed along them, extending radially from the hub to allow easy access in all areas of the home. The foundation unit may comprise a predefined arrangement of connection points to which the mains supply of services may be connected, the connection points connectable to the internal services lines bringing the services through the hub for distribution though the home. In this way, the foundation unit provides a standardised connection arrangement to which the mains utilities can be readily connected.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention is an important core component to a proposed new approach to smart-home building, development and renovation. Conventionally home-builders approach construction and technology as two, separate aspects of the home where technology is fitted to a home which was built by a separate developer. The broad aim of the present invention is to unify these two, conventionally distinct, aspects to provide a new generation of high technology smart homes which are cost and time effective to construct.
Firstly, here the building arrangement has been developed with the incorporation of technology the central consideration. This makes the introduction of state of the art smart technology much more cost effective than when retrofitting to an existing building. In this way the user is able to control every aspect of the home experience As with existing smart homes, lighting, temperature, management of utilities, audio and visual devices are all able to be controlled. However, with the focus on the integration of technology from the offset and the use of a central services hub, this is achieved in a much more efficient and effective way in comparison to known “smart home” building arrangements. Furthermore, beyond these known smart technologies, with the current invention, the building itself is smart, the structure and room layout being flexible and able to adjust according to the immediate needs of the occupant. Control of all of these aspects is facilitated by software integrated within the home and accessible by a smart device or one or more user interfaces provided within the home.
A further intended change to the conventional building development approach, relates to the modular aspect of the arrangement, which allows the home to be updated simply by installing new modules, with the occupant playing an active role in the development process. Rather than in the traditional approach to renovation when the homeowner must approach various third parties to carry out specific aspects of the required work, it is intended that here an “open source engineering” approach is used where the building arrangement is built to common published specifications and third parties can develop modules which a home user may browse on an online platform, customise, purchase and install. It is envisaged that this will be facilitated by the use of an online platform, similar in concept to the Apple App Store. This is facilitated by the building arrangement since the hub provides a core to which modular rooms can be connected via a standard connection and furthermore they can access all utility services via this connection. This allows modules to be developed by third parties in a straight forward manner as long as they meet the requirements in terms of being configured to connect to the hub in this way.
A further aspect of this new approach relates to the use of data. A fully integrated smart home technology system, equipped with various sensors, allows data to be collected on an occupant's use of the home, allowing the home to learn and adapt to meet their needs. The central positioning of the service hub allows a central control system to monitor use of energy and utilities and adapt to the occupant's lifestyle to manage the use of resources efficiently. This concept extends to the future “smart city”, of which there are estimated to be 88 in existence by 2025, where citizen-generated data is likely to be used to aid efficient use of resources and growth of the economy. The data may be used to created a personal profile supported on the central control system in which all of the user's preferences are saved. When moving home the profile may simply be downloaded and installed on the new controls system.
This broad concept relating to a change in approach to home building is focussed around the building arrangement of the present invention which facilitates the changes, as will be described with reference to specific embodiments of the invention.
As will be described the building arrangement 100, comprising the hub 110 and modules 120, 130, may be installed in an existing building which provides the walls 153 ceiling 152 and floor 151 defining the living space. Alternatively the building arrangement 100 may comprise an entire purpose built residential building or home unit.
In the example of
In the example of
The acute angle between the neighbouring sides of the kitchen 320 and bathroom 330 modules thereby defines a sleeping area which occupies a reduced fraction of the overall living space. In the entertainment space predominant configuration of
In
In this way, the building arrangement may adapt to the changing requirements of a home owner with modules moved in a straightforward manner via manual movement or electronic actuation for example controlled via an app or user interface on a control panel, as will be described. Furthermore since the modules remain connected to the hub column 310 at all times, they may remain connected to the external services to maintain their required function. For example the bathroom and kitchen may still be used in whichever configuration they are placed.
In the example of
Although the adaptable living space function of the building arrangement has here been illustrated via movement of a bathroom and kitchen module, this function can extend to many other different types of module, for example an office, wall unit, master bedroom or guest bedroom. These types of module are described in more detail below.
