MUMBAI, India, Jan. 9 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202541133556 A) filed by Nitte Meenakshi Institute Of Technology, Nitte; Dr. Sudhakar K; Mrs. Sushma K; Dr. Rubini P; Dr. Lithin Kumble; and Mrs. Geethanjali S G, Bangalore, Karnataka, on Dec. 30, 2025, for 'design and implementation of an iot-based smart home automation system.'
Inventor(s) include Nitte Meenakshi Institute Technology, Nitte; Dr. Sudhakar K; Mrs. Sushma K; Dr. Rubini P; Dr. Lithin Kumble; and Mrs. Geethanjali S G.
The application for the patent was published on Jan. 9, under issue no. 02/2026.
According to the abstract released by the Intellectual Property India: "The present invention relates to the field of home automation and Internet of Things (IoT). More particularly, the present invention relates to a sensor-integrated, microcontroller-based smart home automation system that enables autonomous, context-aware control of household utilities including lighting, ventilation, access control, rain detection, and hygienic waste management. The present invention provides low-cost, modular, energy-efficient, and scalable automation using a single embedded control unit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Brief Theory Modern residential environments demand intelligent systems capable of reducing human intervention, improving energy efficiency, enhancing hygiene, and increasing safety. Existing smart home solutions typically implement isolated functionalities such as remote lighting or appliance control. Such systems often rely heavily on continuous internet connectivity, proprietary platforms, or expensive hardware, limiting adoption, scalability, and reliability. Prior Art 1 US Patent No. US20160294445A1 - "Smart Home Automation System" This prior art discloses a cloud-centric smart home automation system wherein appliances are controlled through a centralized server using wireless communication protocols. While the system allows remote monitoring and control, it is heavily dependent on internet availability and cloud infrastructure. Sensor integration is limited, and real-time autonomous decision-making based on environmental parameters is minimal. The system lacks integrated hygiene-oriented automation such as gesture-controlled waste management and does not support rainwater detection or local fallback operation. Scalability increases cost significantly due to dependency on proprietary gateways. Prior Art 2 US Patent No. US20180152367A1 - "IoT-Based Home Energy Management System" This invention focuses primarily on energy monitoring and optimization using smart meters and appliance-level energy tracking. While it improves energy efficiency, it does not integrate multi-sensor contextual automation such as occupancy-based lighting, temperature-responsive ventilation, or automated access control. The architecture is energy-centric rather than user-centric, and it lacks autonomous local control when network connectivity is unavailable. Gesture-based interaction and hygiene automation are not addressed. Prior Art 3 Indian Patent No. IN201721032456 - "Wireless Home Automation Using GSM" This system utilizes GSM technology for sending commands via SMS to control household devices. The approach suffers from latency, dependency on cellular networks, and limited sensor feedback. It does not support real-time environmental sensing or local decision-making. Automation is reactive rather than proactive. Integration of multiple functional modules such as rain detection, parking automation, and touchless waste disposal is absent. Prior Art 4 US Patent No. US20190318621A1 - "Smart Building Control System" This disclosure describes an enterprise-level smart building system designed for large infrastructures. While it supports automation through multiple sensors, the system is expensive, complex, and unsuitable for small residential environments. It requires distributed controllers and centralized management servers. The cost, power consumption, and deployment complexity prevent use in low-cost or DIY home automation scenarios. Prior Art 5 WO Patent No. WO2020123456A1 - "IoT-Enabled Smart Waste Bin" This invention focuses solely on touchless waste management using proximity sensors. While hygienic, it is a single-purpose device and does not integrate with a broader home automation ecosystem. It requires separate power, controller, and communication modules, increasing system redundancy when deployed alongside other smart home devices. Summary of Prior Art Limitations From the above prior art, it is understood that existing solutions are fragmented, cost-intensive, internet-dependent, or function-specific, lacking a unified, autonomous, low-cost system integrating multiple smart home functionalities under a single control architecture. OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 1. To provide a unified IoT-based smart home automation system using a single microcontroller. 2. To provide context-aware automation using environmental and occupancy sensors. 3. To provide energy-efficient and hygienic automation with minimal human intervention. 4. To provide a low-cost, modular, and scalable architecture suitable for residential use. 5. To provide a system capable of local autonomous operation with optional remote access. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the basic aspect of the present invention, a smart home automation system is provided that integrates multiple sensors and actuators under a single embedded control unit. According to one aspect, the invention provides automated lighting control based on ambient light intensity. According to another aspect, the invention provides temperature-based ventilation control using environmental sensing. According to a further aspect, the invention provides real-time rain detection and alert functionality. According to another aspect, the invention provides automated gate access and touchless waste disposal. According to another aspect, the invention provides a modular system architecture enabling future expansion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS illustrates a block diagram of the IoT-based smart home automation system. Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of the working of the smart home automation system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention discloses a smart home automation system comprising a microcontroller unit, a plurality of sensors, and actuators configured to operate autonomously based on real-time environmental inputs. System Components * Microcontroller: Arduino-based MCU * Sensors: LDR, DHT11 temperature sensor, water sensor * Actuators: Servo motors, DC motor, LEDs * Power supply: Regulated 5 V * Optional communication: Wi-Fi module Functional Operation * Automatic lighting based on ambient light * Fan control based on temperature thresholds * Rain detection with alert signaling * Automated gate control using light interruption * Gesture-controlled smart dustbin The system operates locally and does not require continuous internet connectivity, ensuring reliability. CLAIMS I/We Claim: 1. A smart home automation system, comprising a microcontroller, multiple environmental sensors, and actuators configured to autonomously control household utilities based on real-time sensor data. 2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein lighting is automatically controlled based on ambient light intensity sensed by an LDR sensor. 3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein ventilation is controlled using temperature thresholds detected by a temperature sensor. 4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein rain detection triggers alerts and precautionary actions. 5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gesture-controlled waste disposal mechanism enables touchless operation. ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION Title: Design and Implementation of an IoT-Based Smart Home Automation System The invention relates to an IoT-enabled smart home automation system integrating multiple sensors and actuators under a single microcontroller. The system provides autonomous control of lighting, ventilation, access gates, rain detection, and hygienic waste management. The invention ensures energy efficiency, user convenience, hygiene, and scalability while operating independently of continuous internet connectivity."
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
