Active Cover Plate Inductive Power Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional nightlights are limited by their need for outlet placement, blockage of outlets, safety hazards due to protrusion, and complex direct wiring, which restricts user flexibility and safety.

Innovation Solution

An active cover plate system that does not protrude from outlets, allowing for easy installation and use at various receptacle types, using resilient conductors and insulating tabs to draw power inductively or through wireless coupling, ensuring safety and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a nightlight is plugged into an outlet, then the nightlight can be powered and provide lighting, but the outlet becomes blocked and unavailable for other devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery to nightlightVSAvoidoutlet availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power delivery function from the outlet socket itself by using inductive coupling. The cover plate contains a primary coil that inductively couples with the outlet's electrical field to extract power wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical plug insertion and freeing the outlet for other uses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary inductive coupling mechanism between the outlet and the nightlight. The primary coil in the cover plate and the secondary coil in the nightlight create a magnetic field intermediary that transfers power without direct electrical contact, allowing power delivery while maintaining outlet availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a nightlight protrudes from the outlet, then the nightlight can be installed without wiring, but it may be bumped or displaced causing safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidsafety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds the nightlight components (secondary coil, lighting elements, control circuitry) within the cover plate structure that fits into the outlet opening. The nightlight is nested within the outlet opening rather than protruding from it, eliminating the bumping hazard while maintaining wireless operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical protrusion connection with an electromagnetic inductive coupling system. Power and control signals are transmitted through magnetic field coupling between the primary and secondary coils, eliminating the need for mechanical protrusion and associated safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If direct wiring is used to power the nightlight, then safety hazards are reduced, but installation and replacement become time-consuming and dangerous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety hazardsVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the cover plate to self-power through inductive coupling with the outlet's electrical field. The primary coil automatically couples with the outlet's electromagnetic field when installed, requiring no manual wiring connections. This self-service power acquisition eliminates both the safety hazards and time consumption of direct wiring while maintaining safe operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a nightlight is designed to be flush with the outlet, then safety hazards are reduced, but power extraction becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety hazardsVSAvoidpower extraction mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from direct electrical contact (one-dimensional connection) to electromagnetic field coupling (three-dimensional spatial interaction). The inductive coupling mechanism operates through the magnetic field dimension, allowing power extraction through the cover plate's primary coil without direct electrical contact, thus achieving both safety and power delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables safe, flexible, and efficient power delivery to embedded loads without occupying outlet sockets, allowing for user-friendly installation and operation while adhering to electrical codes.

Implementation Method 1

power extractors that contact a powered terminal of the receptacle and are configured to inductively couple electrical energy out of the receptacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The power extractors include resilient conductors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2740183B1Active cover plates

Publication Date: 2019.02.06 SNAPRAYS LLC

Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3A

AI summary

An active cover plate includes a faceplate, a load and an electrically insulated power extractor extending rearward from the faceplate to interface with an electrical receptacle, wherein the power extractor extracts electrical power from the electrical receptacle to energize the load. A method for installing an active cover plate on an electrical receptacle is also provided.