The mechanism which facilitates the movement of the modules about the hub column will now be described with reference to
A first rotating arm 421 is connected via a rotatable connection to the rotating joint 412 at a first end and is connected to the kitchen module 420 at the opposite end. In this way the kitchen module may rotate about the rotating joint, around the external surface of the hub 410. Similarly a second rotating arm 431 is connected via a rotatable connection to the rotating joint 412 at a first end and is attached to the bathroom module 430 at a second end such that rotation of the second rotating arm similarly provides rotation of the bathroom module around the outside of the hub 410.
The rotatable connections of the first 421 and second 431 rotating arms are displaced from each other in a direction corresponding to the axis of rotation. In this embodiment, the second rotating arm corresponding to the bathroom module 430 is connected to the rotating joint 412 above the fixed member and the first rotating arm 421, corresponding to the kitchen module 420, is connected to the rotating joint on the underside of the fixed member 411. The rotating arms 421, 431 can therefore rotate independently of each other about the rotating joint. In some embodiments the joint can provide a complete range of rotation such that the rotational displacement of the modules around the hub 410 is only limited by contact with other modules. In other embodiments the range of rotation of each module may be limited to a predefined region. This may be achieved by placement of one or more stops which prevent further movement beyond a certain point. In particular, for each rotating arm there be a circumferential slot within the wall defining the cylindrical hub column, through which the rotating arms 421, 431 extend to their connection with the moveable modules. The length that this slot extends around the circumference defines the range of movement of the corresponding arm.
In the embodiment of
The weight of the modules may be supported fully by the hub column 410 or by a combination of the column and floor. In the embodiment of
Movement of the modules around the hub may be driven by the manual application of force to the modules to push them into the required configuration. However, preferably, as in the embodiment of
In preferred embodiments the bathroom and kitchen modules are predominantly supported by the floor via wheels, omnidirectional bearings or spherical casters. Rotation of the kitchen and bathroom modules may be limited by the range of the actuators which power the movement. For the other modules, such as an office module, dividing wall modules, bed modules, the rail 415 retains the modules to the hub wall and the rotational movement of modules is limited by adjacent modules and the doorway to the internal room of the hub,
Control of the linear actuators may be via a smart device, such as an app on a smart phone, or alternatively via a specialised control unit within the building arrangement. Set orientations of the moveable modules, related to different functions of the home such as “entertaining”, “sleeping”, “working”, may be programmed into the control unit such that the user may select one of these options and the actuators extend/retract accordingly to place the modules in the correct positions as defined by these set orientations.
In some embodiments the modules may not require connection to the external services routed through the hub, for example in the case where the moveable modules are rotatable partition walls or a foldable bed unit as shown in
In the embodiment of
As shown most clearly in
Although in the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
The mains electricity may similarly be carried to a connection point by conventional means before being routed through the base of the hub 410 for distribution around the building arrangement. In the embodiment of
Modules may be connected to electric power supply in both mains and low voltage. The low voltage supply may be connected via the circumferential rails 415 on the hub walls. Mains voltage where required is connected through a flexible cable which plugs into an adjacent outlet in the module.
In some embodiments, such as that of
As shown in
As described above, the columnar hub and moveable modules may be installed in an existing building, in which case the existing services supply lines are routed under the hub and connected as described above. In preferable embodiments however, the entirety of the building structure is purpose built to maximise the advantages of the building arrangement according to the present invention. In these cases the building arrangement may further include a base foundation unit which is firstly installed before the column of the hub is mounted on top. This provides both structural stability and a predetermined arrangement of connections to which the external services may be easily connected to route up through the hub as described.
As shown in the cutaway view of
As shown in
Assembly can take place wholly on site or can be part pre-assembled and completed on site. It is preferred to pre-assemble as much as possible in the factory. The site is prepared with the foundation unit 680 which connects directly onto the hub and has the services managed for internal distribution within its base. It is anticipated that the following structure and assembly process could allow for units being fully built and operational within a few days with a dedicated team and basic lifting equipment.
This construction technique uses the hub column to support a sufficient amount of the load from the home allowing the interior configuration of the home to be easily changeable.
The first stage of the build is to install the foundation unit 680 which comprises a solid, integral unit to provide a base on which the column is then mounted. The foundation unit may be rooted into the ground using an array of poles 684 extending from the foundation unit radially around its circumference which extend into the ground to provide significantly increased structural stability. The poles 684 are preferably steel or a similar material and may be angled perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the column; angled downwards into the ground; and extend directly downwards as illustrated in the embodiment of
The next step of the assembly process is to install a series of radial beams 691 extending from the circumference of the upper 611 and lower 612 end cap rings, as shown in
In the latter stages of assembly, as illustrated in
The arrangement of
As described above, by routing all services through a common location in the hub, it is much more straightforward to control, monitor and adapt the supply of the services to every component of the building arrangement. This can include the control of lighting, temperature, audio and visual equipment, movement of modules, opening and closing of blinds, windows and control of the opaqueness of smart glass and drop down window shades, communications such as telephone and data networks and monitoring of the use of utilities, including storage of utilities. The following describes the integration of “smart” home technology to the building arrangement via its connection to one or more networks, with overall control by a central control unit or “brain” in the hub.
Preferable embodiments of the invention use a central control unit to manage the connectivity of various components in the home across one or more networks. This home network infrastructure will preferably support:
Traditional “smart home” technology installations rely on a huge number of cables running back to a central location with a large amount of centralised equipment required. Advances in technology have meant that all of the items mentioned above are now able to take advantage of traditional Ethernet networks. This dramatically reduces the number of cables required as well as offering flexibility and simplicity.
The user may configure and interact with the control system via a home control software platform, with a user interface provided via one or more of a smart phone, smart tables or laptop computers running the software, a computer in the hub or one or more control panels around the building or produced as a “smart surface” which utilises a surface of the building arrangement which may acts as a user interface. The control system can also be accessed remotely for maintenance and support. For security and privacy, access is managed by the user.
The incoming services 722 are routed via the hub 721 where they interface with a control monitoring and metering module 723 connected to the central control unit 720. The incoming services also connect to a utility storage unit 724, which comprises means for storing one or more services on site. In certain embodiments the storage unit may comprise multiple separate storage units each configured to store a particular service. For example the storage unit 724 may comprise a water reservoir into which collected rain water and/or main water may be routed. It may further comprise means for storing energy, such as a battery, such that energy generated from solar panels may be collected and stored to be used within the home or sold back to the grid. It may further comprise means for on-site storage of gas. The storage unit is also connected to the service lines of the trunk, such that the stored service utilities may be routed throughout the building via the hub, as described.
The control monitoring and metering unit is also connected to the storage unit and is configured to measure and control the amount of each utility which is stored, such that a user may manage the storage of utilities via the central software platform.
As with all data created by the smart home, data created by the monitoring/metering module 723 may be stored in physical storage within the hub or in another location within the building arrangement. The software platform of the central control unit 720 may also upload data to cloud storage 725 or utilise cloud computing for calculations performed on the generated data.
Two way communication of data may also be provided by data connections between the software platform 720 and the “smart city” 726, as is described in greater detail in the corresponding section below.
The software platform of the central control unit 720 is configured to receive data from one or more sensors/monitors 727, where the monitors could include one or more of security, fire, user input, sensors and utility storage/usage monitors. Further examples of possible sensors are discussed below. The data created by the monitors in response to the corresponding sensed signals may be used to control one or more of the control functions 728 managed by the control unit 720. The component controls managed by the control unit may include one or more of audio visual device controls, data management, the movement of the moveable modules, control of the lighting and climate, access, security and utility storage.
A user may configure and manage the functions of the central control unit via one or more user interfaces 729. These may include one or more of smart devices, a mobile app, an online platform, a desktop/laptop connected to the network or a fixed touch screen within the home.
The software platform of the central control unit may support a personal profile which is customisable by the user. The personal profile may store various data regarding the way in which the home is used. This data may include preferred temperature/climate settings; sets of preferred orientations of the moveable modules; settings regarding the water collection, such as how often to introduce to the system; setting regarding solar energy generation and how much to (automatically) sell back to the grid; security settings such as when to activate the security settings such as during normal sleep patterns; audio visual equipment settings, such as favourite music to play at particular times; settings regarding amount of services to store in the storage unit at any one time; smart metering controls such as usual amounts of services usage; lighting controls such as favoured brightness, hue and warmth of lighting; window shade control and all other aspects of the behaviour of the resident as sensed by the various sensors described below.
This data may be used to form a unique personal profile for the resident. It also allows the central control unit to learn about the resident over time to improve the adaptation of the control of the various services and devices to the resident's behaviour. If the user's behaviour changes significantly, relative to their usual behaviour as determined by the stored data, they can be alerted. For example this may be used to alert the users if they are less active, spending more time in bed, requiring different lighting or temperature settings and so on. Such changes in behaviour could be used to identify negatives changes in health or mood which can the resident can then act on. The control unit can furthermore control various settings in response to such identified changes such as playing stored favourite music or changing lighting settings.
Another advantage of having a stored personal profile in this manner is that, when the resident moves home, the profile can simply be uploaded to the cloud and downloaded into the new smart home such that it can be immediately adapted to provide their living requirements. This vastly simplifies the process of moving house and reinstalling and configuring all devices.
This generated data may also be uploaded to be used by the “smart city”, where data regarding living behaviours can be used in many ways to optimise the management of a city or area as a whole, such as maximising efficient use of resources. This concept is described in more detail below.
In a particularly preferred embodiment a standard Ethernet network is deployed and routed from the hub through the data conduit as described above. The Ethernet network will be segregated into four separate networks, one to handle each of
Preferably, each of these networks will be implemented using core-edge network topology. One data backbone connection will be run in the ceiling and one in the floor, as shown in
When the building arrangement is purpose built as described above, each network will be engineered to form part of a “smart beam” infrastructure with pre-fabricated connectivity built within the very beams and supporting structures of the building itself. Custom panels and internal modules will also be engineered with the same connectivity to ensure all aspects of the building are connected to the central control unit or “brain” in the hub. Each component may be tagged with an identifier for tracking using technologies like RFID. This supports stock management, maintenance work and failure predictions. When the building arrangement is installed into an existing housing shell the networks can be installed conventionally by providing cables throughout the home.
Advantageously, the provision of cable routing via the panelised system of walls, floors and ceiling means there is need to demolish or break into wall, floor, ceiling surfaces to lay new cables. This feature therefore simplifies the on-going process of updating the home to incorporate new technology
Preferable embodiments of the invention will also come equipped with the following external connectivity:
Preferred embodiments of the invention have lighting control in all areas of the building arrangement, which may be connected to the main control unit in the hub via the data and electrical network routed through the beams. The control may be provided by keypads and software interfaces for intuitive control of lighting in each area but may also have automated lighting through motion sensors and automated switch off in all areas through presence detection. The lighting control system may be automated to respond to time of day and external conditions to maintain internal lighting levels but utilising external light to the greatest extent possible for maximum energy efficiency.
Importantly the lighting control system may group lights to reflect the changing layout achieved by the movable modules. The movement of the moveable modules will be taken into account by the lighting control system so to group lights together to reflect the currently defined room layout such that lights will automatically respond to commands based on the positions of internal walls, bathroom, kitchen and study modules for example. The lighting control network will also be linked to the automation of window shading control to reduce light in certain areas during the day and to ensure privacy and optimum energy efficiency.
The lighting system is also able to produce a daylight effect to mimic natural light and be controlled to provide light therapy.
Preferred embodiments of the invention also employ climate control to manage the temperature throughout the home. The temperature control system will be configured to provide:
Preferable embodiments of the invention will come equipped with an intruder alarm system that is configured to provide:
Preferable embodiments of the invention will come equipped with a fire alarm system configured to provide:
Preferable embodiments of the invention will come equipped with an access control system configured to provide the following:
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be connected digitally to the outside world for incoming broadband services as well as centralised remote maintenance. Preferred embodiments employ cyber protection in the form of security systems which:
Preferred embodiments of the invention implement smart metering technology. This is facilitated by the central routing of the services through the hub and allows smart meters to be integrated with the central control unit of the hub. The hub may include smart metering for all incoming services, including
This is in order that the meters themselves do not impact on space within the home or affect external aesthetics. In some cases the specific form of the installed meters will dependent on local metering regulations in each territory as some may require meters to be located in certain external areas for access by the individual utilities companies. Smart metering also offers the advantage of integration into the home control software for graphical display of energy usage and to ensure utilities usage is managed with efficiency in mind.
Preferred embodiments of the invention include one or more sensors, the data for which may be fed into the central control system to control the various systems within the building. Integrated sensor technology may include:
Each of these sensors will continually feedback into the home control software and be used to make decisions on maximising the efficiency of energy being used, keep the owners safe and provide information on personalised use of the home to each user.
The home control software is intended to tie all of the above aspects of the technology together with a fully customised graphical interface.
It is proposed that the software platform is released as a development kit for third party companies and home owners. This will allow for the development of third party applications that can then be considered for integration into the standard home software offering.
As well as giving the GlobalHom user the means to control the technology within their environment, the software will also offer the following:
The software will be implemented in the control unit within the hub and will be accessed through a fixed graphical user interface panel located at one or more appropriate locations, such as within the hub itself. The software will also be available as an app for use on all mobile smart devices, laptops, desktops and tablets.
As illustrated in
A further series of screens 710 connect the user to an online market place in which new components for the home may be purchased. New modules, fittings or technology updates may be purchased directly from the original home developer by browsing products on these screens and customising them to the user's needs. There is furthermore a market place for third parties to develop modules, compliant with the standards of the current invention, which may be browsed and purchased.
Smart billing/payment of utilities is also included within the home control App along with detailed graphical energy usage metering.
Media Room within the Hub
A further feature of preferred embodiments of the invention is to provide a media room within the hub as illustrated in
The media room may be accessible through an opening 803 in the hub structure and the room may comprise a series of reclined chairs 801 built against a portion of the curved internal wall. The chairs may include arm rests with a user control interface 802 built in. As shown in
In this preferred embodiment the media room comprises a projected image with a 7.1 surround sound system. Preferably a projector is employed with image manipulation algorithms to shape the image to be suitable for display on any shaped surface. Making use of LED or laser technology for the projected image increases the longevity of the optics of the projector leading to prolonged reliability. Connection to the service and maintenance centre through the BMS system and software allows home owners to be warned in advance of when the projector's light source is likely to need replacing and can be offered the option of ordering a replacement.
The 7.1 surround sound system, within the enclosed space of the hub creates an immersive audio experience with speaker positions optimised for the ideal listening area. The uniform shape and furnishing layouts offered for the hub space enable the sound to be acoustically optimised for the space through speaker locations and the use of acoustic treatments delivering a repeatable experience.
The area beneath the seating in the trunk offers the ideal space to house the necessary amplification and processing for the immersive cinematic experience as well as being able to house the sub-woofer for the reproduction of low frequencies.
Content for this area will be delivered through specially developed content delivery software. This software allows access to a centralised pool of tailored content. Content will range from meditation and relaxation content through commercially available movies and music to individually commissioned pieces specifically for individual home owners. Each owner will also be able to manage their own personal content and upload it to their home media system for viewing in this area.
As with other areas of the home, climate and lighting will be fully controllable allowing the home owner to create the perfect environment in which to enjoy audio visual content. Control over this area as per all other areas of the home will be via the home software and app.
The housing arrangement of the current invention is intended to reduce the use of energy by the home and allow the user to more effectively manage their use of resources. This is achieved in a number of ways.
As described above preferred embodiments of the building arrangement employ smart metering for all incoming services. This allows monitoring of the services as they enter the home through the hub. The meters are then integrated into the software such that a user may view data on their usage allowing them to more effectively manage their use of energy.
Energy storage can provide the ability for the home to function in the case of power outage. Energy storage units will be available in different sizes. The home control software will manage the crossover of full mains power and battery backup. Depending on user preferences, the home control software will safely shut down non-critical systems and limit lighting availability in order that backup power is available for the maximum length of time. Energy storage status including back up hours will be displayed through the home control software.
In preferred embodiments various energy generation options will be available for owners. Depending on the final configuration these will include one or more of:
Generated energy can be diverted by the home control software to be used by the home itself or to be stored within an energy storage battery. Metering and monitoring of energy generation will be displayed through the home control software. Solar panels may be installed on the roof and may additionally have pre-set tilt adjustment to optimise the angle to the sun for maximising energy generation.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will employ of local rainwater harvesting and grey water usage minimising reliance on local infrastructure. The rainwater reservoirs are illustrated in
It is intended that in the future real-time and historic clean water and waste removal requirements and usage may be made available to the connected Smart City to ensure reliable, cost effective delivery and removal when needed. It is further envisioned that each connected home will transfer real time and historic user data on electricity and gas usage to the Smart City. In addition, the energy generated from solar panels and wind turbines will be fed back into the local energy grid. Continuous management of this smart 2-way relationship ensures electricity and gas are delivered efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively whilst the homeowner user can benefit from the resultant revenue from energy generation.
As described in detail above, hub provides a connection to one or more movable modules which may be moved, in contact with the hub, to change their configuration within the home space.
In the preferred embodiment described in the above sections the moveable modules comprise at least a kitchen module and a bathroom module. More details on these units are provided immediately below, with the description of alternative or additional modules described underneath.
In addition to the kitchen and bathroom module, further embodiments of the invention include one or more additional or alternative modules.
In
These provide just some possibilities for the moveable modules. In alternative embodiments any functional module can be included to provide a required home function and modules may be produced to provide any known home function.
The structure and arrangement of the building arrangement according to the present invention means they may be readily extended to provide further space or multiple independent units. The meshed frame structure described above with the straightforward assembly of the lightweight modular column and beam structure makes it more straightforward to expand single units by adding additional floor space.
In other embodiments the hub may be extended downwards to provide an underground utility room or the floor level may be raised by the inclusion of an additional column underneath the hub to raise the housing unit above floor level. Where there are multiple stacked units, as in
As discussed in the preceding sections, the monitoring and control of the utilities via the central hub allows the creation of a vast range of data on how an occupant is using the home. This may include data on utility usage, such as the distribution of energy usage across the home, energy generation (via the solar panels and solar heating of water), data on how the home is being used based on the arrangement of the moveable modules and productivity. This data may be accessed and viewed by the occupant, however it is further envisaged that, when data is gathered from multiple such homes, this data may be utilised in “smart cities”.
Data produced by multiple homes may be analysed to ensure resource efficiency is maximised, allowing a smart city to adapt to the behaviour or its citizens. Use of the data can extend to many different sectors, including healthcare, education, retail and leisure, mobility, industry, utilities, use of resources such as water waste and air, and safety and security. Equally data generated from the smart city as a whole may be utilised on the individual home level by each resident.
For example, Smart Cities can harvest real time and historic user data from each home enabling more informed analysis of resource usage data and home generated energy contributions to the grid. Leveraging this data, real time and predictive algorithms can be developed that will assist in smarter utility provision, less wastage and less pollution. Smart billing to home users will reduce administration costs and ensure open transparent pricing. Usage spikes and anomalies can be tracked and predicted increasing robustness whilst alerting response teams of issues and ensuring minimal down time.
As Cities grow and become more populated, strains are placed on the water and waste management systems. Homeowners minimise their impact on this through the management of water usage, rainwater harvesting and grey water use. In addition, by harvesting real time and historic user data, reliable and efficient delivery and removal is maintained.
GH users have access to remote healthcare services with enhanced diagnostic tools including sensor technology. Less strain is placed on healthcare and emergency health personnel allowing efficient targeted delivery precisely when and where needed. Promotion of a healthy Smart City lifestyle is mirrored within each home ensuring less reliance on healthcare.
The building arrangement according to the present invention provides a smart home in which technology may be integrated into the building process which overcomes problems with exiting smart homes involved with retrofitting to existing buildings. Furthermore, the provision of a central unities conduit means the smart technology may be readily integrated with the incoming services to provide smart metering, monitoring, management and supply of the utilities throughout the home. The configuration of the home is adaptable such that it may be altered depending on the requirements of the residents via the movement of room modules about the central hub. This movement and reconfiguration of the living space may be provided without disconnecting the services such that use of the rooms is not affected. The home may provide an energy efficient residential house by the central control of utilities and the integration of energy generation and water harvesting. Sensors can collect data on all aspects of the living experience to feed back in to the central control system such the control of home devices may be controlled in response to measured data.
The invention fits into a broader concept which aims to change the approach to the home building market. The arrangement is such that third parties may develop compatible modules which a resident may browse and purchase on an online platform allowing them to take part in the home development process. The collected data has wider implications for use in a smart city where it may be used, together with data collected from large numbers of residence, to determine how to efficiently use resources and adapt the city to its resident's requirements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1705976.7 | Apr 2017 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2018/050989 | 4/13/2018 | WO | 00 |
